19th July 2025
in February 2025, Norwich Castle published a call-out for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to dance, with workshops building up to a performance. There was an incredible response, and a brand-new intergenerational dance group was formed. Some people in the group were experienced dancers and some people were dancing for the very first time. The project was made possible thanks to the players of the National Lottery, with funding gratefully received from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Norfolk County Council, and other supporters for the Royal Palace Reborn project.
Led by Glass House Dance, and devised and project-managed by Rosalind Hewett, participants worked together to create a dance piece called ‘Flight of the Falcon‘, inspired by a falcon’s journey through the medieval castle keep. Workshops took place during the spring of 2025 and participants went from being a group of strangers to a united dance company. It was decided the new dance company – based at Norwich Castle – would be called Cast, which is the collective noun for a group of falcons. Cast performed alongside four existing local dance groups: Cadenza, City College Norwich, Dance Egyptian Norwich, and D4Dance at The Garage.
The power of human connection through dance cannot be underestimated, and the joy I have felt in this project was a gift I will be forever thankful for.
Participant feedback
The special performance of ‘Flight of the Falcon’ took place shortly before the Norwich Castle Keep re-opened with a cast of over fifty dancers, ranging in age from 3 to 70+.
Running order of pieces with choreographer credits
What I Imagine for Myself, a dance film by Lucy Thompson and dancers from City College Norwich
In the Shadows, by D4Dance and Victoria Jacobs
Dreams of Flight, by Dance Egyptian Norwich and Kay Wheatley
Looking But Not Seeing, by Cadenza and Laura Anderson
The Things We Keep, by Cast at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and Glass House Dance
Finale, by the company and Glass House Dance
For Norfolk Museums Service
Producer: Rosalind Hewett (Learning & Engagement Officer, Norwich Museums)
Assistant Producer: Jasmine Harvey
Learning Team: Jan Pitman, Maja Jackson, Sophie Wilkins, Amy Arber, Susie Childerhouse, Beth David, and Emma Clarke
Thank you to all Norfolk Museums Service staff. Special thanks to Hannah Jackson and Jenny Caynes for their ongoing support.
‘Flight of the Falcon’ was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Norfolk County Council, and all the other supporters for Royal Palace Reborn.
To read full credits, download the final freesheet for the performances
Being part of something’s history is a very special thing to me. My family loves history and I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of the reopening of the Castle Keep.
Participant feedback
Find out more about Glass House Dance
Read more about the participants’ experiences of the project
Photos throughout by Malachy Luckie.