Step Change Studios

Our work

Step Change Studios is an award-winning, pioneering dance company committed to making dance accessible for everyone. We offer fun, engaging opportunities for disabled and non-disabled people to dance. We cater to different ages, abilities and needs. We provide regular dance classes; deliver dance in schools, social care, healthcare and community settings; produce professional dance performances and productions; share our knowledge and experience through conferences and workshops; and we create imaginative bespoke dance projects in collaboration. We want to support everyone to achieve their ambitions – whether that is to dance for fun, to be active, to perform, and inspire and enable others to dance.

Our values

What makes us different is we only see possibility. We make things happen. We get our energy from collaborating with good people who share our values. We understand that what we do is about more than dance. We love what we do and enjoy learning from everyone around us. We aspire to lead by example and to contribute to a sustainable, strong, and diverse dance sector.

Fusion

Duration: 66 minutes (10 standalone pieces and artist-audience Q&A so can be adapted to different running times)

Description: Bringing together talented professional artists to push the boundaries of ballroom with beautiful, powerful, performances that redefine the genre, Fusion is a creative exploration between disabled and non-disabled artists drawing on different dance influences such as swing and contemporary to develop original, innovative dance.

Extra information: As the dance pieces are standalone, the production can be adapted to shorter programming.

People on road: Minimum 8, maximum 20, made up of: 8-15 dancers 1 producer plus 1 tech

Freight: none

Freight details: n/a

Fairy Tales

Duration: 60 minutes

Description: The stories we experience as children inform our imagination and sense of self. Within the naïve narrative of ‘Once upon a time, and happy ever after’ are universal themes that transcend physical and social boundaries. Drawing on these themes, Fairy Tales celebrates the art of storytelling through creative, original dance.

Extra information: As the dance pieces are standalone, the production can be adapted to shorter programming.

People on road: Minimum 5, maximum 20 made up of: 5-20 dancers including producer, plus 1 tech (if not provided)

Freight: none

Freight details: n/a

Breaking Ballroom

Duration: 9 minutes 31 seconds

Description: This independent short film made the official selection of international film festivals in Europe, North America and Asia. Breaking Ballroom tells the inspiring story of how founder Rashmi Becker was inspired by her disabled brother to enable people of all ages and abilities to dance.

Extra information: Suitable for film festivals, as part of panel debates and speaker events, and workshops.

People on road: 0-1 (Founder/Director if participating in a Q&A)

Freight details: n/a

Step Change Studios develops tailored activities to compliment dance performance. This includes audience discussions with artists, integrated dance workshops and taster sessions for the public and in specific settings such as schools and care settings, masterclasses for professionals, speaking at seminars and conferences, practical demonstrations, reflective practice, and exploratory, experimental workshops with professionals from different art forms and genres. We like to capture feedback and evaluate our impact and work with partners to identify positive outcomes and reflect on learning.

‘So inspirational’
Sky News

‘In perfect harmony on the dancefloor… …Really inspiring.’
BBC Breakfast News

‘The troupe is an uplifting and galvanising contributor to diversity in the arts, proving that there are no limits to what can be done with enterprising spirits, open and innovative minds and the goodwill and compassionate hearts of those seeking opportunities for all.’
The Upcoming

‘Have to say, really really impressive what she is doing… More of that please.’
Sean Rafferty, In Tune, BBC Radio 3

‘This was in turn innovative, expressive, playful, sassy, beautiful and infectious and a reminder of what can be achieved with ambition, forward-thinking arts programming and commissioning and reasonable adjustments (to method – not to quality).’
The Social Issue

‘The UK’s first inclusive Latin and ballroom dance showcase with disabled and non-disabled artists, has been making headlines and leaving audiences demanding more.’
Mobile Women