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WE HELP PARENTS IN DANCE MOVE THEIR WORLDS Our mission WINNER - CHANGE MAKER AWARD ONE DANCE UK AWARDS 2022 NOMINEE - THIS MUM MOVES AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR ACTIVE PREGNANCY FOUNDATION AWARDS 2023 ONE DANCE UK AWARDS 2023 WHAT WE DO HOW WE CAN HELP WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE PA RT Not sure what this is all about? ​ Take a look inside a Dance Mama Live session at Sadler's Wells and see how we are making a positive impact on parents in dance and the industry. REPLAY GUIDE FILM 2 ARE YOU A DANCE MAMA? PERFORMER, CREATIVE TEAM, LEARNING, ADMIN... WHETH ER ON OR OFF-STAGE, O R TAKEN A BREAK... CONNECT WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED PARENTS IN DANCE AND STAY INFORMED AND INSPIRED Subscribe JOIN OUR COMMUNITY AT FREE, BRONZE LEVEL MEMBERSHIP AND GET 20 HOURS OF FREE EXPERT WEBINAR & WORKSHOP REPLAYS Subscribe Free Now BECOME A MEMBER ​ Develop your career with world-class specialists at your convenience Join our affordable Silver Member community to take part in monthly group mentoring webinars with Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy, access our unique library of expert webinar and workshop replays supported by Arts Council England, discounts on workshops, courses and merch to keep your dance career on track as a parent. ​ Silver Members can access Lucy 121 via our Mentor Mama programme with 30% off ​ (Yes, that is Mel Sinclair, Associate Choreographer of 'Six' The Musical in the picture - come and play her workshop!) Workshops & events ​ Industry-leading sessions to inspire, inform and improve Do you have confidence in you knowledge of how to support parent dancers in and out of the studio? Either for yourself, colleagues or participants? We deliver awareness-raising sessions produced from Active Pregnancy Foundation and Institute of Health Visiting ( This Mum Moves ) to enlighten you on current government guidance, as well as our Project Management Masterclass and career management workshops to help support you in managing your many responsibilities as a working parent in the arts. ​ (Ooh, and that's Bethany Kinsley-Garner , Principle of Scottish Ballet pictured above, who came to us on her mat leave - see her in our film) RESOURCES Real-life stories, articles, research and books to support you Read the latest information about being an active working parent from dance, public health, sports science and more to help you on your journey through parenthood in dance, as well as over 70 stories to inspire you on our site, books we have featured in as well as our reading recommendations. ​ Or listen to our podcast on the go for the busy working dance parent We are host to the International Dance and Parenting Network. ​ (Yes, that is Clare Halse , star of London's West End who we supported on her mat leave and is also in our film - just doing a spot of admin in between tapping...) Contributors Map NEW! Compiling all our experts and specialists in one place so you can find them fast! ​ ​ TAKE ME TO THE MAP GET YOUR DANCE PROJECT ORGANISED You don't need to be a parent to benefit from Lucy's experience ⚡️ PROJECT MANAGEMENT MASTERCLASS DIGITAL GO TO COURSE MEET LUCY, THE DANCE MAMA BEHIND US READ MORE MEET THE DANCE MAMAS IN OUR FILM EBONY MOLINA Performer & Choreographer CL ARE HALSE Musical Theatre Performer BETHANY KINGSLEY-GARNER Principal, Scottish Ballet K A TE TYDMAN Actor & Producer Film Dance Mamas FILM INFO CELEBRATE THE DANCE MAMA IN YOUR LIFE The perfect gift for mums on the move supporting mums on the move OVER 80 STORIES Our unique collection of over 80 stories, amplified online since 2014, traverse roles on and off-stage across the sector of parents from a multitude of family contexts. ​ Read how parents navigate parenthood in dance and related sectors ​ Listen to their stories of resilience in the face of challenge ​ Watch them talk about their experiences and be inspired VIEW STORIES JOIN DANCE MAMA IN CONVERSATION WITH... LUCY BALFOUR Lucy, (Royal New Zealand Ballet, Rambert), who delivers Dance Mama’s specialised pre and postnatal dance classes for professionals, talks about her experience bending the many roles in life as a ballerina, dancer and mother, including dancing on tour during her pregnancy. KRISTINA ALLEYNE Kristina, Co-Artistic Director of Alleyne Dance, shares her experience of what it is like to be pregnant, performing, choreographing and co-running your own dance company, whilst also rehearsal directing for Akram Khan's Kaash at the Southbank Centre, London ​ EMMA FLETT Emma, Filmmaker, Founder of Flett Films and dance teacher talks about her vast career in dance, theatre and film as a parent, with wonderful real-life stories of how she has navigated her career with three children - including emergency celebrity babysitters! CELEBRATING DANCE PAPAS #dancepapa Federico Bonelli talks to Dance Mama Founder, Lucy McCrudden, about his recent move from celebrated Principal The Royal Ballet to his new position as Artistic Director of Northern Ballet. giving insight and how his experience combined with Board membership of PiPA Campaign will shape the future his thinking as he embarks on this exciting new chapter. WATCH

