Beyond Barriers

Webinar to share initial findings from the research project Barriers to Progression & Employment in Dance for Disabled People 

Wednesday 30 April 2025, online via Zoom 

Webinar: 11am - 12:15pm 

Reaction and discussion: 12:30pm - 1:30pm on zoom 

  Have you ever wondered about the barriers disabled people experience in accessing employment and opportunities for progression in dance? 

In September 2024, The Working Group (Candoco Dance Company, Corali, People Dancing, Stopgap Dance Company, and TIN Arts LINKS) commissioned an independent, disabled led research team, with funding from Arts Council England, to investigate the barriers experienced by disabled people in working in dance. 

Through interviews and focus groups the research team have gathered data from over 53 disabled people, representatives of disabled-led and disabled-focused organisations, and representatives from not disability-led National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) of Arts Council England. All dance NPOs and a sample of National Lottery Project Grant recipients were invited to contribute via a survey. 

On 30 April, the researchers will share initial findings and insights from the research in a live webinar. They will be joined by Arts Council England’s Cate Canniffe (Director, Dance and London) and Abid Hussain (Director, Diversity) and members of The Working Group. Following the webinar, after a short break, there will be an online event for reaction and discussion. The full research report and further resources will be published in May 2025. 

Anyone working in dance - in any role and at any level - is invited to this webinar and discussion. 

To attend the live webinar and optional discussion event, or to request a recording post event please sign up here  

Photo credit: 

Photographer- Philip Hatcher-Moore for11 Million Reasons to Dance: Cymru, commissioned by People Dancing. Dancer Krystal Lowe