Heart Performance was first set up in 1996 when a group of performers and artists came together to make a piece of dance theatre WAVING NOT DROWNING  based on experiences of hospitals and extreme illness. Between 1996 & 2003 we were funded by the Arts Council,  North Tyneside Arts,  The Hospital of God at Greatham and The Community Foundation. After a 3 year gap the company is now incorporated as a Community Interest Company, Heart Performance CIC and are moving on to the next stage of developing our work through performances and workshops in dance, music, theatre, video and other media helped by a grant from Awards for All (National lottery Funding). We'll be making work that is relevant to health care and healing in hospitals, health centres and other environments working with groups and individuals who have an interest in using the arts as part of the healing process. We want to explore, reflect and comment on the dynamics and processes of health care and healing in the modern world. We're in the process of establishing the company as a permanent arts ensemble in the Northeast of England expanding our range of creative possibilities to engage with new audiences and participants, touring in 2008 to a range of venues including arts centres, community centres, festivals theatres, schools, colleges, health centres and hospitals in the UK & Europe. We also want to provide opportunities for employment and training for professional actors, dancers, musicians and other artists as well as encouraging non-professionals to engage with and be involved in our work. The present company includes artists who have been part of Heart's past work along with other artists including dancers, actors, film makers, musicians and visual artists who want to develop and explore the potential of arts in the healing process. Present & past members of  Heart Performance include: Adrin Neatrour, Alain Allard, Andrew StJohn, Anna Egseth, Claudia Kappenberg, Emma Tarrant, Gordon Sharp, Jacqueline Quinn, Jo Templey, Keith Mills, Karen Banning, Lisa Vandervelde, Lynn Campbell, Paul O'Shea, Rachel Kurtz, Stella Davies, Tim Swinton, Ye Min, Waltraud Biberbach.