​ WORKSHOPS & EVENTS GET INVOLVED Workshops, webinars, online courses, mentoring and talks IMAGE: Dance Mama Live,Birmimngham, March 2023 @onedanceuk Photographer Anothony Shintai @anthonyshintai. Upcoming Events How to support parents who dance Fri, 26 Apr Webinar 26 Apr 2024, 12:00 – 13:00 BST Webinar 26 Apr 2024, 12:00 – 13:00 BST Webinar Whether you are on stage, in a studio, performing, making or learning dance, we know how to support people with the dual role of parent and dance professional. The Dance Mama, Lucy McCrudden (Founder/CEO) will lead you through this friendly session, sharing her knowledge from our award-winning work. Book Tickets 14th May 2024, 9.30 - 4pm at Déda, Derby, UK BOOK FREE SPOT This Mum Moves Physical Activity Awareness Sessions This is an awareness-raising session about the Chief Medical Officer guidance for pre and postnatal activity in the UK and how we can apply it to dance contexts. Created by Active Pregnancy Foundation and Institute of Health Visiting, Dance Mama leads this session for dance professionals only who are working directly with colleagues or participants who are either expectant or people who have birthed, taking you through the current CMO guidance. Participants gain access to the exemplary digital tool kit in addition to the knowledge gained in the session (and a certificate!). We are unique in being able to provide this opportunity in dance at the moment and it is a great step forwards for the sector in considering how to approach and support the pre/postnatal population when they dance. Our Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, delivers these sessions, bringing her expertise from her 20-year career in dance, her PhD knowledge and lived experience as a mum to empower and give agency to the dance sector to support and work with parents with confidence and facts. ​ How can I take part? ​ We periodically deliver these sessions for free. ​ ​ All our own delivery staff have taken this session as a best practice standard. ​ Like being connected? Go Global. FIND OUT MORE BACK CATALOGUE Facilitator - Women's networking event AWA Dance: Let's Take Action webinar - interview with New Adventures Surrey Dance Network Autumn Event 2023 Jan 2023 Conference Speaker Lucy updated members on developments for parents who dance - Sept 22 Lucy gave her TEDx talk - Keeping mums in dance centre stage - on 30 April 21 TMM Physical Activity Awareness Raising Sessions - From Sept '22 Dancing Through Motherhood at ROH, March 2019 Dance Mama Live! Pilot in-person, Sadler's Wells 2019 Project Management Masterclass - Farnham Maltings 2020 Building A Portfolio Career at Greenwich Dance, June 2019 Lucy gave her talk - Helping keep mums in dance centre stage - on 30 April 21 Project Management Masterclass in person and online 2020/21 Dance Mama feature on Riverside Radio, Oct 2019

< Back BONNIE RUDDOCK​ ​Mother of two. Pilates Instructor and Founder, BActivePilates What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? For me as a mum of two young boys, and being self employed as a Pilates instructor, it is often a challenge to find time for administration. I have a wish list in my head of resources and content I would like to create but because I am often out teaching and when I am at home it’s hard to find child free time to do admin, until they are in bed and then that’s my window of time. So I’m often on my laptop in the evenings. Whilst I try to make sure that when I am with the boys my sole focus is on them sometimes you need to respond to an enquiry, email, call, or do a quick social media post. I try to keep this to a minimum as I am lucky that I can now work my schedule and hours to suit school and term time but it also brings new challenges. What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? During both of my pregnancies I was still employed alongside my self-employed work. I was very supported by my employer at the time, and was always granted the necessary time off needed to attend midwife appointments, scans and they took time to look at my workspace to minimise risks. During my first pregnancy I had gestational diabetes which initially proved quite stressful as I would need to regularly monitor my blood sugar levels whilst at work, and would sometimes get high readings. I am a very active person and towards the end of my pregnancy I was allowed to leave early to attend an antenatal swimming class so they were very flexible. Whilst I would often still work long hours on my feet the option would be made available to sit but I just preferred being standing and moving – the dancer in me! Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? Not that I can think of. They even had a quiet room you could go to if you needed a moment of rest. Whilst I didn’t ever use it, it was great to know it was there. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? Yes absolutely, I wanted to remain as active as possible throughout both on my pregnancies. With my first I stopped teaching early so I was able to maintain regular gym workouts and classes for myself. Many women are afraid to exercise in pregnancy, especially when its your first and your worried if it’s ok for baby, but being a dancer I felt I knew my own body and could make reasonable judgements to know when to stop and rest and not work myself to hard on any cardio activity and be breathless. I could still exercise and feel good but adapt. I was aware of my body changing. I’ve gone on to lead both antenatal and postnatal classes to help others stay mobile during pregnancy. I am so aware from being a dancer and Pilates instructor the extra strain on the body and how this can impact your alignment and posture, so wanted to help other women stay active and recover post pregnancy. From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? Your priorities will change and shift. You will always still be passionate about your work and want to do the best job but you will also need to find balance and switch off, enjoy quality time with your children. Everyone always says time goes quickly when you have children and it really does, they are only little for so long, so cherish any leave you get, enjoy maternity leave. Take time to switch off from work. ​ If you were expected to dance postnatal (either by yourself or your employer) how did you approach your recovery? I returned as