Belgrade Theatre Launches New Artist Residency For Disabled Dance Practitioners

Belgrade Theatre Launches New Artist Residency For Disabled Dance Practitioners

Following on from its powerful and life-affirming photographic exhibition in June, community dance foundation People Dancing is once again teaming up with the Belgrade Theatre for an exciting opportunity as part of its 11 Million Reasons to Dance project.

Funded by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring programme, a brand new artist’s residency has opened up for a disabled dance practitioner currently working in the arts and looking to develop their creative practice.

Aimed at building an initial relationship between the Belgrade and Coventry partners, the scheme will run for approximately five days from February to July 2018, culminating in some form of sharing, presentation or film about the residency. The project aims to play an integral role in developing thinking around disability in the arts, and will be tailored to suit the needs and ideas of individual applicants.

11 Million Reasons to Dance – Black Swan CREDIT SEAN GOLDTHORPE, COMISSIONED BY PEOPLE DANCING

In addition to receiving support in pursuing their own career development goals, the successful candidate will have the chance to work alongside the theatre to:

  • Develop sector change around accessibility, ensuring disabled people are central to the organisations’ thinking and developments
  • Contribute to developing wider and deeper community engagement and growing work for and by disability artists in Coventry
  • Work on a site specific theatre project due to be performed in July 2018. Please note that this may not just be one person, but could be company, collective approach
  • Connect with select schools from across Coventry as part of an Arts Ambassador Schools’ Network Commission.

Applicants should have a minimum of three years’ experience of working in dance and/or the arts, good connections to Coventry and experience of supporting and leading workshops with community groups.

11 Million Reasons to Dance – Billy Elliot CREDIT SEAN GOLDTHORPE, COMISSIONED BY PEOPLE DANCING

11 Million Reasons to Dance is a special commission for Coventry, as part of People Dancing’s national programme to positively profile Deaf and disabled people who dance. The title is a reference to the fact that there are more than 11 million disabled people living in the UK today.

11 Million Reasons to Dance – The Sound of Music CREDIT SEAN GOLDTHORPE, COMISSIONED BY PEOPLE DANCING

Alongside the Belgrade-based exhibition, local dance artists Alexis Haines and Stephanie Sandy worked in collaboration with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Education team to create new dance performance work with Coventry schools, including Baginton Fields, Castle Wood, Sherbourne Fields, Hereward College and Creative Bridges. Presented by Coventry Performing Arts in partnership with the Belgrade, the project saw young people showcase their work alongside a duet by disabled dancers Kate Marsh and Welly O’Brien.

Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 2 February to both:

Vanessa Oxsping – People Dancing [email protected]

Hannah Barker – Belgrade Theatre [email protected]

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