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Inclusive dance programme wins accessibility and inclusion award
- 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork鈥檚 support to Dance Cork Firkin Crane鈥檚 Inclusive Dance Cork celebrated for promoting inclusivity and accessibility in the arts.
- The Community Foundation of Ireland Creative Access Award recognised the partnership鈥檚 work to enrich the lives of diverse communities.
- Inclusive Dance Cork is the only university accredited introduction to inclusive dance in the Republic of Ireland.
A pioneering programme in inclusive dance has been celebrated at the Business to Arts Awards 2024. Inclusive Dance Cork, Ireland鈥檚 first university-accredited introductory micro-credentials in inclusive dance, won the Community Foundation Ireland Creative Access Award.
The micro-credentials were developed by 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork and Dance Cork Firkin Crane, with significant support from Suisha Inclusive Arts/Cope Foundation.
Inclusive Dance Cork delivers an introductory and immersive learning environment in contemporary inclusive dance for people with and without disabilities. So far, more than 14 dancers and movement practitioners have completed the university credits. Alongside these students, members of Suisha Inclusive Arts of the Cope Foundation and other community members dance and experience working together.
The micro-credential programme is designed for dancers to explore expressive movement and experience a variety of ways to dance, facilitate, and support dancers of all abilities.
深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork鈥檚 faculty support students during their learning, and the university provides the academic mechanisms for awarding micro-credentials in inclusive dance to those who successfully complete the programme and all relevant university assessments.
Yvon Bonenfant, Head of UCC Department of Theatre, said: 鈥淥ur Department supports practice that transforms. We believe that a research-intensive university like UCC should be a laboratory helping develop the performance of the future. We have been delighted to work within this ever-evolving partnership to explore how best and in what form we can provide accreditation for the learning of students with and without disability, together, as they explore new forms. We are delighted that The Community Foundation Ireland and Business to Arts have recognised our work so far to support dancers of all abilities. We thank Suisha Inclusive Arts of the Cope Foundation for their ongoing support and collaboration alongside the ETB: their participation, support and pedagogical imagination means we can form learning groups that are widely inclusive.鈥�
Yvonne Coughlan, Chair of Dance Cork Firkin Crane: "As one of the founders of Inclusive Dance Cork, and Chairperson of Dance Cork Firkin Crane I am deeply honoured that we have received the Community Foundation Ireland Creative Access Award in partnership with 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork. This recognition at the Business to Arts Awards 2024 reflects our commitment to creating safe spaces where everyone, regardless of background or ability, can experience the joy and freedom of dance. Together, we are breaking down barriers, fostering creativity, and building a more inclusive arts community. By being more inclusive in the world of arts, we are lighting the way for the inclusive society I believe we all want to live in. I am hugely grateful to all of our IDC partners and DCFC executive, especially IDC Artistic Director Rhona Coughlan, and Dr. Yvon Bonenfant, UCC.
Rhona Coughlan, Artistic Director of Inclusive Dance Cork, said: 鈥淒elighted the beautiful partnership between UCC and Dance Firkin Crane and Inclusive Dance Cork Cork has been recognised by The Arts to Business Awards and hopefully it will continue to flourish. It is a landmark moment for me as a disabled dancer and the Artistic Director of Inclusive Dance Cork in recognising that the arts are for everyone and that everyone is welcome to the dance floor.鈥�
From the application: 鈥淭his partnership has led to some participants pursuing further educational opportunities in inclusive dance after Inclusive Dance Cork, through mentorships and additional training programmes available in the UK. Others have also gone on to develop their own inclusive dance performances, or have incorporated techniques from inclusive dance into their own dance teaching. This leads to increased performance opportunities and dance workshops that include dancers of all abilities.鈥