As The Working Group publishes their full findings from the 'barriers to progression & employment in dance for Disabled people' research, the collective highlights three priority areas for change.
Bermuda-born, Wales-based dancer, Krystal Lowe, with feet planted wide and one hand supporting her on the ground, she arches backward over some dark, rugged rocks. Her other arm raised up as if hooked by the elbow. Above her, the grey moody sky is full of clouds. Krystal is a Black woman with short dark hair and is wearing a deep red dress that floats down in the arch created by her body, together with white converse. Credit - 11 Million Reasons to Dance: Cymru – Dancer Krystal Lowe – photographer Philip Hatcher-Moore, commissioned by People Dancing.
The research findings
The Working Group (Candoco Dance Company, Corali, People Dancing, Stopgap Dance Company and TIN Arts) are delighted to announce the published reports of the research: Barriers to Progression & Employment in Dance for Disabled People.
We are urging the dance sector to commit to change based on the outcomes from the research – published in full today – to address the low engagement of Disabled people in the dance workforce.
Funded by Arts Council England the research identified seven themes – the 7 Cs – each encompassing specific barriers to progression and employment:
- competition
- chance
- cost
- community
- care
- confidence
- culture
What next?
The Working Group recommend that the dance-sector address cost, chance and culture as the immediate priority. Addressing these will have a positive impact for Disabled people in dance.
We hope you will review the findings and join us in committing to change. Together with the rest of The Working Group, going forward we will:
Discuss, reflect, interrogate and listen
We will take time to reflect and interrogate the learnings from this research.
We will do this through discussions together and also within our organisations, listening to our teams and communities. We will discuss what are the quick wins we can achieve within our resources and what are the longer-term strategies we need to implement, and who do we need to bring with us in this endeavour.
We ask you all to join us in initiating your own discussions and period of listening.
Be brave and bold in what we can imagine together.
Share the research
Keep talking to the sector, our partners and organisations who haven’t yet engaged with the research.
Make sure it cannot be missed by anyone who is working in our dance sector especially those with gatekeeping powers or influence for change.
The Working Group
Joining together to champion Disabled people in the dance workforce.
Candoco Dance Company, Corali, People Dancing, Stopgap Dance Company & TIN Arts are co-collaborators in a shared enquiry and Working Group to challenge ourselves and others to increase and sustain the presence and representation of Disabled people in the dance workforce and its leadership.
Find out more about the collaboration