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11 Million Reasons to Dance is a photography exhibition and short film programme that was conceptualised and launched in 2014 through funding from Unlimited Impact and Arts Council England. Since its launch, the exhibition has been touring the UK and overseas, featuring Sean Goldthorpe’s 20 commissioned images of iconic dance moments from film, all reimagined with Deaf, sight impaired and disabled dancers.

The original work has since inspired a number of developments that have expanded the name, including our 11 Million Reasons to Dance - strategic touring programme. The project worked in partnership with six venues across the Midlands and North of England to deliver a strategic programme of performance, training and engagement, all focused around the current exhibition. The aim of the work was to support diversity programmes and to help organisations embed inclusivity at the heart of what they do.

From London’s Southbank Centre to Tramway, Glasgow, from Helsinki to Hong Kong, this innovative exhibition has been touring the UK and internationally since 2015 taking chutzpah and humour to all those who connect with it, reaching well beyond the dance and arts sector.

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11 Million Reasons to Dance films

11 Million Reasons to Dance: Cymru

We are delighted that through funding from Arts Council Wales, People Dancing will be taking the 11 Million Reasons to Dance exhibition and bespoke programme of activity to Wales. Working alongside partners Artis Community, Ballet Cymru, New Dance, Impelo, Dawns i Bawb, Disability Arts Cymru and a range of partners, we will be touring the exhibition and supporting and developing dance practitioners to deliver dance activity with D/deaf, sight impaired and disabled people across communities. The two year programme includes creation of a new Welsh exhibition, and a national networking event in Cardiff in 2021. The aim of the work is to change perceptions and support disabled people to participate in dance.

View the exhibition

11 Million Reasons Photography Exhibition from People Dancing on Vimeo.

11 Million Reasons to Dance Network

About the Network and how to get involved

The 11 Million Reasons to Dance Network is for anyone who currently works, or aims to work, with access and inclusion embedded into their dance practice, ensuring that there are sustained opportunities for disabled people to participate in dance.

The network is made up of organisations, artists and practitioners who have been involved in People Dancing's disability programmes, including the 11 Million Reasons to Dance photography exhibition and strategic tour, our ongoing annual networking events, and previous strategic networks including the former Dance for Change.

The network provides annual gatherings in partnership with Para Dance UK and Attenborough Arts Centre, and biannual newsletters which provide a national overview of current issues, support and opportunities.

Join the 11 Million Reasons to Dance Network mailing list here

11 Million Reasons to Dance films

In this section you will find three films commissioned by The Space to develop the online presence of the 11 Million Reasons to Dance images.

There is also the original promotional trailer for the exhibition along with an audio description.

You will also be able to see behind the scenes footage from the creation of the project as well as seven short films commissioned by People Dancing that aim to raise discussion about issues and challenges that can surround Deaf, sight impaired and disabled people who dance.

Explore films

Audio descriptions

If you are visually impaired or blind and would like to experience the 11 Million Reasons exhibition in full, please access our audio description files on this page below. There is a file describing each of the 20 images, along with an introduction and conclusion about the project.

Audio descriptions are written, recorded and spoken by Isabel Jones, Artistic Director, Salamanda Tandem. She has over 30 years audio description experience, particularly in performance and the arts sector.

Access the audio descriptions though Soundcloud

Invisible Difference conference

Louise Wildish (Director of Engagement) and Vanessa Oxspring (Associate Director) talk about the 11 Million Reasons to Dance projects conceptalisation and aims.

Recorded in 2016 at the Invisible Difference Conference at Coventry University.

Watch the discussion here

If you have enjoyed the 11 Million Reasons to Dance photographs and films and would like to support People Dancing to continue to create work like this please consider supporting us

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11 Million Reasons to Dance Evaluation Report

Download pdf file (14MB)

Useful contacts

You may also be interested in looking at our:

Useful contacts: Dance and disabled people

Funded by

The 11 Million Reasons to Dance photography exhibition is a People Dancing commission, supported by Unlimited Impact, Arts Council England and private contributors through our Sponsume campaign, launched in 2014.

People Dancing gratefully acknowledges the support of everyone who gave generously to our crowd funding campaign to support the development of this exhibition, including: David Leventhal, Chris Stenton, Jane Ralls, Rachel Emmett, Helen Angove, Ken Bartlett, Catherine Middleton, Maria Koripas, Emma Hayes, James Riley @Effect Digital, Sara Houston and Koo Bhangra at The Unloved.

People Dancing is an Unlimited Ally; celebrating the work of disabled artists as part of the Unlimited programme.www.weareunlimited.org.uk