Welcome to our first ever creative learning roundup! From launching brand new courses to running CPD across the country and taking our practice internationally, this post rounds up what we’ve been learning, sharing and building together so far in 2026.
Creative learning is a foundational part of our mission and work; the training, workshops, courses and conversations we share to build understanding of inclusive dance practice, whether that’s with dance artists, teachers, young people or the wider sector. We hope this gives you a real sense of the breadth of that work – and we’re looking forward to sharing more roundups like this in future!
A young white man with Down syndrome smiles at the camera as he rubs the back of someone in front, another dancer repeats the same action behind him.
Access & Advocacy
Training
In 2026, we’ve noticed a real increase in requests for training and sessions focussing on access and advocacy. Hopefully this is supported in part by the launch of a dedicated area on our website, but we also see it as a sign of ambition within the sector to build on existing knowledge around inclusion. We’re proud to support that ambition and to champion those we deliver to.
So far this year we’ve delivered Embracing Neurodiversity training to Ensonglopedia, National Youth Dance Company and Made by Katie Green, who told us:
“Everyone came away feeling really full of new information but also excited about the potential of this new knowledge. We were all in positions where we work regularly with dance with different groups, so I felt like everyone had opportunities to take the ideas away with them and implement them straight away.”
January also saw the launch of the Access Ballet Collective, who are collaborating to explore how we can make ballet more accessible and equitable.
Creative Access
The start of 2026 also saw the launch of our brand new course, Kaleidoscope, which welcomed 46 attendees from around the world to a series of online workshops on Creative Access for dance and performance with Access Artist Lily and Co-Artistic Director Lucy Bennett. We were thrilled to collaborate again with Ben Glover, and to welcome Amelia Lander-Cavallo from Quiplash and Jess Thom and Will Renel of Touretteshero to share their creative access practices. As one attendee put it, our approaches “really point to access as human connection, as opposed to access as information delivery” – while another simply valued being “in community with other access and creative practitioners,” adding, “I learned so much from every session I was able to come to.”
Alongside Kaleidoscope, we continued our connection with Disrupt Disability Arts Festival, heading to Dublin to share a workshop on Embedded Access (check out this lovely film on Disrupt’s Instagram). Lily and Lucy also introduced creative access practices to new producers at London Studio Centre and to dance artists at Rubicon.
Images from our workshop with Disrupt. Disabled dance artist Monique demonstrates a movement with her hands. Disabled Access Artist Lily leads a presentation. A piece of paper with 'Access Agreement' at the centre, and words like choice, flexibility and communication surrounding.
Advocacy
For us, being part of the conversation matters just as much as leading it, and we value joining discussions at conferences and events across the UK and internationally. At the end of May, Laura took part in a panel alongside fellow Disabled artists Simi Roach and Christopher Samuels at the Paradox of Hypervisibility symposium at Cambridge, which looked at how disabled artists are taking control of how they’re seen – turning a history of being stared at without consent into performances where they choose how and when to be watched. Then in July we were at Radical Motion, a new disability dance festival in Folkestone hosted by ConfiDance, where Senior Dance Artist Hannah Sampson shared her perspective on Learning Disabled Leadership, followed by a short workshop.
Our internal Access & Advocacy group continues to do the quieter work of keeping this development moving inside the company. We’ve recently spent time discussing the impact of current Access to Work cuts and co-creating our response together.
Supporting professional development
Across the year we run a variety of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, both internally through our own programmes and being invited by organisations around the country to deliver CPD for their communities. It’s part of the bedrock of our company to dedicate ourselves to the continued development of inclusive practice and it’s a great opportunity to meet like-minded practitioners and artists.
Our CPDs in Berkshire reached 29 dance artists through sessions focussing on Inclusive Dance for Primary Schools and Sensory Moves; a CPD for teaching dancers with complex needs. One participant put it simply:
“I really enjoyed the training, and it has given me a number of ideas for how to teach dance effectively to pupils with PMLD and complex needs in my SEN school.”
