We are interested in recruiting new members to join the Yorkshire Life Aquatic CIC board over the next year. We are looking for people who are able to attend quarterly meetings and be part of helping strategic growth and supporting the directors.
This time commitment is on a voluntary basis. We are particularly interested in people with skills and experience who can complement our current membership; in particular those with experience in:
The arts
Well-being
3rd sector
Community engagement
Business strategy
Charities
Financial activities
Fundraising
If you are interested in finding out more about joining our team.
Walks at 11.30 & 3pm Start point: Broadleas Community Centre, Bramley.
*The walks are designed specifically to explore the routes through Bramley ‘on foot’, and as such are not fully accessible. There is a way to join the walks at Trinity Church onward and also to hear stories being told on our heritage telephone.
Walks at 11.30 & 3pm Start point: Broadleas Community Centre, Bramley.
*The walks are designed specifically to explore the routes through Bramley ‘on foot’, and as such are not fully accessible. There is a way to join the walks at Trinity Church onward and also to hear stories being told on our heritage telephone.
We’ll wander through snickets, ginnels and cut-throughs, tales will be told, and we hope you’ll share your stories too.
You will hear about some of the local legends, and the acts of defiance that have united Bramley in the past and continue to do so today.
The walk will include refreshments in the park and a chance to see the community commissioned mural ‘We are Bramley’.
Saturday 30th April
Walks at 11.30 & 3pm Start point: Broadleas Community Centre, Bramley.
*The walks are designed specifically to explore the routes through Bramley ‘on foot’, and as such are not fully accessible. There is a way to join the walks at Trinity Church onward and also to hear stories being told on our heritage telephone.
Yorkshire Life Aquatic invite you to join us for a walk & talk to discover what’s afoot in bramley.
We’ll wander through snickets, ginnels and cut-throughs, tales will be told, and we hope you’ll share your stories too.
You will hear about some of the local legends, and the acts of defiance that have united Bramley in the past and continue to do so today.
The walk will include refreshments in the park and a chance to see the community commissioned mural ‘We are Bramley’.
Saturday 30th April
Walks at 11.30 & 3pm Start point: Broadleas Community Centre, Bramley.
*The walks are designed specifically to explore the routes through Bramley ‘on foot’, and as such are not fully accessible. There is a way to join the walks at Trinity Church onward and also to hear stories being told on our heritage telephone.
You don’t need any experience of synchro or water dance – just a sense of fun and adventure. It’s a great way to relax, learn new skills in the pool and practise the basics of synchronised swimming with a friendly group of women. The classes are run by Yorkshire Life Aquatic’s Lucy and Zoe.
We are Bramley – is a project bringing together Bramley people to talk about culture, history and creative acts of defiance. Part of a Leeds 2023: My World, My City, my Neighbourhood commission and is a co-creation between Lucy & Zoe (Yorkshire Life Aquatic/ Bramley Mermaids Club) and the people of Bramley. Through chats, walks, meet ups and digital groups, we have explored the acts of defiance at different times through Bramley’s local history. From the recent ‘A Place to Sit Campaign’, right back to the ‘Bramley Clash’ (original Bramley Carnival 19th century), which was the oldest carnival in Leeds.
Working with local west leeds artists and seeking the opinions and thoughts of all sorts of Bramley folk, we have produced ‘We are Bramley: walk & talk’
About the Mural During the project we had a postcard designed to advertise the project to more people in Bramley. The Bramley Community asked us if we could get this painted on the changing rooms in Bramley park. With lots of working together and agreement form the council and parks, support to make it happen form the community, and generous support form both the council and Leeds 2023, we have been able to make this happen. ArtistsBen Holden alongside Dominic Comms and Jameson Rogan skillfully created the design on the changing room walls in park on friday 11th March 2022 and it looks stunning. Do pop down to take a look! It has been very popular with the park runners!
We are holding an event this Saturday at Bramley Lawn at 12-2pm.
As an informal introduction to our We are Bramley project for Leeds 2023
Free at Bramley Lawn 12-2pm all welcome! Rossefield Lawn, off Rossefield Approach, Bramley, Leeds, LS13 3RU Free refreshments, have a cuppa & a chat Explore what you and other local people love to do creatively. Where in Bramley is special to you, or has a special story. What is your map of Bramley ? What creative activities/ events would you love to be involved in or see here, on your doorstep? This is the first event and we really want your ideas, so pop in. Whether that’s yarn bombing, a marching band, coffee mornings, or an aqua disco…what would you love to see happen here in Bramley?
We finally made it to a tank! after searching for a location since 2019 for the next stage of the Human Aquarium we finally got to do a shoot in TankSpace in Nottingham, with support from Arts Council England. We are currently be lucky enough to be working with film maker Wayne Sables and photographer Tom Martin find out more about our day the the tank by watching the behind the scenes video below.
We are back! Our first live festival performance of the year!
Here’s what FEVA have to say: Yorkshire Life Aquatic – Dry Land Synchronised Swimming You’ve heard of swimming in the Nidd, but now we’re swimming in the Market Place! Creators Lucy Meredith and Zoe Parker, who first joined forces in 2013 after discovering a mutual love of synchronised swimming and mermaids as well as a concern for the state of the oceans and their inhabitants.
