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Reinvigorated! A Mel Horwood Bursary Recipient Reflects
Date posted: 30 October 2025
Steph Townsend is a creative dance and movement practitioner and co-director of CIC Movement Connects, based in the East of England. This summer she became one of the first recipients of a Mel Horwood Bursary, which offered financial support for East of England-based community dance artists, working in any dance style or form to support their professional development by participation in People Dancing’s professional development and training programme. Here, she reports back on the experience she chose to invest in at this year’s Summer Intensive.
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Kelly Horne Headshot Credit Kelly Horne
I never thought it was for me... A Mel Horwood Bursary Recipient Reflects
Date posted: 30 October 2025
Kelly Horne, is a freelance choreographer, movement director and movement and dance teacher based in Bedfordshire. This summer she became one of the first recipients of a Mel Horwood Bursary, which offered financial support for community dance artists in the East of England to support their professional development by participation in People Dancing’s professional development and training programme. Here, she lets us in on how she came to apply, what its meant to her and the bridge it’s made between one part of her career and the next.
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Generate Festival. Photo: Karla Jones
The Generate Project
Date posted: 01 September 2025
East-Midlands based independent dance artist and producer, Karla Jones, invites us into the moment her passion for dance with older people ignited the idea Generate, her own festival and on-going network to showcase this work locally and nationally.
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Holroyd Community Theatre, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry. Credit: Tracey Brown.
Dance, Parkinson’s, Communities and Connections
Date posted: 29 May 2025
Yaël Owen, Head of Health & Wellbeing at People Dancing reflects on a spring of travelling, continuing to learn more about the ways community dance artists from Wales approach dancing with Parkinson’s.
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Photo: Kyra Norman
An inclusive space includes you
Date posted: 23 April 2025
Kyra Norman is a dancer and choreographer, living in West Cornwall, UK, who has been exploring ideas and practices of movement, connection and place for over 20 years. Here she discusses sustaining ourselves, in order to sustain our work with communities, in challenging times.
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People Dancing Summer School 2024. Photo: Mark Anderson.
It’s the little things…
Date posted: 19 March 2025
If you are contemplating attending this year's Summer Intensive 2025, perhaps independent dance artist and educator Claire Pring - who has both delivered and participated in it - can offer some food for thought. Here, writing fresh from a workshop last year, Claire has a moment of realisation about what she values about ‘continuing professional development'.
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Hannah Robertshaw, Creative Director, Yorkshire Dance. Photographer: Anthony Dunn.
Dance On: Evidencing Dance, Health and Well-being
Date posted: 17 March 2025
Hannah Robertshaw, Creative Director, Yorkshire Dance reflects on developing Dance On – an evidence-based dance programme for older adults delivered by Yorkshire Dance and Darts in partnership with One Dance UK and The University of Leeds.
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Dancing Together with Parkinson’s West Midlands, Albany Theatre. Photos: Andrew Moore.
A joyful end!
Date posted: 03 March 2025
Dancing Together with Parkinson’s West Midlands was a nine-month long legacy project from People Dancing’s Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s programme funded by the Inclusive Communities Fund (Heart of England Community Foundation).
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Bradford Women's Dance Company. Photo: Brian Slater.
Picking up the Pieces
Date posted: 23 January 2025
Helen Linsell, Artistic Director of Dance United Yorkshire, shares her practice working with vulnerable adult women and reflects on the impact of adopting a trauma-informed approach to ensure meaningful and long-term engagement.
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Jonzi D. Photo credit: Jay Kasitz.
Moving Beyond Convention
Date posted: 17 December 2024
In this blog, an accompaniment to this vlog live from the breaking competition at last summer’s Paris Olympics, Jonzi D, Artistic Director of Breakin’ Convention speaks from the heart about finding himself inspired by the dancers and deeply disappointed in the systems around them - including THAT notoriously toxic (mis)reporting of the women’s competition.
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Andria Saji. Photo: Joyal Joshy, 2023
The transformative power of dance
Date posted: 16 December 2024
In the spring of 2024, medical student Andria Saji worked with People Dancing’s Deputy CEO and Head of Health & Wellbeing Yaël Owen, to explore the transformative power of dance for people living with Parkinson’s in the context of her training as a doctor ...and as a lifelong dancer...
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Promo by Hannah Broadway
Dance in the Dark – new beginnings
Date posted: 30 April 2024
In this blog Kath Kimber-McTiffen talks about her new research & development project, Dance in the Dark and how she finds ways to continue to challenge and develop her own practice of making work for Early Years and families.
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Space for freedom
Date posted: 19 February 2024
In this blog, Suzanne Cantwell-Birkin of Off-Balance Dance reflects four weeks on from the launch of a new Dance with Parkinson’s class in Coventry… how she and co-director Alexis Haines are on a journey of learning together with their new and growing community of dancers…
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Claire Pring, People Dancing's Summer Intensive 2023. Photo: Rachel Cherry.
