FRONTLINEdance is an artist led company based in Stoke-on-Trent, placing disabled people and those with long-term health conditions at the core of our organisation as leaders, dancers, artists, and audiences.
In 2019 we produced our first City-Wide Arts Festival (FAF) that had audiences access needs at the centre, and that showcased the work of disabled artists of all art forms.
As makers we explore how we can create exciting, relevant and thought-provoking contemporary dance with d/DEAF, visually impaired, disabled, hospital patients, and neurodivergent audiences. We co-create across ages, backgrounds, and experiences, naturally integrating people together, reducing isolation, improving physical, mental and social health and well-being.
We continue to support emerging disabled artists and we offer consultation and support around inclusion, access and programming disabled artists both locally and nationally.
Our tried and tested methodology means we specialise in delivering accessible and fully inclusive dance sessions.
For over 55’s with neurological and other long-term health conditions such as Parkinson’s and MS we do this via our Moving Together Programme; inclusive meaningful dance, movement, and creativity sessions that improves the health and well-being of those who take part. It’s comprehensive, varied, evidenced based and enjoyable. Over the last 5 years this specially devised programme moved into Haywood Community Hospital, to all its inpatients, where our work on the Stroke, Neurology, Elderly Care and Parkinson’s (outpatient unit) developed thanks to a grant from the Haywood Foundation. Work here is currently on hold due to Covid.
FRONTLINEdance is due to start three new Moving Together groups – one for Stroke survivors, another for those who have had a Cancer diagnosis and another for those with Parkinson’s.
Our Breakthrou’dance Programme; YOUTH, ADULT & ADVANCE provides physical, social, and mental health outcomes, freedom, expression, enjoyment, and friendships.
Transcend is another programme where we offer weekly training to d/DEAF, neurodivergent and disabled people, and Moving Stories is our over 55’s contemporary dance company that meets at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery to create new work to perform site specifically.
For disabled children and young people we currently deliver sessions for Aiming High, Action For Children, and the Staffordshire Downs Syndrome Association.
Those who take part in our programmes unite in describing them as a ‘life-line’; that they find a sense of themselves, notice physical improvement, feel they are important, welcome, and valued. They share increased motivation, engagement, adherence, and tolerance to exercise, emphasise the importance of the social interaction, and increased energy and mood.
FRONTLINEdance also does one-off bespoke projects and performances, and welcomes commissions.
From the beginning, we’ve been choreographing our own work, making FRONTLINEdance one of the first integrated dance companies in the UK to do so.
FRONTLINEdance was co-founded by Rachael Lines and Michael King in 2000, and officially became a not-for-profit company Ltd by guarantee (no shareholders) in 2001.
