After 16 years of nurturing young dancers in Bristol, RISE has seen countless young people grow through its programmes and go on to train, teach and perform professionally across the UK. Yet one thing has always been missing: the opportunity for these brilliant artists to return to their home city to work, perform and reconnect.
The Homegrown project took place across one powerful week. RISE brought together eight dancers, spanning a ten-year age range, who all began their journeys within the organisation. Though they trained in different eras of RISE and moved into different corners of the dance world, they share a deep connection rooted in Bristol and in their early training with RISE.
A City That Shapes Artists — But Doesn’t Always Keep Them
A recurring theme throughout the project was the lack of professional dance opportunities in Bristol. Many dancers reflected on how difficult it is to come home to the city they love because paid performance work is scarce and there’s no central hub for professional dancers to train, gather or create.
Despite Bristol’s reputation as a vibrant, artistic, culturally rich city, performers often find that once they leave for training, there is little infrastructure to draw them back. Several artists shared how much they long for regular professional classes, residencies and performance opportunities and a central, visible hub for dance-makers.
Reconnecting Through Creativity
Throughout the week, dancers explored ideas without the pressure of a final performance… an unusual but welcome freedom. Many described the process as nostalgic, emotional and grounding. Being back in the studio with familiar faces, as well as meeting younger RISE dancers for the first time, created a sense of collective homecoming.
Some dancers spoke about Bristol planting the first seeds of their creativity; from its music and street art to the diversity and openness of the city. For several, joining RISE was the moment they began to see themselves as dancers: a place that made them feel powerful, seen and connected.
Others shared how performing in iconic Bristol spaces as young people shaped their understanding of what dance could mean to audiences. Many expressed sadness that these opportunities no longer exist at the same scale and a hope that Homegrown signals the beginning of a shift.
A Future Worth Building Together
What emerged throughout Homegrown was a shared commitment to strengthening Bristol’s dance ecology. Participants spoke passionately about wanting to come back not only to perform, but also to give back – to teach, collaborate, mentor and contribute to the next generation of local dancers.
Perhaps the most powerful realisation was the “invisible bond” between the group. A connection formed through RISE, through Bristol and through a shared journey of creativity. Even dancers who had never met felt instantly linked, as if returning to a place that already knew them.
Homegrown may have lasted only one week, but its impact is far from temporary. It has ignited something powerful: a collective belief that Bristol can become a thriving home for professional dance… and that its dancers deserve nothing less.
