A Brighton-based community interest company has secured Arts Council England funding to create a film bringing together 42 of the UK’s most experienced inclusive dance artists and companies.
Titled Inclusive Practice Is Good Practice, this 75min resource offers advice on teaching dance to people with disabilities. The film brings together the voices of 42 disabled and nondisabled dance practitioners, including representation from 23 inclusive dance companies and features 8 disabled and non-disabled dancers.
“A positive outcome of this past year is that artists and companies have been connecting to share their collective voices mor,” says Parable Dance’s Artistic Directo , Natasha Britton. “…and to advocate for the arts to not only survive but to thrive. We were keen to harness this wish to collaborate by bringing together some of the most experienced inclusive dance artists and companies from around the UK to make this film.”
Companies featured include those well known for championing inclusion, such as Candoco Dance Company, Stopgap Dance Company and Para Dance UK, and is the first time the inclusive dance community have come together in this way.
Parable Dance, a Community Interest Company provides inclusive dance workshops for people with disabilities in the South East and training for teachers with and without disabilities nationwide.
“Finding a pathway into inclusive dance is difficult at the best of times, let alone in the current climate,” said Dance student, Millie Kingsnorth. “Having diversity and inclusion at the heart of teaching is invaluable because it makes these aspects a priority, not a second thought.”
The film is aimed at anyone wanting to develop their inclusive dance skills, and particularly at university students, new graduates and early career dance artists both with and without disabilities, who have been missing out on work experience opportunities due to the pandemic. The speakers offer advice to people starting out, talk about their approaches, how to ensure access in dance classes, and offer top tips for teaching. It will be available for free for years to come to help steer new inclusive dance artists in their career.
Parable Dance’s Inclusive Practice Is Good Practice will be premiered on their YouTube channel from 7pm on Weds 10 March 2021