The Sensory Safe Cypher is a space for Chronically ill, disabled and neurodiverse dancers to educate, express and exchange with each other through movement and music. ‘Sensory Safe’ for us means that people are free to be able to be relaxed and behave in the space as they need. You can make noise, move around, lie down, close your eyes, wear ear defenders, shake, stim, sing, be still or be silent. The space will provide a tactile, immersive and multi-sensory space for us to explore movement within parameters of our access needs. Guided by the 5 senses, using objects such as stim toys to guide our movement and simply taking up space as disabled dancers.

Dance & music are often considered elite artistic pursuits, when access to and participation in them are a human right. They are historically inaccessible and there is not enough representation of disabled bodies, minds and souls in these fields. Jam spaces are often sensorily or socially inaccessible late at night or have physical barriers. Pulling from our underground dance practices that focus on cypher – a circular gathering of humans, dipping into authentic improvisation and sharing it in community. The Sensory Safe Cypher is conversational, co-created and based on somatic, healing movement practices such as Qi gong, intuitive drawing and dancing feelingly.

You can read about a previous event with Saskia here

Saskia is leading an online version of this session via Zoom from 6pm – 7:30pm on Monday 17 September for those that cannot attend in-person or would prefer to join remotely. Please click here for further information and to book.

Part of Sadler’s Wells Artist Development Programme: Artist-Led Sessions. You can find out more about the selection process for this programme online here.

Image description: Saskia, a white non-binary person with a bright pink fringe and light pink backwards cap throws their arms up dramatically with their cane in their right reflecting the light. Bubbles float through the foreground slightly covering Saskia’s figure adorned in yellow mustard shirt, buttons and badges.

Header image © Harriet Moore @hatsmoore