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Producing, Co-creation & Inclusion in Performance for Children
Images: The Sticky Dance. Left photo: Foteini Christofilopoulou. Right photo: Zoe Manders.
Wednesday 22 July 2026, with Second Hand Dance

Are you a facilitator working in participatory practice who wants to make your work more inclusive for neurodivergent and disabled children? Discover how Second Hand Dance creates spaces where children are free to explore, choose how they engage, and even turn the rules of performance upside down.

Join us for a dynamic one-day workshop led by the company’s disabled and non-disabled Co-Directors. Female-led and grounded in the social model of disability, Second Hand Dance aligns artistic practice with equity, collaboration, and access at every level.
In this workshop, you’ll explore the ways in which Second Hand Dance subtly challenge the status quo by crafting equitable, playful, shared experiences for children and adults. The creative process is child-led, rooted in non-verbal communication techniques, improvisation, observation, and deep listening.

Through practical exploration of their ethos, creative processes, and movement practices, you’ll deepen your understanding of inclusive connection and meaningful interaction — and leave with tools, frameworks, and renewed confidence to apply this learning directly to your own participatory practice.

The workshop will take place in a relaxed atmosphere; you can participate at your own pace. Workshop timing: 10.00am-5.30pm.

By attending this workshop, you will gain:

  • An understanding of disability types and barriers to access
  • Insight into the considerations for working with neurodivergent and disabled children
  • Insights into our co-creation practice and ways, we adapt performances to different audiences and access needs
  • An understanding of our experience of an adaptive leadership and co-director model
  • This workshop is aimed at artists and facilitators with some experience who are interested in expanding their knowledge of co-creation and inclusive practice.
Prices and Application Process

One Day Early Bird Prices - until 14 May


People Dancing Members: £100
Standard Price: £135

One Day Prices - from 15 May


People Dancing Members: £115
Standard Price: £155

How to Apply

  1. Choose which workshop you would like to attend each day and complete the online application form. At this stage, a deposit of £35 per workshop is required to secure your place
  2. Our Programme Team will read your application and will be in touch with you within 7 working days
  3. Following approval of your application, a payment link to settle the balance will be sent to you. The balance is due before 21 June 2026 and payment confirms your place. The deposit is non-refundable
  4. If, for any reason, your application is unsuccessful your deposit will be refunded.

> Choose your workshops and apply here

About Rosie Heafford

Rosie is Co-Director and founder of Second Hand Dance, established in 2013. She's an award-winning choreographer, with over 15 years' experience across dance, performance, and participatory arts. Her live performance and digital work for children and adults is shaped by her lived experience as a disabled artist and parent-carer.

A graduate of Trinity Laban and Goldsmiths, Rosie has built a national and international profile, presenting work in community spaces and major theatres such as Sadler’s Wells, as well as festivals across Europe, Asia, and North America. Her practice centres collaboration, co‑creation, and access, alongside mentoring and sector development.

Image credit: Paula Deegan.

About Emily Jameson

Emily is the Participation & Engagement Producer at Second Hand Dance, specialising in inclusive, high‑quality arts experiences for children, families, and communities.

With a background in dance and arts management, she has worked with organisations including Fevered Sleep, SLiDE Dance, and Sadler’s Wells.

Her expertise spans project management, partnership development, and accessible practice, ensuring that every project nurtures meaningful participation and creativity.

Image credit: Emily Jameson.

About Keir Patrick

Keir trained at Laban and London Contemporary Dance School (EDGE company). He was a founding member of Ben Wright’s bgroup and worked for Clod Ensemble, Nigel Charnock, Siobhan Davies, Maresa von Stockert, Colette Sadler, Katie Green, Bare Bones, Malmo Opera and at the Royal Opera House.

He has been working with Michael Keegan Dolan since 2011: Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre’s Rian (2011–2014) and Rite of Spring and Petrushka (2013) and Handel’s Julius Caesar with ENO at The Coliseum in London (2012). For Teaċ Damsa, he has performed and toured internationally in Swan Lake / Loch na hEala (2017-2018) and MÁM (2019-2026).

With Second Hand Dance Company, he performed several international interactive touring shows for babies, early years and SEND audiences and is rehearsal director for We Touch, We Play, We Dance (2018-2024) and company tour manager for Rosie Heafford and Takeshi Matsumoto’s The Sticky Dance (2024-2026).

Image credit: Fausto Assuncao.

About Claire Summerfield

Claire is a cultural strategist, positive provocateur and independent producer. She is Co‑Director of Second Hand Dance and Director of Tandem Works, independent producer supporting artists to build sustainable business models, partnerships, (inter) national profile and live performance projects.

Over the last five years she has raised over £2m, doubled Second Hand Dance’s turnover and presented work at Xintiandi Festival (Shanghai), Dublin Theatre Festival, Ruhrtriennale (Germany) and Sadler’s Wells. She secured Arts Council NPO status for Tom Dale Company (2019) and Second Hand Dance (2023); she specialises in dance for children and young audiences and sits on Assitej UK’s board.

Image credit: Claire Haigh.