Brum Pro Class (BPC) is looking for freelance dancers for 2 upcoming opportunities as part of our action research project: Inclusive Dance Practice Professional Development Programme.
BPC is thrilled to have received funding from Dance Hub Birmingham to investigate the accessibility of our professional training programme and to apply the learning of this research to our ongoing regular class provision. This project will see 10 specialists in professional inclusive and integrated dance share their learning, experience and practice with the BPC Steering Group (SG) consisting of ACE Dance & Music, FABRIC, Birmingham Dance Network, Autin Dance Theatre, 3 independent dance artists and our project partners One Dance UK, Deaf Explorer, People Dancing, Anjali Dance Company and Birmingham Hippodrome during the month of September.
These learning sessions are to take place in Birmingham on Mon 4th, Mon 11th, Mon 18th, Mon 25th, Thu 28th September 2023 1-4pm.
Following this learning phase, BPC will hold 3 workshops in October where we will share and apply the learning from the experts in practical and informal sessions, exchanging our findings to equip regional dance artists with the confidence to challenge and develop their professional dance practice with accessibility in mind. Our goal is to create a more accessible and inclusive programme, engaging existing and new dance artists, and to provide professional development opportunities for our community.
These workshops will take place on Mon 16th, Mon 23rd, Mon 30th October 2023 1-4pm.
We value freelance representation, the independent dance artists delivering our programme, and all that are working and moving throughout all levels of the dance sector, and we are keen to hear about individuals and organisations’ interest in being a part of the conversation, sharing the learning and stirring the development of BPC.
Call out #1: 3-5 places for freelance dance artists to join the 5 expert sessions in September
Call out #2: 10-15 places for regional dance artists to engage with the practical workshops in October
These are paid opportunities at £175 for each 3-hour session. Individual access costs covered. Refreshment & snacks provided.
We are looking for:
– Professional movement practitioners & dance artists based in Birmingham and across the West Midlands
– People who have an interest in and/or have engaged with Brum Pro Class (participants and/or guest artist)
– People who have access barriers and have not yet engaged with Brum Pro Class
– Disabled dance artists and vocational students (including, and not limited to, d/Deaf dancers)
Please note that priority will be given to disabled professional dance artists and dance artists who have or will be engaging with BPC as tutors and class takers, but we welcome others to apply.
If you are a student or recent graduate with access needs who may not feel ready to apply to a paid position, we encourage you to get in touch as we are happy to accommodate space for people to learn and connect with our community on a shadowing or placement basis.
Access:
We have programmed BSL interpreters for each meeting and workshop. The project will be in wheelchair friendly spaces and our artist coordinator (Robert Hemming) will be available before, during and after the opportunity to support your engagement in the project. When applicable, we will provide artists with resources for access purposes on top of the fee for a suitable interpreter, assistant, support worker or any other access need. Our artist coordinator will be happy to liaise with you at any stage during the process of application and project engagement.
How to apply: :
You may apply in any format that is most accessible to you. We would like to gain an understanding of your practice and why one or both of the opportunities would benefit you/ your practice. We also would like to know your availability for the listed dates.
Ways to apply may be:
- A short bio of max 300 words about why one of the roles would be beneficial to you and how you can support the conversation and part of this action research project.
- A voice recording about yourself, your practice and why this opportunity would benefit you and how you can support the conversation and part of this action research project.
- A short video
- A request for an informal conversation with our artist coordinator who can ask you a few questions, equating to an expression of interest and application
- Any other format that supports your expression of interest
Your expression of interest, requests for a conversation and any questions about the process can be sent to hello@brumproclass.org.uk addressed to Rob Hemming (Artist Coordinator) with ‘access workshop dancer’ in the subject description.
Expression of interest for the September expert sessions to be submitted ASAP due to short turnaround.