The single most important thing we do
Date posted: 06 November 2023
Whilst attending People Dancing's Summer Intensive, Dance Specialist, Claire Pring took some time to step back, view her practice and to mull, consider and ask herself some big questions.
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Sharing early years dance practice
Date posted: 18 May 2023
Kimberley Harvey and Ella Fleetwood talk about their experience of dancing in the public spaces and on the wards of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London from June 2022 to March 2023.
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People Dancing Summer School. Photo: Rachel Cherry.
Letting The Light In
Date posted: 24 April 2023
A connected conversation for a dis-united nation. In this online conversation panellists discuss the specifics of the state of community dance as we navigate Brexit, the pandemic, war in Europe and the climate crisis.
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A very contemporary dance project
Date posted: 20 April 2023
Sharon Scaniglia, manager of ArtsSpeak in Nottingham shares her appreciation of supporting artists, how creativity combats loneliness and her passionate belief in older age as an important time of rich self-expression. These come together for her in the magic of Cool Company, a gallery-based dance project for over 60s led by choreographer, Deane McQueen.
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The Open-Ended Entity
Date posted: 07 March 2023
A new blog from dance artist Hayley Guest at the beginning of an Early Years Action Research project called Move Play Create.
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Intertwined
Date posted: 22 November 2022
In this blog Somerset based artist Hannah Lefeuvre talks about how the mindful art of weaving and gardening has influenced, and become intertwined with, her early years dance making and practice.
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New MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism
Date posted: 08 November 2022
The Place, home to London Contemporary Dance School, have launched a brand new course led by dance artist, facilitator and educator Jo Parkes which aims to bring together a global community of artists working locally with dance for social justice.
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Time to take a moment
Date posted: 11 October 2022
Louise Katerega, People Dancing’s Associate Producer for Change and programmer of People Dancing in the Summer (PDiTS) in 2022, invites us into a moment that offers a window not just on what happened at PDiTS but what it felt like to be there.
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Vallum Hadriani
Date posted: 27 September 2022
In the early Spring of 2022, Northeast based company Pelican Theatre, commissioned by Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s Northeast steering group to created a piece for the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival. Here we find out more from some of the participants...
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Finding flow…
Date posted: 27 September 2022
As a dance practitioner and person living with and around someone living with Parkinson's Sophie Lorimer reflects upon one of the richest learning experiences of her career.
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Strength and fragility
Date posted: 27 September 2022
Pelican Theatre's Pagan Hunt & Ellie Trow reflect on their experience of working with the Live Well & Dance with Parkinson’s Performance Collective and the co-creation of their work ‘Vallum Hadrani’ performed at The Sill, Northumberland for the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival.
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Grab that box, that bag, that cup!
Date posted: 22 September 2022
17 year old aspiring journalist and blogger Lola-May Owen-McKenna was a placement student at People Dancing in the Summer and experienced one of the busiest weeks in our year!
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Participation in Performance - Part One
Date posted: 18 August 2022
A discussion and exploration of early years participatory dance practice in performance with Takeshi Matsumoto and Liz Clark, Associate Artist, Early Years, People Dancing. 
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Belonging through dance
Date posted: 16 August 2022
Dance artist Angharad Harrop blogs about the new, exciting Curriculum for Wales, how it’s engendering a sense of belonging and what we can learn from it.
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A 21st century lifesaver
Date posted: 14 July 2022
Dr Sue Smith joins People Dancing as Chair and blogs for us about dance as a 21st Century lifesaver.
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Collective IDentity
Date posted: 09 December 2021
At the end of 2021 dance artist Danielle Jones reflects upon a multidisciplinary programme for people with Parkinson’s that was experienced during pandemic times and shares her passion for co-creation, a sense of self and love!
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Finding my place
Date posted: 19 November 2021
After a wide-ranging career, Marcia Edwards found herself rooted in Stourbridge, West Midlands and embraced this by forming ME Dance Company in 2017. Here, she shares her passion for honouring your roots, appreciating your journey, giving back and striving for more in the communities you come from, live in and want to build for the future.
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Just graduated? Changing career?
Date posted: 24 September 2021
Join People Dancing’s Associate Producer for Change, Louise Katerega, for her top 10 signposts to People Dancing's resources to get you started on a happy, healthy teaching journey.
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POP look back and survey
Date posted: 09 August 2021
Assistant Producer, Perspectives on Practice, Ciara Lynch looks back at the first season of People Dancing's programme of events, learning opportunities, discussion, networks and spaces for dancers, teaching artists, community practitioners and organisations to gather, (re)connect and share.
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Forging communities
Date posted: 19 July 2021
In the midst of difference, dance artist, choreographer and writer Krystal S Lowe finds ways to forge different communities with countless cups of coffee and focused debate. Here, Krystal writes about finding the best ways to support each other no matter how unconventional that support may look.