an instructor rather than a performer so was able to build back up gently. What changed most for you on your return to work? After my first child I returned part time, instead of full time and sometimes this can make you feel like you miss out on some of the team events or key meetings. I returned as a job-share which was great that my employer welcomed this but it often meant that I had a lot to come in and catch up on before I could start actioning things. You then have to manage and juggle childcare, drop off, pick ups etc. ​ Does parenting help you in your work? Yes. I think once you have experienced labour yourself and once you have your own family you can relate to the juggle others experience. I had always wanted to teach antenatal and postnatal Pilates for sometime but felt that I would be doing a disservice until I had experienced this myself. I can now relate to clients more having been pregnant and as a parent finding the time to exercise, attend a class and squeeze in ‘me time’. Does dance help you in your parenting? One of the key principles of Pilates is breathing and this has certainly helped when you might be feeling anxious, overwhelmed or tired - just taking a few moments to pause and breathe, reset and recharge. ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? No Anything else you think would be worth raising? As someone who trained in dance and as a teacher I also spent a number of years working in the dance sector producing a range of learning and participation projects and performances. This enabled me to work with such a breadth of people of all ages, schools, teachers and so many talented creative individuals. I learnt so many things during this time whilst working specifically with children, parents and families and feel that this helped shape the parent I want to be. Now I’m on the other side where I get to experience taking my children to arts and cultural activities - all of the things I once organised. Now that I run my own Pilates business and home Pilates studio both my boys love getting involved and I try to be an active role model. My son aged 3 has often appeared in my weekly zoom classes online as he is always asking to join in and practice some of the moves. I work hard to make Pilates accessible to all and inspiring people to lead active healthy lives. I’ve recently been delivering Pilates workshops in schools to support the key stage 2 National Curriculum for PE to develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance. I’ve also work with corporate companies and businesses to enhance good posture and wellness in the workplace. I’m always excited to explore new collaborations in my work, but what’s most important is that I can watch my boys grow up and be there for them. ​ More about Bonnie Bonnie Ruddock is a certified Pilates Instructor, with extensive experience working in the dance, education and events industry. Bonnie has previously been employed by East London Dance, The Royal Ballet, The University of Surrey and acted as a trustee to Dance Woking. In 2016 after becoming a mum Bonnie launched her own classes BActivePilates with a passion to help others to enhance their posture and alleviate aches and pains through the practice of Pilates. ​ ​ ​

< Back ANONYMOUS DANCE ARTIST & CHOREOGRAPHER Mother of two. This choreographer, teacher and mentor is passionate about making work that brings together diverse sections of society, focusing on people with different cultural heritages and dance backgrounds. She has been an Artist in Education and freelance choreographer since 2007, and has taught in a wide range of high profile dance organisations in the UK. ​ What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? Not enough money, un-family-friendly hours. ​ What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? A lot the first time. I was able to take a year off and come back the amount of days asked for. ​ Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? I went to them with a solution, but they refused. ​ Do you think being a dancer made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? Yes. My body is my friend and we worked well together. Also I was fit and strong which I think helped make child birth an amazing experience. ​ From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? Be brave and as a true to yourself as possible (and as economically possible). If you want to go back to work full time, go. If you want to hang out, hang out. If you want to take the baby to rehearsal, take it. ​ What changed most for you on your return to work? Feeling split between my work and my family. ​ Does parenting help you in your work? Yes, it has inspired many choreographic works and a solo performed by myself. ​ Does dance help you in your parenting? Yes, because I am strong and can play excellent musical statues. ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? No. ​ ​

< Back TRACY WITNEY Mother of two. Head of Learning & Participation at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Northern School of Contemporary Dance are a partner in Season 2 of Dance Mama Live . What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? The juggling of work, personal commitments and the feeling of guilt, which never goes away! My children are now 9 and 12 and I have seen them through nursery, primary and now into secondary school whilst developing my own career from Education Manager at Phoenix Dance Theatre to Head of Learning & Participation at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD). My work hours have always included evenings and weekends and this can be hard when you miss bedtimes, special events or just extra family time. I do rely heavily on my husband especially in the summer term when we have weekend auditions and shows, having a supportive partner, family or friends is imperative. What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? Both my experiences were positive, with my oldest son I worked with Phoenix Dance Theatre and they were very supportive in helping me to reduce the hours of teaching and touring activity when the pregnancy tiredness hit. With my second son I had started working at NSCD and did not have the touring work to contend with and my teaching work again reduced when I felt I could not work to my best capacity. In both situations after having my children I had my ‘keep in touch’ days which helped me feel connected, appreciated and took me out of my baby bubble. