A Year in Review

2024

Published:

As we come to the end of the year, it is time to slow down, celebrate 2024 and take a well-earned rest.

The start of 2024 brought an exciting new adventure, as we welcomed our first cohort of Future Leaders, Annie-Rose Grantham as Assistant Producer and Monique Jarrett as Assistant Artistic Director. Here they share their highlights and we reflect on some of Stopgap's achievements from the past 12 months.

A black and white photo of Lived Fiction dancers Christian and Monique sitting on the stage of the Quays Theatre at The Lowry.

A black and white photo of Lived Fiction dancers Christian and Monique sitting on the stage of the Quays Theatre at The Lowry. On the left Christian, a white non-disabled man with short black hair, sits facing Monique, his posture curves in and his head tilts down, his right hand is held tight across his chest. On the right Monique, a short-statured Black Disabled woman, sits with her legs stretched to the camera, her head is tilted up and her left hand is placed on her extended left leg. Behind them are rows of seats and the glowing lights ringing each circle of the auditorium.

Our whirlwind year as future leaders…

Monique:

“I have never been more proud than premiering Lived Fiction to a live audience. Representing artistic excellence as a Disabled dancer is joyous, although at times slightly terrifying. I was overwhelmed by the audience’s response. When I hear how they connect to the performance and feel understood and cared for by the integrated access, it brings me to tears. 

Developing my own teaching style has been a huge achievement. In November People Dancing invited me to guest host their Disabled Artist Network Event. I led a class using the skills I’ve learnt including: open language, offering variations, and practising the structure of a Stopgap Dance class.

I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone and it’s built my confidence. In particular as an advocate speaking about the importance of inclusive dance. The belief in me from the team and the training from Confidence Space has enabled me to represent Stopgap for press such as BBC Radio London, participate in a panel discussion for Unlimited Festival, and the post show artist talks for audiences of Lived Fiction. I still get nervous, but I am proud to say it’s getting so much easier with practice.”

Annie-Rose:

“Today I sit here reflecting, in awe of how much I have progressed in 2024. Representing Stopgap at networking events plus all the training have contributed enormously to my journey as a leader. A personal highlight has been the tour management of Frock, a work close to my heart as a performer. Tour management included many challenges, but the skills I gained in problem solving have developed me as a producer. Collaborating with Monique on our creative project was an uplifting and thrilling process where I discovered how much I love working as a producer. I have new found confidence in decision making and public speaking.

The Future Leaders programme is my most memorable experience in my career and one I will cherish. I am grateful for the time and effort of my Stopgap colleagues on the programme designed for D/deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people. I am going into 2025 a new version of myself.”

Highlights from 2024

Ready for 2025

Monique & Annie-Rose:

December is here and we’re already looking forward to the start of 2025. Stopgap has some amazing things lined up including continuing to tour Lived Fiction, and our final project as Future Leaders which we are so excited to share with you.

We are preparing an online event in March; that asks how we (the sector) can increase the number of D/deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent leaders within the dance industry. Sharing our experiences of the Future Leaders programme we invite you all to join us in exploring the answers. Sadly for us the programme will come to a conclusion in April, but our journeys won’t end there. As we venture out into the world beyond Stopgap to promote and position ourselves as Disabled leaders.