Tailfeatherdance CIC provides first class dance education, performance and presenting opportunities to young adults with learning disabilities.
Through weekly in-person and Zoom creative dance classes, and a weekly session for presenters to create Tailfeatherdance and TailfeatherTV YouTube content, dancers are able to explore dance in a variety of styles and work collaboratively to create unique and original live and screen dance work.
Tailfeatherdance is at the forefront of disability dance awareness for young adult dancers with learning disabilities with global links to dance companies and Down Syndrome charities. Tailfeatherdance promotes inclusion, celebrates diversity and widens participation in the arts through:
TailfeatherTV - The first children's YouTube channel for dance, singing, signing, learning and playing created and presented by young adult performers with learning disabilities
Tailfeatherdance Dance Fitness - The first dance fitness videos (for all ages and abilities) on YouTube choreographed and performed by young adult performers with learning disabilities
Dance on Screen - Featured in many dance and/or disability film festivals regionally, nationally and internationally (2019 - 2021)
Tailfeatherdance CIC provides a safe environment for young adult dancers to explore individual creativity and develop the confidence to create and develop unique and original dance and performance work.
In addition, Tailfeatherdance is a supported Internship placement for 2 young adults with learning disabilities who are learning to lead dance to others under the guidance of the Tailfeather Dance Assistant, who also has a learning disability. In this way, Tailfeatherdance is a pioneer in demonstrating what can be achieved by artists with learning disabilities who are given opportunities that match their aspirations, as well as providing opportunities for future employment.
Tailfeatherdance meets in person two days per week to explore ideas, create and develop live dance performance work, TailfeatherTV content and dance fitness videos. Dancers also meet via Zoom on 4 days per week for:
Strictly Tailfeather - An amazing opportunity for dancers to learn routines from the popular BBC programme, adapted to promote inclusion.
Contemporary - A weekly technique and creative dance class. The dancers' work has been edited to create Dance on Screen films shown in a number of dance and/or disability film festivals. They have also just filmed on location for the first time, with 5 other day shoots planned for 2021 - 2022.
Dance Fitness - 2 classes per week provide fun fitness dance where dancers can dance along to easy-to-follow routines.
The Tailfeatherdance teaching assistant and the 2 college students on supported internship placement lead group work including the warm-up, cool down, creative dance activities, and teaching dance routines for the dance fitness videos.
Dance work created and performed during Zoom classes are made into dance films regularly and these are shared widely (and re-posted, retweeted by others) on all social media platforms nationally and internationally.
Through social media, 3 Tailfeather dancers were invited to teach a dance class at an inclusive dance festival via Zoom in Colorado:
http://www.danceexpressfc.com/past-performances.php
9 dancers will also perform 'virtually' at a Christmas dance production in Colorado
Many tailfeatherdance artists will also take part in a dance book by a New York based dance teacher and artist
