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BRB's Senior Marketing Executive Melissa Evans attended the Ballet for All event on Monday 7 July at Birmingham Hippodrome's Patrick Studio. This professional learning and sector development day for regional practitioners was initiated by the Dancers Leaders Group (DLG), an independent network of 300+ dance professionals based in the West Midlands, as part of their Strength 2 Strength project.
The event was delivered by Freefall Dance Company (Birmingham Royal Ballet), National Youth Ballet, and Suzie Birchwood (a facilitator of inclusive dance practice).
Pirouettes, arabesques, leaps, pointe work - the mini showcases had them all.
Take the space - own it!Suzie Birchwood, Disabled Dancer and Creative Access Consultant
These final flourishes by individuals and pairs showed proud confidence in response to Suzie’s invitation to own the space.
Workshops were led by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s (BRB’s) Freefall Dance Company, National Youth Ballet, and Suzie Birchwood.
Ballet For All! was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when organisations come together with a shared commitment to inclusion. It was a real privilege to bring so many passionate people into the same space, to share practice, and to explore how ballet can belong to everyone.Katie Holtom, Dance Leaders Group Project Manager
BRB’s Freefall Dance Company members joyously performed Chairs. Artistic Director Lee Fisher told us that the Freefallers hadn’t performed the piece for a while but the power of muscle memory and the dancers’ concentration was key.
They then led us through our first interactive workshop of the day, creating movements for us to copy in small groups. After some initial awkwardness and nervous laughter, we became more relaxed. Audience participation was not what we expected on a hot summer’s morning!
As someone who has a sibling in a wheelchair I found it powerful to explore movement alongside those with learning difficulties and wheelchair users. Seeing people pirouetting in their wheelchairs along with beautiful arm movements was fabulous. A testament to the event organisers who created a space filled with kindness, acceptance, safety, and positivity.
We hope that this event will be the catalyst for developing more inclusive ballet opportunities in the future.Jo Meredith, National Youth Ballet, Creative Director
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Photos © Hannah Beveridge
Everywhere I looked, there was something that removed a barrier for someone. We had Makaton for those who use this variation of British Sign Language (BSL), fidget toys, permission to step out of the room if feeling overwhelmed, BSL interpreters, quiet spaces, and visual timetables on the wall with the day's schedule.
An energetic young teacher Grace Thompson from National Youth Ballet (NYB) led us through more movement exercises. After gaining support from NYB she now confidently leads ballet workshops as a wheelchair user.
She demonstrated arabesques and other movements for us to copy before stretching us to come up with our own group choreography. Animated conversations and exploration led to beautiful swishes of scarves as props. One group had their arms around each other’s shoulders to finish.
Focus was on movement first, not the person’s body.
Feedback was given to each group by those watching - the parts they enjoyed and what could be developed.
We are at the beginning of a vital and long-overdue conversation about equity in the dance world, particularly in ballet, a form so often bound by codification and resistant to difference.Suzie Birchwood
My favourite moment was just after lunch. Suzie led us through different exercises including copying her movements after she had stopped dancing. She encouraged us to look around the room at what other people were doing and to mirror what we liked, weaving it into our own dance language. Smiles and laughter erupted as people grew in confidence.
Just being in the space where everyone was included as the default - it’s not always like that at conferences.Barbara Palczynski, NYB CEO
It was rich in learning. All of Freefall are excited about taking this work forwards and pioneering inclusive ballet at Birmingham Royal Ballet.Lee Fisher, Birmingham Royal Ballet Head of Creative Learning
Louise from People Dancing sent us off with a reminder to 'build bridges together'. We had all experienced the power of that at Ballet for All.
As some Freefallers shared that the day had been 'hard work' we know that there is still progress ahead to make ballet more inclusive.
With more events and collaborations like this one, that have co-creation and inclusivity at the heart, we can journey forward together.
What comes next is about inviting more people into this conversation, not because they have all the answers, but because they have the openness to engage and the power to help shape a more inclusive future.Suzie Birchwood
Click to find out more about Freefall Dance Company
