Akademi has developed a programme specifically designed to enable young people and adults with a range of learning and physical disabilities the opportunity to participate in movement based workshops. As well as developing creative natural responses to artistic stimuli, these workshops are designed to develop their awareness of body, space and movement, and enhance their range of communication skills.
Previous workshops have been based on expressive movement, led by artists trained in ballet, contemporary dance and Indian/South Asian music (mainly tabla). Projects which aim to reach out to young people and give them the opportunity to experience professional performing arts activities are supported by partners such as the John Lyons Trust. These workshops have been presented throughout the boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hillingdon and Enfield.
Akademi dance artists Yamuna Devi and Katie Ryan worked in a special educational needs school (SEN) in Westminster to deliver a Bollywood choreography project. Akademi's Education & Community department devised a mentoring element to this programme to ensure the artists captured the best approaches to delivering dance and disability work.
