Hart Highlight: Stopgap Dance Company

Stopgap is a dance company based in Farnham, Surrey, it has been running since 1995 and is led by a diverse creative team that are dedicated to creating an inclusive space to learn, move and perform, becoming the first touring dance company to employ learning disabled dancers, physically disabled dancers, and non-disabled dancers.

In their own words Stopgap’s vision is to:

“Create an inclusive world where diversity is not just accepted but pursued, a world where no one is limited by prejudice against D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent people”

Stopgap aims to remove the barriers into the world of dance by “nurturing the talents of dancers born into any body and any mind”. They do so by taking a step back from commissioning choreographers to create their dance work and producing their own inclusive choreography.

Some examples of how this is done is through 3 key methods: translation, blending and improvisation.

Translation – This refers to the process of creating parallel versions of movements that can be performed by someone who has a different physicality to you.

Blending – Stopgap takes this unique approach to movement, within this method dancers observe and listen to one another with the aim of learning each individuals’ different approaches to dance, eventually finding a balance or blend of each of their interpretations.

Improvisation – This method explores the different ways touch can suggest a narrative, improv-based exercises relating to a scene or theme are created, this ensures that the movement can progress the story.