9 minute read
Dance 494
Interview
Para Dance UK
Patrick McGeough shares his inspiration, from performing the first dance at his wedding using his power wheelchair to being CEO of Para Dance UK.
Patrick McGeough
Patrick’s initial involvement with Para Dance UK came down to a wedding dance. “My wife’s grandparents were amateur ballroom and Latin dancers, so she wanted us to do a ballroom and Latin style first dance. I am a power wheelchair user, and we found that most of the choreography on offer to us was either too basic (it was suggested that my wife sit on my lap and we just spin round) or we were told that it couldn't be done. So, a year before the wedding we were about to give up. We had contacted lots of local and regional agencies, but nothing was being offered. Then, by chance, we contacted the charity that was then called the Wheelchair Dancesport Association (now Para Dance UK). Sue (the Chair) contacted me, I explained my situation and she said that it could be done. After speaking further with Sue and Ruth (Vice Chair), we had a plan. They were in Devon, and we were in Hertfordshire, but they came up and gave us 10 full-day lessons. On our wedding day we performed our Rumba!
“My second stroke meant I started to use a power wheelchair, because my right side was extremely weak. My wife would have to help me lift my right arm during all the practice lessons. But what was amazing was that when I watched the video of our actual performance, I could see that I was lifting my arm by myself. That was when the idea of dance as rehabilitation clicked for me. I realised that because I was doing something I enjoyed my rehabilitation had happened without my noticing. I spoke with Sue and Ruth, this was in 2011, and they explained that they would like to expand their charity and do more. My background was in business start-up, so I joined the charity as a trustee and then became Chief Executive Officer in 2012.”
Aims and objectives
Patrick is clear about Para Dance UK’s objectives. “Our charity aim is the relief of disabled people through inclusive dance and Para Dance Sport. That is the overall charitable objective. When I took over as CEO, we looked at what was going on in the disability dance sector and found a strong inclusive dance community. But it was aimed at contemporary and modern dance and the learning disability market. There seemed to be very little support or information about dance for those with physical, sensory, or mental health disabilities.
“We have expanded the remit of inclusive dance so people can access non-genre specific dance in multiple ways, through social dance or fitness programmes. At the elite and competitive level, we’ve got the grassroots programme to support ballroom, Latin and freestyle. We’ve got a talent pathway that can support individuals from local to national level, all the way to representing Great Britain at Paralympic level. To clarify, Para Dance Sport is a Paralympic sport but not a Paralympic Games sport. We are part of the Paralympic family.
“We asked how we can give everyone the opportunity to dance. To give people access to inclusive dance we run 10-week sessions in different dance styles, so organisations and groups can experience the benefits. We hold inclusive dance days, so that people can come and try out a particular genre and therefore see the possibilities that dance can hold for them. We ensure what we deliver is always in line with our ethical framework which is equality, safety, fun and dignity.
"We work with other partners. For example, with Limb Power we produced dance factsheets to give children and young people who have limb loss the opportunity to move. We work with Alexandra Palace to produce the Para Dance Youth Games, which gives schools and young people the opportunity to perform or compete. The first year we had 100 young people and this year, being the third, we have 300.
“We are unique as we give many opportunities, and the key element is finding a baseline of inclusive dance with four key elements: physical, sensory, learning and mental health. Para Dance UK is about challenging the options and ideas and being there to help with advice and inclusive dance training. We are not a specialist in every dance genre, but we are a specialist in being able to advise and support, and help adapt to the disability community. We are working with a range of partners including the ISTD to see how they can make their dance opportunity accessible to the wider community. The basic function of inclusivity is the same.”
Expand your dance offering
We asked Patrick how ISTD teachers can get more involved. “Don’t panic,” he said. “Engage and communicate. Find out what you are interested in offering and what you want to develop. Where do you want to be as a dance teacher? Do you want to be fully inclusive? What does fully inclusive mean to you?
“The first thing to look at is the internal aspect, this is everything about your organisation from building access to how you do your marketing. With the latter, be honest, make small changes to help engagement – sign language and subtitles help. Para Dance UK provides inclusive dance training to Level 2 Accreditation, which supports your understanding of working with and engaging the disability community.
“The second thing to look at is the public side, how do I reach that market? Talk to the right people. There are a wide range of disability organisations. Most local authorities will have a list of local support. Develop and continue your learning. Para Dance UK offers continued learning and resources.”
Reacting to the pandemic
Like everything, Para Dance UK was deeply affected by the pandemic. “It was like a tsunami that happened overnight. Everything stopped. Our 4,000 people in the UK had nothing. We decided to do things in stages. First, we had to stabilise Para Dance UK, because of our financial situation. Secondly, we had to support the instructors, by providing a small amount of help and information at the beginning. We produced our guidance for our coaches and instructors around online delivery and translated the government guidance and how that impacted our community, a large percentage of which were in priority groups for isolating. Our third action was to develop some materials for our community to try out, like small challenges through social media.
“Four months into the pandemic we produced the videos, in the non-specific genres, with movement to music for wheelchair users, or seated or standing individuals. We started something called Feel-Good Thursday and then Feel-Good Friday, which were 30–60-minute Facebook classes. After this, they could socialise together and engage through this platform.
“Covid highlighted how we could develop our activity and we developed two new areas. ‘Tour of the Floor’ gave individuals a chance to try different genres to see which they liked, and this suggested different ways of showcasing different genres. We also designed ‘Fit for the Floor’ to help people achieve their goals, like making specific body parts stronger through the class. We started working together and breaking down the barriers.
“This has opened new doors and opportunities to showcase and share information such as safeguarding for competitive dance and competitions, getting an equal footing across the genres, and looking at how a dance style can be adapted for examinations. We are now seeing many people joining in online, posting videos, showing just what can be achieved. Rose Ayling-Ellis, the firstever deaf celebrity to take part in Strictly Come Dancing has highlighted many aspects of how dance can be adapted to a disability, and how to help remove barriers. She posted that she had received 488 requests for help with sign language, for example. Covid has highlighted how we can be inclusive and how much more we still have to do. It has also shown that dance is good for all.”
A bright future
Patrick is optimistic about the future. “Para Dance UK is growing, and in the next five years we want to see an opportunity of working nationally with other partners to make a difference in the dance community at a national level. I see us expanding and developing our opportunities to engage in the wider community, giving everyone the chance to dance.
“Charlotte, one of our dancers, was someone who desperately wanted to dance and compete, but she had been told she couldn't. After working with her school to offer regular dance sessions with our dance teacher, Emma, she competed in her first national championships in 2017. Her determination comes to mind. When I think of why I'm involved with Para Dance UK, there are many things I could say it is for, but for me, it is for the ‘Charlottes’. If I can give people like Charlotte the chance to dance, perform and compete then I have done my job. I joined the charity to help it expand and grow, and have more possibilities and choices available to help people like me.
“I hope that Para Dance Sport becomes equal with its mainstream counterparts so that in years to come we could be part of Blackpool and other national events showing how inclusive ballroom, Latin and freestyle can be. On the inclusive dance side, I hope dance organisations like UK Breakin, ISTD, IDTA and others will increase opportunities for the individual to take part in the different genres on offer. Now there are segments of opportunities on offer, but in the mainstream, there is a big gap for the disabled dancer. I like to think that in the future this will happen. Contemporary and modern dance are leading the way and I would love to see the other genres offering the same equality. We need to provide everyone with the chance to dance be that socially, creatively or competitively."
You can find practical advice and resources on inclusive dance practice for teachers on our EDI Hub: www.istd.org/edihub
