Looking back at our inclusive and community dance learnings and sharing at WWTP
This month, we have invited speakers to deliver and share their experiences and expertise in inclusive community dance with our WWTP network here in Wales.
We have invited back Uma O'Neill from WISP Dance in North Wales and Jessie Brett, from Humans Move, which is based in Mid Wales, to again share with us their knowledge and learnings from their practice here in Wales and also in Ethiopia.
Over the last 12 months we have had many inspirational speakers and teachers who have been generous to provide insight, guidance and sharing best practice around inclusive community dance.
Here’s a recap of some of the inclusive sessions from the last 12 months:
"Disability and Dance: Dancing through adversity"
Joe Powell-Main
Joe Powell-Martin is a Welsh freelance disabled dancer and choreographer. Joe has worked with leading companies including The Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Ballet Cymru and New Works Ballet Theatre. More recently, Joe has founded his own production company JPM productions which aims to make the art form of dance more accessible, inclusive and representational.
His online session was a unique insight into his training and his journey back to dance, after acquiring his disability and becoming a wheelchair user.
Joe was generous to our network shared his lived experience of disability focusing on some the high points and challenges of this through living his dream as dancer and choreographer.
Joe was incredibly insight on how ballet and dance can become more accessible and sharing more about his advocacy work.
“Joe's talk about his journey was so inspirational and clear that his passion for dance has allowed him to break down barriers in the dance industry especially in ballet to make the style more accessible to everyone. Thank you so much for sharing your story Joe.” WWTP Attendee.
“What an inspirational talk! I really enjoyed listening to your journey through dance and admire your resilience and strength to continue to want and pursue your passion of performing. You are incredible and are pushing boundaries especially in the ballet world which is very elitist and where they look at physical appearance and specific body mechanics. Ballet is so much more than aesthetics and procession it is a language, emotion, expression and more.” WWTP attendee.
More information about Joe can be found at www.joepowellmain.com
Moving Together: The Power of Dance in Care and Community
Dr Bethan Ryland
We invited Dr Bethan Ryland from Caerphilly County Borough Council and Lead Project Officer from Blackwood Miners to share how dance is transforming lives in care settings and communities. This session was an interactive and vibrant and allowed our community dance network to experience the joy and impact of movement through real-life stories, videos, and innovative approaches. We saw and heard how silent discos are bringing smiles and connection to care homes, and explored how tailored playlists and inclusive environments are making a difference in outdoor spaces. This session helped us understand the ways we can move, connect, and explore new ways to support wellbeing together.
“It was great to hear about Beth's work and you can see through the films the joy that this work is bringing to both care workers and those they are caring for. It’s wonderful that it has the power to really connect those taking part in a different way to their usual daily care home experiences. I was interested in how this work also affects the care workers and what benefits it has to them too.” WWTP attendee.
Jessie Brett from Humans Move
Jessie Brett is the Artistic Director of Humans Move, an inclusive theatre dance company now based in Wales. Jessie is neurodivergent and has worked in inclusive practice here in Wales and in Ethiopia. In her online session she shared how she used her learnings from Ethiopia now here in Wales and her approach to working inclusively through her own company but also supporting Hijinx and schools in Mid Wales.
As well as informative online sessions, we held two CPD in person sessions for our network in North and South Wales.
Partner venue, Theatr Clwyd hosted the CPD session focusing on dance for adults with PMLD which was facilitated by Jane McLean and Ruth Spencer. Jane who is the Lead Artist on Cheshire Dance’s Wanna Dance? Programme said, “It has been an absolute pleasure to deliver a CPD day in North Wales as part of the Wales Wide Training programme. It was excellently organised with clear, thoughtful and solution focused communication throughout the lead-up and on the day. It was heartening to see PMLD placed at the centre of the Wales Wide Training Programme’s focus—this kind of specialist CPD is vital for deepening inclusive practice across the sector. The diversity of dance practitioners attending from across Wales brought a rich exchange of perspectives, making the day inspiring for us (Ruth and I) to deliver.”
In South Wales, we held the CPD session at our home at Rubicon Dance which focused on Visual Impairment and Creative Work which was facilitated by Dr Kate Lawrence and Karina Jones.
We had 12 attendees at each in depth session and people said:
“Both workshop leaders had wonderful knowledge with a wide variety of experience and were able to translate that to participants really clearly.The additional skills I gained from the workshop has helped me to be much clearer when describing activities to class participants. I was able to put it into practice in my class this morning.” WWTP attendee.
“When we closed our eyes and one dancer guided the other moving through the space and just walking through the space lead by the arm really impacted on my ability to balance well. I hadn't considered this before, so I will take that learning and find ways to apply it in my sessions.” WWTP attendee.
The inclusive sessions across the last year have been diverse and varied, supporting our network at different levels and abilities. One of our WWTP member reminded us we do what we do because…
“As a freelance practitioner it is rare for me to; 1. be able to take time off to attend training days and 2. afford them. To be offered a free place is a real rarity and deeply appreciated as it allowed me to gain so much insight for my own personal practice and to make connections with other practitioners in my area.”
Find out more about the Wales Wide Training Programme
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