Inclusive Intergenerational Dance

Inclusive Intergenerational Dance (IID) is a UK-based nonprofit organization and registered charity (Charity number: 1182884) dedicated to promoting health, wellbeing, and community cohesion through dance and creative movement. The organization operates with a strong belief that dance is accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background, and that engagement in creative movement benefits both mental and physical health.

Mission and Approach

IID aims to support individuals in developing their interests and skills via creative exploration in dance, ensuring that every experience is person-centered, safe, and of high artistic quality and integrity. The organization focuses on inclusivity, catering to people of all ages and various physical and cognitive conditions, emphasizing the therapeutic and social benefits of dance.

Programs and Activities

IID offers a range of regular projects and classes designed to be inclusive and adaptable to participants' needs:

• Creative Lunch: A program centered around creative movement.

• Creative Seated Dance: Weekly movement-to-music classes tailored mainly for older adults and people living with dementia. These classes are generally conducted seated, accommodating individuals in wheelchairs and allowing for expression either seated or standing. The sessions combine exercise with creative exploration.

• Dance for Parkinson's: A specialized series of dance classes created for people living with Parkinson's and their carers. These sessions focus on developing strength, balance, flexibility, and fluidity of movement, incorporating warm-ups, longer dance sequences, opportunities for free movement, and choreography development. The classes require no prior dance experience and include social elements like tea and biscuits.

Impact and Community Feedback

IID's activities foster physical health, creativity, and social interaction among participants. Testimonials highlight the positive impact of the classes on mood and wellbeing, with participants describing the sessions as enjoyable and uplifting social highlights of their week.

Organizational Details

Inclusive Intergenerational Dance is led by artists Kate Finegan and Sarah Gilmartin. The organization also engages in broader creative projects involving movement, music, and visual arts for all ages. It collaborates with other initiatives that focus on inclusive leadership and artistic approaches to accessibility in dance.

Overall, IID reflects a commitment to radical inclusion in the arts, advocating for access and participation for disabled, d/Deaf, neurodivergent individuals, and those with long-term health conditions, contributing to a wider cultural movement towards equity and creativity in the dance community.

Note: Charity registration and additional organizational activities confirm its recognized status and focused mission to integrate dance as a tool for health and community development.[1][2][3][4]

[1] https://www.iid.org.uk/about [2] https://www.iid.org.uk [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1182884&subId=0 [4] https://www.instagram.com/iid_dance/ [5] https://independentdance.co.uk/project/dance-it-dance-it-artistic-approaches-to-access-inclusive-leadership/