This collaboration celebrates our shared commitment to community-rooted arts, creativity and storytelling!

All photographs taken by Kate Jackson https://www.katejacksonphotography.co.uk/

Caldmore Community Garden is delighted to announce Autin Dance Theatre as our new Associate Artistic Company. We’re excited to have Autin Dance on board to bring new and inspiring elements to our annual Festival of Lights procession.

Our ongoing work with Autin Dance Theatre follows a series of successful creative projects, iFestival of Lights in 2023 and 2024, where Autin Dance Theatre captivated audiences with roaming and stage performances featuring the iconic Brimstone the Dragon and Echo the Sea Giant from Out of the Deep Blue.

As part of this year’s Festival of Lights 2025, Autin Dance Theatre will be working with Year 5 pupils at Caldmore Primary Academy to create a choreographed movement piece for the annual lantern procession through Caldmore.

In addition, there will be two opportunities for families to also take part in the lantern procession and learn some choreographed movement with Autin Dance Theatre during our Garden Saturday workshops

These free, creative sessions are open to children, parents, carers, and local residents of all ages. Together we’ll explore movement, storytelling, and simple performance techniques to build confidence, connection, and shared celebration. Everyone is welcome!

Whether you’ve danced before or not!

Together we’ll shape the light and movement of the Festival of Lights Lantern Procession!

Dates: Saturday 25 October & Saturday 1 November
Times: 11am–1pm and 1pm–3pm (two separate workshops for families to sign up to – please look on social media for sign up links)
Location: Caldmore Community Garden

With thanks to Arts Council England for funding this project

About Autin Dance Theatre

Autin Dance Theatre is an award-winning, innovative dance company and registered charity

based in Birmingham, UK, under the artistic direction of acclaimed choreographer Johnny Autin.

ADT’s mission is to inspire, educate, and drive positive social change through thought-provoking

and engaging multi-disciplinary arts activities. The company actively connects with local

communities, participants, and audiences, delivering work in theatres, public outdoor spaces,

and unconventional settings.

As a collaborative ensemble known for its unique blend of contemporary storytelling, striking

physicality, and large-scale designs, ADT creates socially inclusive and mass- participatory

movement projects across the UK and internationally. From dynamic outdoor processions to

immersive static performances, the company transports audiences on unforgettable journeys. Its

critically acclaimed productions include Out of the Deep Blue, Street Games, Brimstone the

Dragon, Parade – The Giant Wheel, and Light Up Fest, all of which have garnered a strong

reputation for impactful community engagement and artistic excellence.

In 2025, ADT is performing Up in the Sky, a groundbreaking new aerial dance production

featuring a colossal 7-metre rig, exploring themes of displacement, resilience, and belonging.

autindt.co.uk

@AutinDT

For full details about the company please visit: autindt.co.uk

Autin Dance Theatre media contacts:

Artistic Director Johnny Autin johnny@autindt.co.uk +44 (0) 755 798 1497

Autin Dance Theatre CIO | Birmingham, UK |T: +44 (0) 755 798 1497| hello@autindt.co.uk

autindt.co.uk | @AutinDT | Registered Company No 10824986 | Charity No 1210281

Festival Coordinator Kirsten Tranter kirsten@autindt.co.uk

Creative Producer Annalise McIntyre annalise@autindt.co.uk

Outdoor Arts Consultant Adam Towndrow adam@autindt.co.uk

Education & Participation Coordinator Natasha Boyes natasha@autindt.co.uk

Communication & Marketing Paulina Ozynska paulina@autindt.co.uk

Autin Dance Theatre CIO | Birmingham, UK |T: +44 (0) 755 7