Logos of Stopgap Dance Company, TIN Arts, People Dancing, Candoco Dance Company and Corali
A statement from The Working Group
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.
We mean business.
The Working Group will act with focus and solidarity through long-standing shared histories and collaborations to:
- Strengthen & renew connections, practices, and shared project activities.
- Amplify diverse voices and engage widely in dialogue.
- Catalyse change, influence and activism with new thinking, critical reflection, and tangible actions.
The Working Group
September 2023
Stopgap's Co-Artistic Director, Laura Jones:
“Working inclusively benefits everyone.
As a young disabled person aspiring to be a dancer I didn’t have any role models. It was a path that was largely unknown. For young disabled people to see a future with opportunities there is real power in the presence of disability representation.
As a disabled person you have to push through so many barriers. So to take action to remove some of those barriers, specifically to dance, and to be that positive change is so important to me personally.
With the Arts Council England data reporting the lack of disability representation in dance it proves that change is well overdue. Change needs to happen. The Working Group brings together companies who have been doing amazing inclusive work for years, but in isolation. By coming together I’m hopeful we can create lasting positive change on the dance ecology improving it for all. Bringing together the breadth of expertise and experience, we can be more impactful to bring the dance sector closer to where it should be, could be and where we want it to be.”
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.
Barriers to Progression & Employment in Dance for Disabled People
In 2019/20, the Diversity Data Report of Arts Council England revealed that Disabled people made up just 5% of the workforce of core funded Dance organisations, the lowest percentage against all other artforms. The Department for Work and Pensions estimated that for 2020/21, 24% of the population identify as Disabled/have a long-term health condition.
In more recent Arts Council England released data for 2020/2021 – 2022/23:
- Only 9% of the workforce are Disabled, with 8% being artists.
- Only 8.5% of National Lottery Project Grant applicants in dance are from Disabled people, compared to 15.6% in theatre and 15.3% in visual arts (2022/23)
The Working Group aims to change this through a new research programme, and by doing so increase Disabled representation in dance. Disabled people will continue to have prominent roles as leaders, managers, and artists through our respective companies, but inclusive dance organisations like us cannot work alone to change this landscape. It is our belief that our sector colleagues must implement a meaningful, long-term change programme in better collaboration with us and with each other.
Research Appointment
We are pleased to announce the appointment of the independent research team, who will lead this important investigation:
- Imogen Aujla(PhD, Dip. CBT) – Freelance Dance Researcher, Lecturer, and Life Coach at Dance in Mind
- Louisa Petts(PhD, AFHEA) – Researcher, Lecturer, and Community Dance Artist
- Kate Marsh(PHD) Assistant Professor at C-DaRE (Centre for Dance Research) at Coventry University
The research team will conduct a nationwide study, engaging with individuals, groups, and organisations within the sector to identify and address the systemic barriers preventing Disabled people from entering, sustaining, and advancing in their dance careers. Theresearch findings will be shared in April 2025.
Backed by Arts Council England
This research is supported by Arts Council England and the overall aim is to gather and analyse current data and evidence so that we can identify and prioritise changes that the sector needs, and develop collaborative and impactful actions, leading to further research and/or projects that will monitor progress of sector change.
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(Working Group members are all National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) of Arts Council England).
* For the purposes of this document when using the term ‘Disabled people’ we mean this to include but not be limited to, people who define as D/deaf, Disabled, neurodivergent, or who are chronically ill, have a learning Disability or live with impairments or mental health conditions. We also understand that our terminology and language may not fully represent or be the preferred descriptive definition for all individuals who define as having a Disability, condition or impairment.