We’re putting community initiatives in the spotlight, and today, FRONTLINEdance is the inclusive company making all the right moves…
In a bright community hall in Stoke-on-Trent, people dance together, moving their bodies to lively pop music. A dance artist guides the session, but the dancers can choose how to interpret the moves, whether following the choreography or putting their own spin on it. This is a workshop by artist-led, inclusive dance company, FRONTLINEdance.
As an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, FRONTLINEdance gives people a space to explore dance for enjoyment, or as professionals – placing disabled people and those with long-term health conditions at the core as leaders, dancers, artists, and audiences. It runs various programmes, with sessions for all ages, enabling d/DEAF, disabled, neurodivergent, and non-disabled people to dance and perform together.
Artistic director Rachael Lines’s interest in inclusive dance started in 1997, while studying at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. There, she first saw a performance by Candoco – an internationally renowned integrated dance company. “I’d never seen anything like it. I wanted to be one of those dancers in that company,” says Rachael, who co-founded FRONTLINEdance in 2001.
Realising there are a lack of professional training opportunities for disabled dancers, its Advance Dance Training launched in 2024, which includes contemporary dance technique, choreography, leadership skills, and understanding the profession.
One of the participants, Beth, who developed multiple chronic illnesses and is a wheelchair user, grew up dancing, but found a lack of accessible opportunities to develop as a dancer once she became disabled. Beth travels to Stoke-on-Trent weekly to take part in the dance training programme. It’s a small group, making it easier to get tailored guidance on her technique. “It’s always been a dream of mine to be a performing dancer, so I thought this might increase my skills so hopefully I could do that,” she says.
Being involved also supports her wellbeing: “I’m doing more, so I have less time to be lonely. Also, seeing my dance improve makes me proud, helping my mood,” Beth says. “Being somewhere where your access needs are met, you just feel so much safer, so much more cared for.”
Disabled people face many barriers to dance, including attitudes. Sometimes parents, caregivers, or teachers, don’t see it as a viable option. There can also be limiting beliefs about what disabled dancers are capable of, and the quality of their work.
Research by On The Move shows only 28% of venues and festivals regularly present or support work by disabled artists. There are signs of progress, though: Arts Council England recently reported a significant increase in the number of disabled people in leadership positions within the organisations it funds. But disabled people can still struggle to access, or have a career in, the arts.
Physical barriers, like finding accessible spaces to rehearse and perform, is an issue. Plus, a lack of trained support workers, such as British Sign Language interpreters or those who work alongside learning disabled people, can make uptake harder.
Despite this, FRONTLINEdance is determined to help disabled people to enjoy dance. The company recently launched the Breakthrou’ Families group, where young disabled people, their families, and caregivers, can dance at the same time, but in separate spaces. “We’re supporting the family as a whole,” explains Rachael. “Parents who are physically inactive due to caring responsibilities can come and dance at the same time as the person they’re caring for. They leave us more joyful, connected, and we often all leave laughing together.” This work is special to Rachael and her colleague Amy, as both are mums to disabled children, so they know the value of groups like this.
The sessions are movement based, which includes warming up, improvisation activities, creative movement, and either solo work or work with one or more partners, led by an instructor. Mary, who has health conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, says it helps her stay active and continue her love of dance. “FRONTLINEdance is like a family,” she says. “It respects everyone for our uniqueness, and the contributions we make, treating us all equally.”
Clearly, dancing has benefits beyond the physical. “There’s the natural release of endorphins,” says Rachael, “you have to concentrate, which is a really good way of distracting from whatever’s happening in day-to-day life, and the way we deliver activities helps improve people’s confidence and self-esteem by achieving something, and being listened to.”
FRONTLINEdance also performs for patients in hospitals – something Rachael was inspired to do after spending time in a local facility with her son. The performances help people to feel cared for and offer a distraction.
This community spirit of supporting each other really shines through the group’s work in other ways, too. Co-creation – the idea of creating dance with people – is key, often with participants exploring how they want to interpret a dance technique, and creating movements to form the choreography. But it can also be participants choosing the music or what to wear for a performance, making it a collaborative endeavour.
FRONTLINEdance is also supporting others to make their community events more inclusive, by including an online toolbox of advice, as well as recommending sourcing further information from local disabled-led groups.
Reflecting on the power of FRONTLINEdance’s work, Rachael says: “It’s about being valued, having a place in the world, and having your voice listened to.” In an inaccessible society, organisations like FRONTLINEdance are opening the arts to all.
Image | Jenny Harper
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