Join us and People Dancing this Autumn for a practice-based research & shared learning themed Inclusion in Dance Network online event.

What will the day include?

This online live event will highlight individuals and organisations current research, approaches to practice, and shared enquiries that are active or have taken place recently from across the UK, and that support and embed the inclusion of *disabled people participating in dance activity.

The livestream is for anyone who works in dance and who may benefit from learning about different methodologies and approaches to inclusion in dance and/or national initiatives that may inform their work or practice.

Presenters on the day include: The Working Group, FABRIC, National Youth Ballet and Parable Dance, Ruth Spencer & Jane McLean – UCLAN and Cheshire Dance and more – please find further information below.

Introduction and Welcome:

Louise Wildish – Head of Inclusion, People Dancing, Becky Bailey, Director of Engagement, FABRIC and Sophie Humphries, Engagement Producer, FABRIC.

• The Working Group – Martin Wilson, Exec Director of Tin Arts will present on behalf of The Working Group to share information about the group, its intent, and its current research ‘Barriers to Progression & Employment in Dance’ which aims to identify the barriers that disabled people have in working and engaging in dance. Martin will share any initial findings and updates from this national research programme.
  
• Sophie Humphries, Engagement Producer at FABRIC will share the legacy activity since Critical Mass 2022, including the current Keep Moving & Performance Strand programme. They will be launching the Common Ground Manual & Practical Guide resources that can be used to embed inclusion into participatory arts projects.
• Pip Kyle – Newcastle University Buisness School – Dancing with Critical Resilience This research sought to identify systemic barriers that prevent disabled people from entering, sustaining and progressing careers in the UK dance sector. It was co-designed in collaboration with Pip Kyle, Researcher and Policy Academy Fellow at Newcastle University Business School, TINARTS, Corali and Stopgap Dance Company.
• Ruth Spencer & Jane McLean – UCLAN & Cheshire Dance – Wanna Dance? Ruth and Jane share their findings and observations within their own practice based research and methodology in developing dance opportunities for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Ruth and Jane are currently working on the Wanna Dance? project with Vivo Care Choices which asks if people with PMLD (profound and multiple learning disabilities) would like to dance, and, if so, how that dance might be? They also host a national Dance and PMLD Practice Sharing Network. You can find out more about their work here: www.pmld-dance.org
• Sarah Archdeacon & DJ Hussain Corali, & Louise Wildish, People Dancing – Leadership in Action Learning Symposium Sarah, DJ and Louise will share learning and findings from the Corali and People Dancing led event that took place in June 2024, with supporting partners Anjali Dance Company, DanceSyndrome, Stopgap Dance Company and TIN Arts. The Leadership in Action symposium: Advocating for learning disabled dance leaders was a day long event held in June at Attenborough Arts Centre that supports/ed learning disabled dance leaders from across the UK to come together to explore leadership, and dance together in one space. They will share some of the observations, data, learning and legacies from the day.
• National Youth Ballet and Parable Dance – All In – Jo Meredith and Natasha Britton – ONLINE NYB! All In! is a collaboration between National Youth Ballet and Parable Dance, together the companies have been exploring through creative projects and by developing a steering group, how ballet can be taught and delivered in a more inclusive way. Jo Meredith (NYB) & Natasha Britton (Parable) will share the learning from their most recent programme of activity.
  

Access Information

The event will be BSL interpreted. Transcription and captions will also be available on the livestream.

If you would like to attend but face barriers to do so, please contact us for a discussion for ways to engage.

How to Book and Booking Details

To book this event, please head to the People Dancing event page by clicking here or press the book now button at the top of this page.

Cost for live stream online presentations

• Disabled People: FREE
• Support workers to disabled people: FREE
• People Dancing Members: FREE
• Standard: £5

*When using the term ‘disabled people’ we mean this to include but not be limited to, people who define as D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, or who are chronically ill, have a learning disability or live with impairments or mental health conditions. We also understand that our terminology and language may not fully represent or be the preferred descriptive definition for all individuals who define as having a disability, condition or impairment.