Dance in Cancer Care - Practitioner Training
Be a part of the Dance in Cancer Care movement.
Led by Move Dance Feel, this movement aspires to make dance available to everyone living with and beyond cancer. Addressing the current inequality in cancer care, we are a growing network of practitioners working at the intersection of dance and health.
The Dance in Cancer Care - Practitioner Training programme has been created to offer a practice space for dance artists who wish to lead dance in this context based on Move Dance Feel’s pioneering, evidence based methodology.
It offers space for artists (who often work in isolation) to come together to resource themselves, learn from one another, engage with reflexive practice, and explore both the rewards and complexities of working in the field of dance and cancer, and dance and health more broadly.
Be nurtured, and learn how to nurture.
Connect, and learn how to bring people into connection.
Dance, and learn how to enrich people's lives with dance.
This training adopts an iterative ‘learn by doing’ approach to development, and builds upon Move Dance Feel’s Dance in Cancer Care - Introductory Training programme. Trainees will;
Gain essential, in depth knowledge as to how to work effectively with people living with and beyond cancer
Develop an understanding of cancer and people’s support needs
Explore how to adapt your practice in relation to cancer and the side effects of treatment
Design dance sessions specifically for the cancer community
Refine your artistic and facilitation skills
Dance with the Move Dance Feel community
Bring depth and insights to your practice with dance and cancer research
“This approach is creative, inclusive and inspiring.”
How to apply?
We’re not currently receiving applications. This training is set to be an annual offer, running June - September per calendar year. Please sign up to our mailing list to be notified about the next opportunity to take part.
Key Focus Areas
The Dance in Cancer Care - Practitioner Training is part of a larger Dance and Health - Advancing Your Practice programme. Combined, it consists of seven key focus areas; five exploring dance and health more broadly, and two focusing on a dance in cancer care specialisation.
The focus areas are interwoven, and each area of focus has multiple components, which you can view here.
The training programme is led by…
Emily Jenkins, Founder-Director of Move Dance Feel, in partnership with Kate Rogan, Helen Kindred and Sian Hopkins of Middlesex University Dance Department. Together they share expertise in dance and somatic practices, dance and health, teaching and facilitation, dance technique, artist wellbeing, dance science and research, community dance practice, pedagogy and education.
The core facilitation team will be joined by other Move Dance Feel artists and collaborators, as well as specialists contributing cross-sector practice, insights and career sustainability support. In addition to dance, these sessions will focus on creative health, grief tending, arts advocacy and activism, and financial literacy.
All participants will become part of a training cohort who learn with and from one another.
The 2024 Dance in Cancer Care - Practitioner Training programme is a pilot. You will be part of the first training cohort and, as such, will inform future iterations of the training.
“Dance at Middlesex University are delighted to be collaborating with Emily - someone at the forefront of dance and health. The need for greater support of wellbeing during complex health difficulties is increasing, thus leading to a greater requirement from dance artists to share their practice in this capacity. We are excited about working together to offer timely sector support.”
Who is it for?
Dance in Cancer Care Introductory Training alumni, who are active members of the Dance in Cancer Care Network. Specifically, it is aimed at dance artists with facilitation experience, who work in community and / or health contexts.
Applicants should have a strong and regular dance practice and be working in the field. The training is delivered across four months to allow trainees to apply their learning and evolve their practice in context, alongside the programme.
In recognition of the fact that dance and health is a broad field, we also welcome applications from;
Dancers who are transitioning from a performance career to participatory dance work
Dance movement therapists working in group settings
Somatic movement practitioners with professional training and experience in dance
Health practitioners with an established dance practice looking to integrate their work
We are looking for artists who;
Are experienced in dance facilitation
Have experience of dancing with people with a variety of abilities and / or health challenges
Need to advocate for the how and whys of their work to a dance and / or health audience
Can commit time to developing themselves and their practice, in community
Embrace mutuality and can communicate what they bring to a training cohort
Can attend all of the training dates detailed
Dates and location
IN PERSON DELIVERY 2024
20, 21, 22, 23 June
2, 3, 4 August
6, 7, 8 September
The dates indicate all day activity.
In person delivery will be on the Hendon campus of Middlesex University in London, UK (NW4 4BT). It is essential that you are available for all in person activity.
ONLINE DELIVERY 2024
14, 17 June (exact times TBC)
12, 13, 14 July (exact times TBC)
22 July (exact time TBC)
12 August (exact time TBC)
13, 16 September (exact times TBC)
Online delivery will not last all day, but instead consist of bitesize sessions. It is encouraged that you attend ‘live’ in real time yet in any instance where a session is missed a recording can be provided.
“Emily and the team are doing valuable work, they are caring and supportive. Not everyone ‘gets it’ in how to approach people with cancer, that we don’t all refer to it as a battle! Move Dance Feel has found a way to engage with people with an understanding of how they actually feel.”
Cost, travel and accommodation
The cost of the training has been heavily subsidised by Middlesex University, therefore it is £295 for individuals and £495 if an organisation is paying for you to attend. This is the total cost for 10 days of in person training, plus an additional 9 sessions of online training.
Payment plans are available, yet if this cost presents a barrier for you please provide details in your application.
Where applicable you are responsible for covering the cost of your travel and accommodation. Discount accommodation can be booked at Middlesex University at a rate of approximately £30 per night. As availability may not be guaranteed it is offered on a first come first serve basis.
During and after the training, artists will;
Be part of an ongoing learning community
Belong to a network of dance and health professionals nationally / internationally
Receive resources to support ongoing learning
Have access to a body of evidence to support your practice
Be provided with a professional reference (on request)
Please note, this is a practice based professional development opportunity. During and upon completion of the programme trainees will be invited to reflect on their learning and share how they are applying it in practice.
This training is a pilot model, not yet accredited. At the point where the programme is certified we will retrospectively issue you a CPD certificate.
“The things that stand out to me are the evidence of need, supporting research and the structure of a Move Dance Feel session - so considered.”
