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In time for the Beijing Paralympics here is our account of the Momentum Disabled Dance Networking Day:

The event was held in one of Brent’s Leading Arts Venues The Patidar House. The event offered an introduction to disability equality training and a forum of discussion around disability and the arts. A session was led by Arts and Disability consultant Lynn Cox provided attendees with an insight into different models of understanding disability, presented questions around the social conceptions of disability across the dance sector and the Arts. Attendees were given information on ‘best practice’ when facilitating dance projects and working alongside individuals with disabilities.

Guest speaker Luke Pell, Education Manager at Cando Co Dance Company acquainted attendees with the background of Cando Co and its aims to produce creatively ambitious and exceptional contemporary dance performances that entertain and inspire audiences as well as introduce the Education project work he leads on. The second part of the day was a dance workshop, run in association with Everybody Dance as part of the Dancing Wheelchairs project. The project, funded by Brent Council, enabled two Brent residents to become Wheelchair Dancesport instructors with the UK Dancesport Association who have gone on to become the first people in London to set up a wheelchair dancesport group in Ballroom and Latin dance.

Workshop leaders Ruth Burgess and Layla Smith led 5 dancers from Brent’s Day Care Centres in their performance of Ballroom and Latin wheelchair dance. Additional wheelchairs were provided so the non disabled participants taking part in the workshops had the option of dancing with a wheelchair dance partner or trying out wheelchair dancing for themselves. Momentum would like to thank all those who attended the Disabled Dance Networking Day and contributing to the overall success of the event, we hope you found the day useful, enjoyable and informative.