Community Engagement Artist Cherie shared:
“Everyone was engaged and eager to learn from us, to network with each other and there was space for much needed conversations. It was a joy to hear what these teachers do, who they work with and want to bring into their lessons and school but it was apparent that unfortunately there isn’t enough on offer in terms of CPDs and it’s a struggle to find the time to be able to attend due to school scheduling. We had a lot of teachers at the end ask if we go into schools to deliver and were incredibly thankful for the training. It reiterated to me just how valuable these types of offers are and how much participants gain from having the opportunity to be fed with new ideas, tools and offerings but also having space to connect with each other.”
Seedbed 2026
Seedbed, our online inclusive teacher training programme continues! Co-Artistic Director and lead Seedbed host Laura Jones shared:
“It is such a valuable opportunity for Stopgap to share our experience and knowledge of inclusive teaching approaches and tools, alongside experts with lived experience, to dance teachers across the globe. The sessions were full of rich conversations and practical tools."
It has been wonderful to meet people on our CPD’s who have previously attended Seedbed. It provides a grounding in inclusive practice that really supports and increases the impact of our practical sessions. To discover more about our CPD offer head to our area for artists and teachers, or sign up to our newsletter to be notified of future opportunities.
Reaching out
Our community outreach spans local, national and international connections this year! Beginning internationally, at the end of May, we headed to Georgia to take part in InForm’s Bodies in Motion project, culminating in a new piece, First Light. Read more about that trip in our blog: Connecting through Culture.
We continued our partnership with Northern School of Contemporary Dance: In February, Nadenh and Emily led an intensive inviting in local young Disabled people, not just for a one-off session, but as a potential future training avenue, chipping away at the assumption that an institution like NSCD isn’t built with Disabled dancers in mind. Emily reflected:
“We had a great time with the group and enjoyed everyone’s enthusiasm and team work! We were really pleased the group took to our ideas which can be quite challenging and out of their comfort zone, for example, using their voices to make sounds and movement translation. By the end of the intensive the dancers had grown in confidence and some were sharing material by themselves. A win!”
Off the back of that success, Emily returned in May with Monique to lead a half-term workshop!
While touring Lived Fiction to the Midlands, we were invited to share workshops with young people on Fabric’s East-Midlands CAT Scheme. Across two sessions, students explored repertoire and tasks connected to the production, before watching it performed at Lakeside in Nottingham. Here’s what the students thought of Lived Fiction:
We were also invited to lead morning class with Independent Dance at Siobhan Davies in London, Senior Artist Christian reflects on that week in his own blog post.
Connecting locally
Dance is often one of the first places a young person might encounter the idea that bodies can move in lots of different ways and still be doing the same thing. For a lot of children, especially those who’ve never seen a Disabled dancer or dance teacher, it’s a brand new idea. From primary age through to GCSE, we work with schools to introduce dance to young people, whilst also introducing principles of working inclusively. Moving much closer to home, Stopgap has enjoyed being present at events in our local borough of Rushmoor, taking part in Victoria Day and Armed Forces Day.
Christian at our stall for Aldershot's Victoria Day. Cherie and Hannah leading a workshop under a huge stripy circus tent, small children sit and watch, ready to join in.
“We really value and place high importance on building relationships with young people in our local community and schools. This grassroots work remains a priority, supporting our goal to connect children and young people to dance at an early stage. We feel privileged to be part of these young people’s first experiences of inclusive dance and contributing to the start of their dance journeys.”
– Belinda Preston, Stopgap’s Creative Learning Manager
Wrapping up
Bringing this bumper blog to a close, we wanted to end by sharing some brilliant shots from our time performing at Lift Off!
Two standing dancers shift back and forth.
Three dancers cross their arms and hold hands as they stand next to one another.
A pair of dancers reach and look through a big gap created by another two dancers holding hands and creating a large circle.
A wide shot of Farnham Youth Dance Company on stage.
The final activity of the term was our annual Summer Social, each year we love to invite our youth and community groups together with their families, friends and caregivers, to share some games, movement, fun and reflections on the year. We also had the chance to wish Community Engagement Artist Cherie all the best for her maternity leave!
Our brilliant creative learning team surrounded by our youth and community dancers and their families and caregivers.
Thank you for taking the time to read or listen to this blog. This busy season of activities is made possible by a brilliant and dedicated Creative Learning team!
Explore our website and discover more about our Creative Learning offer...