They use art and performance to promote positive body image, health and well-being to the public. They also use ‘art-ivism’ to highlight environmental issues focusing on the oceans and aquatic mammals. Their performances are unique and they pride themselves on making work that is distinctive and brave as well as entertaining.
Click the LINK for more details of performance times/locations
We will be running 3 open sessions in the pool in August to dip our toes back in the water.
Dates: Sunday 8th,15th &22nd August 4-5pm
You don’t need any experience of synchro or water dance – just a sense of fun and adventure. It’s a great way to relax, learn new skills in the pool and practise the basics of synchronised swimming with a friendly group of women. The classes are run by Yorkshire Life Aquatic’s Lucy and Zoe. Classes are open to women 12 years old and over.
Our introductory price is £5 per class (which can be paid by BACS or cash on the day to Yorkshire Life Aquatic)
Please book your place by emailing lucy@yorkshirelifeaquatic.co.uk or Bramleymermaids@gmail.com You can block book all 3 classes or just book certain dates. We are very excited to be getting back in the pool!
Firstly, we are celebrating five years of touring our outdoor show Million Dollar Mermaids. Meet our vintage mermaids that swim on land! ‘A beautifully choreographed romp of pure joy’ that will have audiences delighted and rushing to get back in their swimsuits.
In February, Human Aquarium, our site-responsive and immersive exhibition had its first showing in Leeds City Centre. With over 7500 visitors through the doors in 12 days it was truly a mermazing success. From 3 month old babies to over 80 year olds, the exhibition offered inspiration and fun for all kinds of visitors.After hundreds of community classes and dozens of performances in Yorkshire, we finally took the plunge and brought our Bramley Mermaids Club down South. In May, 11 Yorkshire women and girls performed to over 500 people at the Brighton Fringe Festival’s Synchro Spectactular.
We also took a performance of vintage land swimmers (60+) to perform at Bramley Festival and most recently created a flashmob for the very first Keighley Arts and Film Festival.
A massive thank you to all of this year’s partners and talented collaborators including:
World Cetacean Alliance, Greenpeace Leeds, Brighton Fringe Festival, Feva Festival, Plastic-Free Me, Plastic-Free Youth, Big Lottery, Awards for All, Arts Council England, I will Youth Fund, Comic Relief, Leeds Inspired, Lens and Chisel, Institute for Crazy dancing, Immortal Bloom, Leeds Creative Timebank, Leeds City Council, John Charles Aquatic centre, Bramley Baths,Brighton Swimming Club.
Please find further details below about our touring and future work for your next festival or event…
Million Dollar Mermaids is a Dry Land Synchronised Swimming outdoor and cabaret show. We recreate the fun and glamour of vintage synchro dance and clowning in and out of water, in parks and pools, on beaches, at festivals, and even in fountains. Meet the modern ‘Million Dollar Mermaids’. Family-friendly splashtastic synchro-dance swimming fun BUT on Dry Land!
Book this 20 minute show up to 3 times per day. Add on a splash mob, synchro workshop or walkabout ‘Bathing Belles’. Please contact us for a quote
Featured at:Day at the Lake (Wild Rumpus), Saltaire Festival (on the road, Roberts park & the bandstand), Bathing Beauties Festival (on the beach), Shipley Festival, Farsley Festival, Morecambe Vintage by the Sea, DNweekeND Doncaster, Grassington Festival, Oldham- on-Sea, Vivacity at Peterborough Lido (Wet Sounds), Feva Festival, Leeds Waterfront Festival, Bradford Festival, Bramley Baths, Leeds Light Night, Barnsley Civic.
The Human Aquarium is an Eco-Arts project looking at the world through the eyes of a sea mammal. What does it feel like to live in a tank? And what effects are micro-plastics having on marine life? Even more, what is the human cost?
The Human Aquarium is a brand new exhibition produced by Yorkshire Life Aquatic in February 2019. An immersive Land Aquarium containing thought provoking photographs, installations, films and interactive activities. All created by Leeds-based Artists and Activists.
Contact to book or discuss a bespoke package.
We have created many fun community performances across the country. These vary from land splash-mobs to full water shows. We recently created a flash-mob for Keighley Arts Festival. In May we took our water troupe to Brighton Fringe Festival. Highlights include our immersive exhibition and performance Mermaid Tales at Bramley Baths and our mass Synchro Spectacular made for WI Centenary.
Featured at:
Brighton Fringe, Withington Baths, Bramley Baths, Roberts Park, Bramley Park, Leeds Waterfront festival, Keighley Arts Festival, Withington baths, Brockwell Lido, Peterborough Lido.
Yorkshire Life Aquatic are based in Leeds but can tour locally, nationally and internationally.
We create and consult on new work for the independent arts sectors relating to environmental and synchro-swim and mass dance choreographies.We are interested in creative environmental projects and all things synchronised swimming. so do get in touch with any ideas you might have and chat to us about bringing the mermaids to your festival or event.
