When: Saturday, October 10th, 12 – 1:30 pm
Where: Studio | Junges Tanzhaus (Neukölln)
WHAT STICKS? Creating immersive performances reflecting neurodiversity and access
A conversation with the creative team of «The Sticky Dance», moderated by Yama Tessa Hart
How do we create immersive performances that consider multifarious ways of perceiving, experiencing and participating? What happens during development and what changes once a work goes on tour, enters new spaces and encounters many different audiences?
In “What Sticks?”, we take a look at the artistic processes behind “The Sticky Dance” created by disabled and non-disabled co-directors. We talk about neurodiversity and access, about approaches that work and those that reach their limits. How do artistic, performative and technical perspectives come together in shaping such a work?
Performers Chloe Mead and Les Howard, Company Manager Keir Patrick and Technical Stage Manager Brent Tan join Culture & Change Maker Yama Tessa Hart in a conversation shaped by a range of artistic and neurodivergent perspectives.
An exchange about experiences and hurdles, learning and evolving, open questions and next steps. For audiences, performance makers and anyone curious about how inclusive immersive practice can emerge, grow and change. And, of course: what sticks?
Lesley Howard (Performer)
Lesley is an Autistic Dancer from Scotland whose practice is held by four core values, playfulness, accessibility, curiosity and joy. They see the arts as a space for education, advocacy and representation, while also offering opportunities for connection, exploration and escapism, working with access as an active collaborator.
As an Autistic person they experience the world through a different sensory and communication lens, prioritising non-verbal expression, pattern recognition and sensory exploration as ways of understanding and connecting. This perspective informs their creative practice and current research, particularly in how autistic experiences can be translated into a physical live art form.
Les is one half of Just Us, a disabled duo creating inclusive environments where people can explore, experiment and connect through movement, autonomy and shared creativity. They have also collaborated with Barrowland Ballet, Starcatcher’s, and a current performer with Second Hand Dance Company.
Chloe Mead (Performer)
Chloe is a performer and maker living in London. After graduating from London Contemporary Dance School she has worked as a freelancer, shaping and refining her performance and choreographic skills. She has built strong and loyal professional relationships with 6 companies for which she works regularly on each project. These include: Ceyda Tanc Dance, Casson & Friends, Made By Katie Green, Royal Ballet & Opera, Kate Flatt projects and Combination Dance Company. She is so thrilled to have been invited to join Second Hand Dance and is so excited to continue being a part of their brilliant work. Alongside her performing, Chloe designs and makes costumes for dance, choreographing on various projects and producing large and small scale dance projects.
Keir Patrick (Company Manager)
Keir trained at Laban and London Contemporary Dance School (EDGE company). He was a founding member of Ben Wright’s bgroup and worked for Clod Ensemble, Nigel Charnock, Siobhan Davies, Maresa von Stockert, Colette Sadler, Katie Green, Bare Bones, Malmo Opera and at the Royal Opera House. He has been working with Michael Keegan Dolan since 2011: Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre’s Rian (2011–2014) and Rite of Spring and Petrushka (2013) and Handel’s Julius Caesar with ENO at The Coliseum in London (2012). For Teaċ Damsa, he has performed and toured internationally in Swan Lake / Loch na
hEala (2017-2018) and MÁM (2019-2026). With Second Hand Dance Company, he performed several international interactive touring shows for babies, early years and
SEND audiences and is rehearsal director for We Touch, We Play, We Dance (2018-2024) and company tour manager for Rosie Heafford and Takeshi Matsumoto’s The Sticky Dance (2024-2026)
Brent Tan (Production Manager)
Brent is a Singaporean Theatre Production Manager, and Technical Stage Manager, currently based in London. Brent has a rich portfolio that spans international touring, immersive, and interactive theatre. His work emphasizes on cultural and creative diversity, storytelling that bring unique narratives to a wide range of audiences.
His credits include productions like: Heartwood, You & Us, It Walks Around The House At Night, Twisted Roots, Clive , When The World Turns … and more!