Parable Dance, a Brighton-based Community Interest Company (CIC) which aims to provide a space for creativity, individuality, and opportunity for people with disabilities through dance, has secured Arts Council England funding to create a film bringing together 42 of the UK’s most experienced inclusive (disability) dance artists and companies.
Parable Dance’s Artistic Directors Natasha Britton and Erica Moshman have created the film, titled Inclusive Practice Is Good Practice, which is a one and a quarter hour resource offering advice when
teaching dance to people with disabilities.
The film brings together the voices of 42 disabled and non-disabled dance practitioners, including representation from 23 inclusive dance companies and features eight disabled and non-disabled dancers.
Companies featured include those who champion inclusion such as Candoco Dance Company, Stopgap Dance Company and Para Dance UK.
The film, which will be premiered on Parable Dance’s YouTube channel from 7pm on Wednesday, March 10, 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.
Natasha Britton, Parable Dance artistic director, said: “A positive outcome of this past year is that artists and companies have been connecting to share their collective voices more 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.”
Millie Kingsnorth, a dance student, added: “Finding a pathway into inclusive dance is difficult at the best of times, let alone in the current climate. Having diversity and inclusion at the heart of teaching is invaluable because it makes these aspects a priority, not a second thought.”