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? With my first pregnancy I think I would have found it really helpful to have had someone else within a dance career that I could have spoken to, I talked to lots of other mums of course but none of them had physical careers that they would be returning to. It did knock my confidence when I first started teaching (post baby) as my body felt different, my core wasn’t as strong and with sleepless nights added into the mix my strength and concentration did fluctuate. With my second son I had taken on a higher level strategic role so this became more about passing on information. I had great staff within my team that I felt confident leaving work to spend time with both my children without the fear of waking in the middle of the night (or day) worrying that I had forgotten an important funding date! Do you think being a dancer made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? I think I was far more aware of how my body felt and at some points overly concerned about how it would affect me in the long term. I have hypermobility and suffered in my second pregnancy with pelvic issues. Going from being quite active to struggling to walk was very hard to deal with especially as I also had a 3 year old running around as well. ​ I spoke to many of my friends (non-dancers) about post birth recovery and realised that as a dancer / teacher I was putting myself under unnecessary pressure, I worried that I would not be able to do my job in the same way and this did have a negative effect of my mental health and confidence. If you were expected to dance postnatal (either by yourself or your employer) how did you approach your recovery? Coming back to teaching after both my children filled me with equal excitement and dread, as I mentioned earlier I didn’t feel as confident that my body was going to be able to do what it had previously been capable of. For this reason during my postnatal maternity leave I did try and exercise regularly with my children in toe with jogging/pramercise and Pilates. Both Phoenix and NSCD were supportive and allowed me to take time to build back my dance/teaching capacity and supported my decisions in both cases to come back part time (30 hours a week) What changed most for you on your return to work? I think my priorities, with dance we sometimes feel like we are privileged because our passion is our career and it feels wrong to say no. I found that really hard when I first had both my children to not attend every performance I was invited to. I also reduced my workload outside of my regular jobs as I had been a board member for a couple of local schools as dance specialist, but time became more precious and something had to give. Does parenting help you in your work? Definitely, my negotiation skills and ability to deal with conflict have improved immensely, along with time keeping and organising my work with military precision. As my children are getting older those negotiation skills are definitely put to the test. Does dance help you in your parenting? I think I am overzealous with being creative about homework, so I think my sons would probably have something to say about that. But my project management skills do come in handy when trying to organise after school clubs and weekend activities. Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? No Any other thoughts? I think understanding that being a parent is always changing and the issues I faced when my children were small are very different to the ones I face now. I don’t think the endless juggling will ever dissipate and having work colleagues that understand and support you is priceless. ​ I would stress that behind this working Mama is an extremely proactive, patient and understanding husband! (who does not work in the arts) More about Tracy Tracy gained her BA Honours Degree in Dance at Bretton Hall College, Leeds University. She worked as a freelance dancer, teacher and choreographer on varying projects across the UK. In 2000 she decided to follow her passion of teaching full time and became the Education Officer then Manger for Phoenix Dance Theatre. She worked with Phoenix for 8 years under the artistic direction of Thea Nerrisa Barnes, Darshan Singh Bhuller and Javier De Frutos, her work included delivery & management of the company’s outreach programme, youth dance company and education resources. ​ In 2008 she joined Northern School of Contemporary Dance as Head of Learning and Participation. Since joining NSCD Tracy has expanded the Centre for Advanced Training, instigated new youth programmes and established our boys only youth company with partner organisations. She is on a number of networks across the UK as a passionate advocate for dance, which includes Co – Chair of the Children & Young Peoples Dance Network North. ​ ​

