On World Ballet Day 2025 "Access becomes Art", we are proud to announce the launch of the Access Ballet Collective and celebrate the brilliant ballet organisations and individuals we have worked with who advocate for change in ballet to make it a space where everyone can participate and thrive.
Logos of ballet cymru, Birmingham Royal Ballet, bbodance, English National Ballet, JPM Productions, Kate Stanforth Academy of Arts, National Youth Ballet, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Northern Ballet, Rambert School, Stopgap Dance Company, Suzie Birchwood.
Introducing the Access Ballet Collective
This newly formed group are collaborating to explore how we can make ballet more accessible and equitable. Our shared commitment to this network will allow us to delve into our experiences and challenges, supporting each other to implement change.
Commencing in 2026, the Access Ballet Collective will aim to:
- Forge connections, sharing our best practice in accessible engagement and performance work
- Engage in dialogue, asking the important questions and supporting each other with how to progress further
- Facilitate a safe and open space, to share our lived experiences, centring the voices and needs of Disabled people in ballet
Laura Jones, Co-Artistic Director says:
“We’re proud to be part of the ABC, sharing our lived experiences and collaborating alongside leading voices in the UK ballet world. Together, we’re committed to continuous learning, collective growth, and inspiring lasting change across the art form.”
Messages from the collective members:
Suzie Birchwood at Ballet Cymru’s/National Youth Arts Wales Season’s of Change event which explores inclusive ways of working in ballet. Photo by: Evan Dawson
ENB's Audio Described performance of My First Ballet: Swan Lake during a Touch Tour.
Northern Ballet dancers and Ability dancers in Every Little Thing is a Change. Photo Lydia Hutton
Young dancers at the ballet barre, representing bbodance's drive to make adjustments and special considerations in examinations.
Joe Powell-Main performing on stage alongside Ella Appleby. Photo by Kirsten McTernan
Kate Stanforth Academy of Arts is an official partner with The Royal Ballet School, providing professional termly inclusive dance classes at Covent Garden and online. Photo by Shona Cobb
NYB All In! Classes, The Dance Space. Photo by Jules Renahan
NSCD's students in the studio. Photo by David Lindsay.
Young dancers from Rambert School's Access Ballet Initiative. Photo by James Keates
Suzie Birchwood works to help every body feel included, through creating commonalities in movement and language.