Seafarers

A series of inclusive dance classes in Norfolk to embed into local schools and train local dance teachers.

£206,995

Grant amount

October 2015

Date awarded

January 2015 – August 2019

Project duration

Norfolk

Location

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Project Detail

Project summary

From 2015 to 2019, Spirit of 2012 funded the Seafarers project, a three-year inclusive dance initiative led by Stopgap Dance Company across Norfolk and Suffolk. The project engaged disabled and non-disabled participants in high-quality dance classes and performances, trained local dance teachers in inclusive practice, and aimed to shift public perceptions of disability. With £210,000 in funding, Seafarers reached 118 participants across 11 groups, worked with 9 schools and dance companies, and culminated in two large-scale outdoor performances—The Seafarers and Frippery—as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

Participant stories:

Rachel and Natasha – Confidence Through Dance
Rachel, a participant from Leading Lives, began dancing with a walking frame. By the end of the sessions, she was moving freely and even running. Her one-to-one assistant Natasha noted, “More than anything, what I noticed with Rachel was her confidence. Literally, blossomed.”

Finlay – From Participant to Professional
Finlay started as a teaching assistant and became an apprentice dancer with Stopgap. His work inspired participants, including two boys with ADHD who mirrored his slow, controlled movements. “There’s a real personal development and achievement there,” said Stopgap’s Executive Producer.

Tommy– Changing Perceptions
Tommy’s views on disability and dance shifted after seeing Stopgap perform. He later taught three groups and said, “The two years with Stopgap has been imperative… a big shifting point for what I want to do in the future as an artist.”

Impact & Learning

Key Achievements

Improved Wellbeing: Participants reported increased happiness, confidence, and social connection.
Skills Development: Dance skills improved across all groups, especially creativity and collaboration.
Teacher Training: 12 teachers trained in inclusive dance, with several continuing to deliver classes post-project.
Perception Shift: Audiences and participants showed more positive views of disability and inclusive dance.
Legacy Creation: New inclusive dance classes launched in the region, and a network of trained teachers emerged.

Key Learning

Quality matters: The independent evaluator urged other organisations looking to develop inclusive work to prioritise quality artistic work just as Stopgap: “principles and quality of process and product are incredibly important in making work which fundamentally shifts perceptions and ambitions”
The power of dance: The evaluation report explores some of mechanisms through which dance had an impact of participants’ wellbeing and social connection. Parents of one participant observed, “It’s a wonderful way to meet others who may have more difficulty through speech and language, I feel, to dance. It’s a wonderful way to share what’s happening between a group of people. [Participants] can express themselves through dance in a way they can’t through speech.”
Evaluation Needs Adaptation: The use of ONS4 wellbeing measures to capture change was not always suitable for participants with learning disabilities. Stopgap were one of several organisations grappling with how to balance the benefits of standardised metrics and ensuring we understand properly the impact of projects on disabled people. In addition to the evaluation, many participants and teachers also found there was value in reflective learning, as the evaluation observed: “the teacher reflective journals were very popular with teachers and at least one is using this for her own practice too.”

Seafarers

Project information