< Back JO RHODES​ Mother of two. Independent Dance Artist and Director of Challenge 59 What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? The uncertainty and unpredictable nature of work commitments. You’d think after 20 years I’d be used to it but things constantly change, balancing childcare with no family or support nearby. I find it hard, being the planner that I am, not being certain about income generation. We rely on after school clubs for childcare, but it is has to be booked and paid for in advance. When you don’t know your work schedule is it hard to anticipate what you’ll need. Logistical things like travelling away, planning ahead can be challenging, but for me it’s the blurred lines – not having time and space to think (exacerbated in lockdown!) and finding time to nurture and feed myself artistically and generally! I also struggle with guilt – guilty for working away from home in hotels or not getting home in time for bedtime- then guilty when I’m not working and am at home. No one puts that guilt on me – just myself! I’m getting better at letting it go! What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? I was freelance whilst pregnant and carried on dancing up until 7 months. I didn’t have any support. I worried about gaining work following leave. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? It may be an unrealistic ask, but if some kind of a pledge that organisations are interested in and invested in you as an artist and that even as a freelancer, the conversation about work can be picked up following maternity leave, would be reassuring. Life during pregnancy was pretty hectic for me. I relocated to London from the North West in January 2011, got married in the February and ended up in hospital a week later with pre-eclampsia even though my daughter wasn’t due until the end of April. I joined a local antenatal group but after just one session I ended up in hospital and told I wouldn’t be leaving until the baby was born. I had barely found out about any maternity allowance or what I was entitled to and wished there had been support about this at the time. My husband wanted to take as much time off after the birth as possible so wasn’t around beforehand. I think we both could have been a bit more prepared…. when I asked him to bring a babygro to hospital he replied ‘what is a Babygro…..draw it for me’! Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? I think I was very naïve in thinking that I was fit and healthy and in control of my body and birth plan! I had it all planned – had visited the birthing centre, no epidural, possibly water birth, breast feeding. I remember reading a pregnancy book a friend had given to me, skipping pages saying to myself ‘well that’s unlikely to happen to me, I don’t need to read about that!’. I remember midwives and surgeons wheeling me into theatre as an emergency telling me to ‘forget the plan, it’s out of the window’. I was in for the biggest shock. After that, I let go of all expectation. From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? Everyone’s journey and circumstances are so different so I would be wrong to give advice. I was fortunate that financially at the time I didn’t need to rush back to work. I planned for maybe returning to work after 6 months, picking up freelance work slowly. I took on the odd weekend intensive and day here and there where my husband could be at home. My concern had always been (especially having moved to London) that I wouldn’t get work and my career wouldn’t return. I needed, or rather had a desire, to keep my foot in the door and up to speed! The reality was very different. Although I did take on the odd intensive project, I actually had the best part of 2.5 years out (with some small freelance projects)! My birthing experience was, let’s say, traumatic (and rare!) to say the least. My first born was resuscitated and weighed just 3lbs following an emergency caesarean due to preeclampsia. She stayed in NICU for 4 weeks and when she was ready to leave I developed an infection that resulted in sepsis, was nil by mouth often, trying to express breast milk for my baby two floors down in the hospital and had a further operation. For three months I had to have an open wound in my stomach dressed. I was never diagnosed but do think I was suffering from depression. After 21 months I had my second child. If I hadn’t have done it then I don’t think I ever would have had a second. I would say don’t beat yourself up, do what is right for you at the time, don’t make comparisons. ​ If you were expected to dance postnatal (either by yourself or your employer) how did you approach your recovery? Most of my work was either choreographing or teaching so there was no real expectation to quickly be back at a certain level. I eased myself back in to exercise with swimming and lots of walking pushing a buggy! I took on a teaching role that allowed me to be in a studio before pupils arrived. The job itself was similar to first jobs I took on as a graduate. Although it wasn’t necessarily challenging me career-wise (though I think you learn and grow in any role), it enabled me to get back into my body, develop my confidence again and I saw it as a stepping stone to find where I wanted to go in future. What changed most for you on your return to work? For a while everything had to remain quite local whereas I used to travel all over the UK with overnight stays. When my second child was 12 months old I went back to teaching at weekends and did that for at least 6 years! I’ve recently reclaimed my weekends (mostly out of duty to taxi two children to two different football pitches every Saturday and Sunday) and I love it! I felt a little directionless for a while but knew that in time I would find myself in dance again. I sought more intensive one-off work and had to allow for much more lead in time to be involved in projects. Often freelance jobs come in with short notice but this isn’t conducive to planning childcare with no family or other support around. I think what changed the most for me is what I am uncompromising on. I became very clear with this, out of