Candoco Dance Company, Corali, People Dancing, Stopgap Dance Company and TIN Arts (collectively known as The Working Group) are urging the dance sector to commit to change based on outcomes from new research – published in full today – addressing the low engagement of disabled people in the dance workforce, exploring Barriers to Progression & Employment in Dance for Disabled People.
Funded by Arts Council England the research identified 7 themes, each encompassing specific barriers to progression and employment, covering competition, chance, cost, community, care, confidence and culture.
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.
Urging the dance-sector to review the findings and commit to change, the Working Group have stated their intentions going forward:
- 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. To 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 research was undertaken by disabled led independent research team including Dr Imogen Aujla, Dr Louisa Petts and Dr Kate Marsh, commissioned by The Working Group and managed by People Dancing.
To view the reports and for more information on the work please visit www.beyondbarriersindance.info