'Strictly' Inclusive: Co-creating the past, present and future
Lead Research Organisation:
Coventry University
Department Name: Ctr for Dance Research
Abstract
Strictly Come Dancing is a hugely successful BBC programme with an enormous following of fans, with viewers averaging at 8 million per week. This public engagement project will involve the public with research about BBC's cutting-edge work in televising dance, focusing on Strictly. Drawing on research expertise at the Centre for Dance Research, we will partner with the BBC and utilise both BBC archive analysis and public engagement activities to better understand and celebrate the impact of the programme on audiences. We will specifically focus on how Strictly has addressed inclusion and representation of gender, sexuality and disability. Along with this we will share our knowledge of archival research, dance analysis and 'kinaesthetic empathy' of the viewers (Wood, 2010); supporting participants to critically and creatively reflection on televised dance. This project will engage dance enthusiasts from D/deaf and LGBTQIA+ communities in the Midlands region of the UK by collaborating with Coventry Pride, the Deaf Cultural Centre and Deaf Explorer in Birmingham to select archival clips, host discussions and generate creative responses as an approach to reflect on inclusion and representation in Strictly Come Dancing - past, present and future. We will host workshops and discussion documented through film; facilitate creative responses through stop motion gifs and artistic films; and celebrate the material developed through a public launch and sharing in local/social media outlets.
Title | Dance films |
Description | We commissioned three artists to respond to the theme of the project using dance and film. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | We have developed relationships with three artists that we will continue to work with. |
URL | https://canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk/strictly/ |
Description | Representation on television is important, particularly for people who are marginalised in society. |
Exploitation Route | We will publish a policy brief and we hope to meet with the Strictly team to discuss the findings. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
URL | https://canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk/strictly/ |
Description | We will write a policy brief on the outcome of the project. We have built relationships with the partners that we will continue to work with. Particularly working with the Deaf Cultural Centre, we helped the organisation think of other creative ways to work with a group. |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy |
Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
Description | 'Strictly' Inclusive: Co-creating the past, present and future |
Amount | £19,981 (GBP) |
Funding ID | AH/X001016/1 |
Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2022 |
End | 11/2022 |
Description | Research England Development Fund |
Amount | £6,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Coventry University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 06/2023 |
Description | Stop-motion workshops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We delivered workshops at the Belgrade Theatre with the LGBT+ community and at the Deaf Cultural Centre in Birmingham. 35 people (approx) attended and it sparked conversation around diversity and inclusion on Strictly Come Dancing and an increased interest in stop motion animation and dancing. We also delivered an additional workshop at the Being Human Festival at the Herbert Gallery in Coventry to 15 people. Again, with the same impact as above. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk/strictly/ |