Blog: Who’s not invited to the party?

Shaper/Caper is a new company that has taken some time in the making.  As the co-founders landed in the world of dance many years ago from a background as working-class individuals, the arts seemed not the most obvious career choice among the immediate family network. 

 These individual journeys meandered and brought us together as we gathered many skills along the way and most importantly, distilled and funnelled the essence of our working practice: Dance for All. 

 From performing in a Londocentric dance scene that can be both invigoratingly welcoming and exclusive at times, to discovering inclusive dance with people with additional support needs at a professional level, the co-founders have always asked the same question: Who’s not invited to the party? (Both as audiences and participants). 

 This perspective of the lack of access to dance (and why) for some individuals has driven many of Shaper/Caper’s initial brainstorming sessions, as we discuss new projects for the stage and as part of the creative learning portfolio. This inclusive perspective has taken us to deliver sessions with young people at risk, with older people with long-term health conditions, in hospitals and other care settings, and with people that had never imagined themselves dancing until we proposed it to them. 

Whilst some artists’ work acts as a catalyst for tremendous and impactful social change, see Banksy, Ai WeiWei, Picasso’s Guernica, Bob Marley, and many, many others, we relish on the immediate and visible impact of the small things, the tiny changes that we suggest as an invitation to give a creative voice to those that sometimes feel less able to express themselves in conventional ways, the open letter to join the dance party…or not. And yes, Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit said it better on his song: ‘while I’m alive, I’ll make tiny changes to earth’.

 We dance our small daily changes as we move our bodies, minds, and emotions to connect with others. Shaper/Caper invites you to the party and you are always welcome to say no. 

HQ