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National Inclusion Week: Impact Matters

Our Community & Inclusion Manager, Tamar Dixon, walks us through how Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives impact the Dance sector.

19 September 2024

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Dancer Blythe Hood, One Dance UK, Dani Bower Photography

Intro from Chinyere Ogbue, Head of Workforce Development, One Dance UK

National Inclusion Week is an important initiative, founded by inclusion specialists - Inclusive Employers - to support all organisations and individuals, spotlight and celebrate inclusion and create inclusive spaces. This year’s theme focuses on the importance of impact (#ImpactMatters). This serves as a reminder for all of us who value inclusion, to continue to measure the impact that our work has on our sector.

In celebration of this week, our Community & Inclusion Manager, Tamar Dixon, walks us through how Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives impact the Dance sector. Tamar also provides some insight to what we should be thinking about in relation to inclusion. 

If you have any queries relating to EDI, please do not hesitate to contact our team at accessandinclusion@onedanceuk.org      

Dancer Rebecca Fowler, Freewheelin, One Dance UK, Dani Bower Photography

Who is ‘underrepresented’ and what do we mean?  

Underrepresented refers to a person, group, or community of people, who face barriers to equal opportunity and representation: ethnic origin, religious beliefs & faith, health disorders, to name a few.  

Regarding dance, this can also mean gaining representation and equal opportunities in areas of training, development and leadership.

For instance, accessing formal education in dance or embarking on professional dance training opportunities, (e.g. upskilling from being a dance student to choreographer).

These are a few examples of where underrepresentation may present itself and how underrepresented individuals and communities, may experience a greater disadvantage. 

Why is National Inclusion Week important?

It's not just about being invited to the party, or shall we say, to the stage; most importantly, it is about feeling welcomed, heard, and seen."

Take great advantage of this week and beyond to become more exposed to new and innovative ways of practising, studying or even highlighting the impact of the dance sector with your team. Let's not forget about the positive impact and outcome of introducing EDI within the dance sector, whether you are an independent dance practitioner, student, choreographer or dance educator.

EDI offers us an opportunity to promote fair treatment, nurture healthy environments (both on and off stage), where dancers can show up as their true self.

Engage in self-study and self-exploration. Perhaps reach out to us at One Dance UK, for key resources on Inclusion.

"It's not just about being invited to the party, or shall we say, to the stage; most importantly, it is about feeling welcomed, heard, and seen."

Beyond dancing for joy, dance has also acted as a vehicle for change, storytelling, and activism, such as highlighting and addressing global issues, where dance can act as a powerful tool.

London Contemporary Dance School, postgraduate course, MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism, and its international co-curating team, is one example that offers dancers and dance makers, the opportunity to explore and study how to utilise dance with activism.  

Further examples of dance activism and the impact of embedding EDI are:

  • FUBUNATION - Highlighting mental health and Black male identity 
  • Phoenix Dance Theatre – Addressing racial and cultural diversity  
  • Stopgap Dance Company - Championing disability inclusion and access 
  • Akram Khan – Focusing on identity, decolonisation and migration, through South Asian and Contemporary dance 

 

Shine a light on what matters to you.

Begin to represent not only your own voice but reach out to dynamic voices from across the sector. Represent different ideas and diverse movers and shakers! The question is, are you reflecting differences within your dance practice and dance journey? Who will you bring on your dance journey?   

 

By Tamar Dixon, Community and Inclusion Manager, One Dance UK

Additional resources

MA Dance, Participation, Communities, Activism video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8r5v2pxb9A 

MA Dance, Participation, Communities, Activism news story: https://www.onedanceuk.org/news/london-contemporary-dance-school-introduces-new-ma-dance-participation-communities-activism 

Using The Power of Dance To Address Climate Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=8iWtqnaklWg