necessity, sanity, self-worth and the practicalities of having two children. ​ Does parenting help you in your work? Yes! My productivity levels (with the exception of lockdown!) increased a lot! I do the school run at 8.45am get on my laptop at home for 9am and crack on until pick up time at 3pm……sometimes I don’t even realise I haven’t had lunch! It’s a bit more tricky when I’m teaching and having to travel but on my at home days, I am so productive! I don’t know if this is a ‘thing’ as I think I am quite an empathetic person but I do feel more sensitive when teaching to group and individual need. Especially as a lot of my work is with young people – I think of their lives outside of the studio, what they might be bringing with them and how I’d like their parents or carers to be involved or think about dance as an experience. I do also cry at the most ridiculous of things...!!!! Haha! Does dance help you in your parenting? Yes, it is so important to retain yourself and your own interest/ skills. Dance is part of my identity. Parenting requires so many skills that dance can equip you with – negotiation, intuition, emotional intelligence, ability to multi-task like never before, listening, creative play! I could go on... ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? No. I am aware of PIPA’s work but would love to know more! Anything else you think would be worth raising? Thank you for the invite. I was unsure how much to share and don’t in any way intend for this to scare – but wanted to be honest. ​ More about Jo Jo founded and directs Challenge 59, a programme bringing together multi-sector stakeholders including those from arts, education, local authorities and digital technology. The programme was selected as one of a hundred top education innovations in the world, 2019 with Jo winning four social enterprise pitches. Her work focuses on youth dance and choreography, dance in education, artist development, non-specialist teacher training, and dance in targeted youth/ health settings. She facilitates and devises professional development courses, has authored national publications, spoken at multi-sector conferences about dance as a vehicle for learning and is lead artist for the Royal Opera House. ​ For more information and support on preeclampsia, please visit: action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk ​ ​

< Back PHIL HULFORD​ 'The more you can work on yourself, focussing on your strengths and becoming hyper aware of both your mindset and the words you use has a GIANT impact on the way children grow.' Father of two. Freelance performer, teacher and influencer. Phil spent a decade on the road as a performer in Hofesh Schecter Company YouTube: Phil Hulford IG: @phil_Hulford What was the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? Building a life of balance where there is both fulfilment in what you do and lots of time for play with the littles. What support did you feel you had from work when your partner was pregnant? I had 2 weeks of paternity leave, Hofesh Shechter Company were incredibly accommodating, the childcare issues at times was a nightmare and often we were given a lot of grace in that area! What support do you feel you had on paternity leave? Honestly, I can't remember. It was a blur of overwhelming emotion and exhaustion. ​ Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? No. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your partner's pregnancy/recovery? Yes absolutely. The knowledge we gained about self-care especially when it comes to physical recovery (for Hannah) and managing rest was critical. From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? Cook and freeze as many meals as you can before the birth! ​ What changed most for you on your return to work? The next level tiredness and learning to manage that. Hearing people who did not have kids complain that they were tired was enlightening and actually helped me not complain about it, it kinda made me feel like a superman! ​ Does parenting help you in your work? Yes. It deepens the emotional connection to any work I do. I have a more tender heart and am far more graceful regarding making mistakes both with others and in myself. Does dance help you in your parenting? Hmmm, YES it does! We have regular dance parties at home, the boys are EXTREMELY good with their bodies and physical awareness. It has also massively helped with our energy and fitness to raise insane little boys who don't stop till they are asleep! ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? No I don't, but I haven't looked. Anything else you think would be worth raising? The more you can work on yourself, focussing on your strengths and becoming hyper aware of both your mindset and the words you use has a GIANT impact on the way children grow. A parents healthy mind is like a support stick for a plant, it encourages the right growth even though the fruit of labour may not be visible for a while. ​ More about Phil Phil trained at The Place (Contemporary Dance School) and met choreographer Hofesh Shechter and toured fo 10 years. Toward the end of that time his wife had their first kid. He started his journey into the film industry (2016) acting, playing creatures and stunt performing but mostly being a full time dad! He still performs at a high level and offers workshops in mindset, natural movement and flowstate. He has a HUGE ambition to impact as many people as possible to recognise the power within them and exactly how to use it to achieve greatness (not just in performance). 2020

