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Eleni is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. The Company was formed in 1998, originally as North East Wales Community Dance. In 2002 it became a limited company (North East Wales Dance / Dawns Gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru) and moved to the Llangollen Pavilion in Denbighshire. In 2009 the Company was rebranded and renamed NEW Dance. More recently, the company moved premises and refocused its artistic direction, as a result of this, the company not only has a new look, but we are now called Eleni.
Eleni is an Arts Council of Wales revenue funded organisation responsible for providing opportunities for all ages and abilities; developing standards of teaching provision; and engaging communities across the regions of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham in a range of dance activities.
The artistic policy of Eleni is strongly influenced by the educational and social strategies of the local authorities and in line with the funding priorities of ACW; to support & encourage the creation of great art, whether amateur or professional, and encourage more people to enjoy and take part in the arts.
Eleni's mission is to nurture the individual, positively enhance the social and cultural wellbeing of communities in north east Wales through dance, promoting artistic excellence and innovation in its work in community, educational, health, criminal justice and social care settings.
Eleni’s activity consists of a range of classes and workshops in different dance styles as well as targeted projects for all ages and abilities in both communities, schools and health, criminal justice and social care settings. Eleni’s objectives include bringing the arts to the community and growing a new audience for dance; creating and commissioning new dance work, training teachers and dance professionals, and using dance as a vehicle to deliver cultural, moral and social benefits.
Eleni activities take place over a geographical area stretching from the coastal area of North Flintshire to densely populated parts of Wrexham and rural areas of Denbighshire. Eleni's workshops take place in diversely different towns such as Rhyl, Llangollen, Flint and Mold, in villages in rural areas such as Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, and socio-economically deprived areas identified in Government statistics.
The company embraces equality and diversity in its programme of activities and works with (amongst many types of groups) hard to reach young people, children and adults with special needs, mature people, more technically advanced young dancers who may progress onto professional training, and both Welsh and English medium groups.
Eleni has gained a reputation for excellence and has achieved great success in encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get up and dance; enabling dance participants to perform alongside professional dance companies; and establishing and growing a dance audience throughout North East Wales.