Progression Routes

Progression Pathways Forum

DLG has just launched our Dance in Education Advocacy Films, an initiative by DLG to champion the transformative power of dance in education. The campaign features a series of four compelling films, each tailored to resonate with a unique audience: Young People, Parents, Head Teachers & Governors, and Government & Policy Makers.

However, the DLG network recognise that mainstream education & extra-curricular activities are not available for everyone. In the next phase of our work, we want to explore routes into dance that are outside the ‘norm’.

We will be launching a forum for 6 months that can delve deeper into where & how we make dance more relevant, diverse and inclusive.

Call to Action

On Saturday 12 October, Corali & FABRIC are starting this conversation. They will be looking at what exists right now, where are the gaps and what can we do as a sector. If you are interested in being part of the conversation, sign up and join the discussion

Mentoring

Through Strength 2 Strength, DLG are supporting a small number of disabled & non-disabled emerging artists to gain invaluable support and mentoring with like-minded organisations and individuals, enabling stronger talent development and progression pathways. This will have an inclusive focus, with the aim to enable more disabled employment and representation in the arts.

Our current chosen mentee’s are as follows:

Maiah Bennett Bhaita

Mentor TBC

Maiah started dancing when she was 16 as part of Critical Mass 2022. She's been dancing ever since, joining Future Shift Youth Company, taking part in projects like U.Dance, Festival 23 with Solara and recently Uplift at Birmingham Weekender. Maiah wants a career in dance and is looking forward to gaining some useful inisght from a mentor on how to get there.

Beth Pattison

With Anjali Dance Company

Beth has been a professional dancer with Motionhouse for 7 years, since training at Trinity Laban in BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance. Beth is passionate in continuing to make dance accessible to anyone who is interested in it and sharing her love of dance.

She'll be working closely with the Anjali team to learn more about producing and deepening her skills and knowledge in professional anti-ableist dance environments. She will be working closely with the Anjali Producer, observing the main company training sessions, engaging with our learning-disabled artists and participating in our international exchange with com.dance.

Dancers from Birmingham Royal Ballet's Freefall

With Jo Meridith, National Youth Ballet

Birmingham Royal Ballet will explore mentoring opportunities alongside National Youth Ballet's 'Ballet All In' project, thinking about what inclusive ballet looks like, and the progression & training routes for disabled ballet dancers.

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That! Dance: Emerging leaders programme

Mentor TBC

That! Dance is one of the Critical Mass Legacy groups based in Burton on Trent and Lichfield. In collaboration with Brewhouse Arts Centre and another arts organisation, members of That! Dance will devleop skills in teaching, project management and film.

Art Form Inclusivity Workshops

We would love to work with you! Strength 2 Strength is offering a unique opportunity to work closely with specific art-forms, looking specifically at improving inclusivity across technique, approach and culture.

We recognise that cultural sensitivity and defined technique can be difficult to translate. Using our skilled network of professionals in inclusive practice, we can work together to understand what the barriers are to specific art-forms and what adjustments can be made to ensure greater access for all.

For example, how can we ensure hand gestures and footwook in Bharatanatyam stays culturally authentic but can be translated for different bodies? Can the french language in Ballet be taught in a visual or sensory way to aid different learning styles?

Get in touch with us if you'd be interested in questioning your practice in this way - sophie@fabric.dance

FABRIC's Common Ground Manual is also now available in digital and physical print formats and you can book different workshop packages for your organisation on inclusive participatory projects.