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Diverse opportunities
Date posted: 18 June 2021
Whilst looking for alternative ways to navigate a lockdown, freelance artist, Melissa Pasut, discovered the Wales Wide Training Programme. Here she reflects upon her expectations, connections found and virtual interaction that removed geographical boundaries.
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Wales Wide Training Programme
Date posted: 18 June 2021
The WWTP creates and connects a network of 19 organisations and 300 individuals working across Wales. Tracey Brown, Mentoring, Training, Development Leader at Rubicon Dance explains how the programme has responded to the pandemic and that there have been achievements that wouldn't have been possible pre-COVID.
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Creative practice reflection
Date posted: 18 June 2021
Independent dance artist and arts psychotherapist Cai Tomos addresses the physical, emotional and psychological demands brought by a pandemic and reflects upon finding spaces of connection and gaining perspective by being together with support from the Wales Wide Training Programme.
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Coming of age?
Date posted: 18 June 2021
A personal perspective from dance practitioner Heidi Wilson on the development of dance with people living with Parkinson’s in Wales through the Wales Wide Training Programme.
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Live Well & Dance with Parkinson's reflections: Kate Swindlehurst, Dave Little, Susie Tate
Date posted: 14 April 2021
Susie Tate, discovered a Cumbrian connection between former local Kate Swindlehurst, and current local Dave Little, about the value of dance for people living with Parkinson’s.
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Live Well & Dance with Parkinson's reflections: Nia Williams
Date posted: 13 April 2021
Nia Williams of MuMo Creative reflects on co-leading the March edition of Perspectives on Practice: online adventures in dancing with Parkinson’s. The session was focused on sharing with artists and practitioners the use of narrative themes, character and music to enhance movement practice for people living with Parkinson’s
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Photo: James Deacon.
Live Well & Dance with Parkinson's reflections: Paul Mayhew Archer
Date posted: 13 April 2021
Paul Mayhew-Archer reflects on joining our Stretford, Greater Manchester online dance session in March 2021
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Photo: treesisters.org
Bounded in a nutshell
Date posted: 07 December 2020
Freelance Dance Artist Adam Benjamin reflects upon his practice being hoovered up by a pandemic, saving the planet sliding off his agenda and the vitality of touch. He also offers a view into a wilderness, funded by dancers, that reflects a commitment to diversity - a dancers forest.
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Photo: Jo Cone
Shining a light in the changing tide
Date posted: 07 December 2020
In the face of personal challenges and a world wide pandemic, and whilst staying true to her values, author Jo Cone now feels safe, secure and supported via five navigational points that she shares with us here.
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Jo Verrent
Commissions open to disabled dance artists
Date posted: 02 October 2020
Unlimited's Senior Producer Jo Verrent chats about Unlimited's commissioning round that is open to disabled dance artists.
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Photography: John Connatty
Tango in lockdown
Date posted: 26 August 2020
The Tango Effect: Parkinson’s and the Healing Power of Dance was published during the COVID-19 pandemic, shortly after the country went into lockdown. Here, we are pleased to share recordings with you that were made by the author, Kate Swindlehurst, from March - July 2020.
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Making a Move book cover
Dance and physical distancing in – and beyond – primary school settings
Date posted: 10 August 2020
In this hour-long webinar, that was held on Thursday 6 August, primary dance specialists Louise Jaggard, Claire Pring and Jo Cone share insights and examples from their new book 'Making a Move' as well as support artists preparing to re-start teaching in the Autumn.
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Dance Photographer UK – Dani Bower
On a mission
Date posted: 05 August 2020
Listen to dance artist Tamar Dixon talking about her Podcast series, ‘INSiGHTZ: An insight into your dance journey’: a series of interviews, personal stories, experiences and hot topics about dance.
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Artwork by sallycoleartist.co.uk
Invitation to be Curious
Date posted: 29 July 2020
A film made with Cecilia Macfarlane and Kirstie Richardson. Made in the first few months of lockdown, this film was created as part of People Dancing’s Summer School 2020 Reimagined programme, an offering of online live and recorded webinars, practice sharings and short films.
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Zoom discussion image
Dance with Parkinson’s roundtable discussion
Date posted: 27 July 2020
Cheryl McChesney and Kiki Gale in conversation with artists, producers and dancers bringing together a range of perspectives on dance with people with lived experience of Parkinson's during lockdown.
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Common Dance by Rosemary Lee. Photo: Simon Weir
Rosemary Lee's Common Dance shared (with love)
Date posted: 17 July 2020
Since the 1970s, director, choreographer and performer Rosemary Lee has created projects that revolve around the idea of building relationships and bringing communities together. Here she reflects upon what led her to share Common Dance again in 2020.
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Marcia Edwards.
Knocking on doors with biscuits
Date posted: 09 July 2020
People Dancing Associate Artist Louise Katerega in conversation with dancer and choreographer Marcia Edwards about her transition from dancer to setting up her own community dance company.
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