Apparel ACCESSORIES TOPS SWEATERS TREAT THE DANCE MAMA IN YOUR LIFE Support us in helping Dance Mamas move their worlds BUY HOW DO YOU WEAR YOURS? Worn and #shared by real-life Dance Mamas BUY AND SUPPORT Maternal Journal's new book Lucy is excited to be included in Maternal Journal's new book, which was published in October. Lucy contributed a dance guide as a great extension to the journaling process alongside other artists including celebrated poet, Hollie McNish and authors Laura Godfrey-Isaacs and Samantha McGowan. ​ Laura has also been a featured Guest Speaker on Dance Mama Live! in 2021 BUY DANCE MAMA LIVE! Books build your portfolio with confidence Bourne, McCrudden and Lyons give a comprehensive guide to being a Portfolio Professional in all aspects including social media and selling - things dance folk don't always find easy! Includes Lucy McCrudden (Dance Mama Founder) as the arts case study. BUY CARDS

DANCING TOWARDS CONNECTION Specialist Postnatal Classes For Parents Who Enjoy Dance Do you love to dance and have a baby under 9 months? ​ Want to get moving and meet other Mums? Then come along to Wilfrid Noyce Community Centre, Crown Court Carpark, Godalming GU7 1DY and join our 8-week programme of brilliant dance classes for postnatal mums. Starts Thursday 18 April, 9 - 10am for 8 weeks (excl. half term) 1st class free, just £64 - kids welcome! ​ ​ "Really enjoyed connecting with myself & sharing something special with my baby." - participant ​ ​ Dance Mama™ is an award-winning, non-profit organisation based in Surrey, advocating and celebrating professional dancing parents internationally, highlighting the issues that they face and providing a ‘unique and vital resource,’ of inspiration, information and support. We are passionate about bringing our knowledge working with professional artists to all mums who love dancing. ​ These classes have been specifically created with you in mind, to bring you a fun and frien dly dance session. The focus is on connecting you to the joy of moving in your postnatal body with other like-minded mums where you can bring your baby. You do need to have completed your 6-8 week check with your healthcare professional to take part. ​ Lead Dance Artist and Mum of two, Laura Harvey and Dance Mama Founder and Mum of two, Lucy McCrudden , are experienced dance professionals leading on this work globally, who work with organisations including English National Ballet and the Active Pregnancy Foundation. ​ Use the button below to book your spot - we look forward to meeting you! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ BOOK MY SPOT Images of Olivia Roberts and child: Dance Mama Live, Birmimngham, March 2023 @onedanceuk Photographer Anthony Shintai @ant honyshintai ​ Our Dance Artists hold clear, enhanced DBS checks. "I really enjoyed the session. It felt very relaxed and so I was able to join in as much as possible whilst also tending to my babies needs without feeling any pressure. Was so nice to move my body and learn some dance sequences." "I really loved it. Wonderful chance to connect with your new body postpartum - strengthen, stretch out & mobilise. Also to share something special with you baby. Thought the physical focus of the class (open chest, move feet/ankles & a bit of cardio) was brilliant. Loved the massage bits in the warm up. Important as body feels so different & tired!!!." Not sure about dancing postnatally? Visit our Resources page to see how we work with Active Pregnancy Foundation. We contributed to this great information resource giving you a good understanding of how to take part. GO TO RESOURCES Our story The heart of Dance Mama's™ work is learning from sharing experiences. We always had the desire to share what we we learning working with professionals to the general public. ​ Work began on developing this idea back in 2021 when we piloted two online Dancing Towards Connection sessions for mums in the general public whose social isolation was increased due to the pandemic and may not have danced before. In 2023 our Lead Dance Artist, Laura Harvey (long-time colleague, mum, Head of Creative Programmes- English National Ballet), built on this work with our Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden , to develop an 8-week in person programme with the support of Arts Partnership Surrey and GLive. ​ In the video above Laura and Lucy share their findings from the 2023 research and development period which has led to our sessions in Godalming in 2024. ​ Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you would like further information hello@dancemama.org Image s of Olivia Roberts and child: Dance Mama Live, Birmimngham, March 2023 @onedanceuk Photographer Anthony Shintai @anthonyshintai ​ Supporters:

< Back EDEL QUIN Mother of two. Programme Leader BSc/MSci Dance Science, Senior Lecturer in Dance, University of Chichester, and co-author of Safe Dance Practice: An Applied Dance Science Perspective. What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? Time management. The nature of my work means that there is no clear delineation between the working day and home/family life. Shows in the evenings, marking of student work, e-mails, tutorials, admin, etc. all bleed across 24 hours rather than sit neatly within a nine to five working day. While this can have its benefits, such as getting admin done when the kids are in bed because you have been able to go see their Christmas concert in the middle of the day, it also requires strict time management. And even if I was good at being strict with my time management (which I am not!) it is hard for a 7 month old, or a 4 year old to understand, and therefore play along with, such time constraints. What support did you feel you had from work when you (your partner was) were pregnant? Both my pregnancies were (thankfully) not complicated. I was healthy and able to continue with work until I chose to go on maternity leave about 4 weeks prior to due date. My organisation had a HR liaison person that made sure the company and I were following legal requirements. Of course, friends and colleagues, in particular other parents, were extremely understanding and sympathetic on days when I felt less than my usual energetic self! Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? No. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery Yes. I think being body aware made the whole thing less daunting, for me at least! Also, being fit and active was definitely helpful for the pregnancy, the birth and the recovery phase. I was less fit and active in the lead up to my second child being born and I do think I noticed the difference. If you were expected to dance postnatal (either by yourself or your employer) how did you approach your recovery? I took 9 months off with my first born, although I did author a dance textbook during that time. I slowly returned to action in a steady fashion. I was not over planned about it, I just went with what felt right at each stage. With my second ( I am just 7 months in now and I have not yet returned to full-time teaching) I am finding it harder, mainly due to time demands. What changed most for you on your return to work? I think I just had/have a different sense of priority and perspective. Although I also had/have irreconcilable conflicts of interest, at times, between my work desires and my family’s needs. ​ Does parenting help you in your work? I think it helps me as a person, so I guess indirectly it helps me in my work. Does dance help you in your parenting? Yes. It is great to dance, move, wiggle, be physically active with my kids. I love to introduce them to all kinds of dance, theatre, etc. It also helps me to think a bit more creatively when there are some challenging stand offs with my headstrong and very independent four year old boy! I joked once that being a parent requires the most use of all of my creative skills than anything else in life. ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? No. I know of resources for pregnant dancers, but not for parents who work in dance. [Editor's note: This includes Safe Dance Practice: An Applied Dance Science Perspective which Edel co-authored, and has a chapter on the pregnant dancer]. Anything else you think would be worth raising? Recently, a dance company (forgive me, I can not remember who it was now – baby brain!) advertised a showing of their work at The Place that was scheduled for the middle of the day and was for parents (i.e. parents could bring small babies, but this this was still an ‘adult’ show, not a show for kids) and I thought ‘YES, THIS – We need more of this’. I have seen less live dance since having kids and I miss it! ​ Childcare. Childcare is an issue. A costly issue. A prohibitive issue. We have no family in the country. We both work – full time. It is a very delicate (and expensive) house of cards. If one of the four of us become sick the whole house of cards will teeter and risk collapse. If it collapses then it takes epic amounts of time and energy to re-establish it, but we are all already exhausted. ​ Attitudes towards children at work. In some establishments where I have worked there has been a ‘children at Work Policy’ where the policy is basically ‘no children at work’. I think this is short-sighted and prohibitive to the organisation, to the employee and to the employee’s family. Surely no one wants to bring their child to work with them unless they have to, or unless it may be appropriate to do so. I think in the dance world children in the workplace should be actively encouraged, where appropriate. ​ More about Edel Edel has over a decade of experience as a dance teacher, lecturer, researcher and dance scientist, specialising in the application of dance science theory and research to the teaching and practice of dance, across styles, ages and settings. Her co-authored book, Safe Dance Practice: An Applied Dance Science Perspective was published in 2015 by Human Kinetics and has been adopted as a key text on dance courses around the world. Edel has also published numerous papers and frequently presents her applied research at national and international conferences. She is on the editorial panels for peer-reviewed journals such as Frontiers in Psychology and Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. ​ Edel has extensive international dance teaching and lecturing experience. In 2017 she was nominated for a National Award for Inspirational Lecturer at a College, University or Conservatoire. Prior to coming to the University of Chichester, Edel was the Programme Leader of the MSc and MFA in Dance Science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (London), where she also delivered on the MA/MFA programmes, the BA Contemporary Dance and BA Musical Theatre Performance programmes and the Dance Diploma Courses. In recent years she has also taught at institutions such the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (Hong Kong), University of Wyoming (USA), University of Bern (Switzerland), Beijing Dance Academy (China) and University of Limerick (Ireland). ​ Edel is an active representative for many international organisations, supporting the promotion of dance science education to the global dance sector. She is a long-standing member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS), where she founded the Student Committee. She currently serves on the IADMS Dance Educators Committee, in the role of co-editor of the Dancers and Teachers Bulletin. She is also an Associate of Safe in Dance International (SiDI), where she is a registered Course Provider and Quality Reviewer for the Healthy Dance Practice Certificates. Additionally, Edel is one of three people in the UK that has competed the Empowering DanceTM tutor training prorgramme. ​ Edel is a trained Irish and Contemporary dancer. Her professional performance experience includes touring full-time with ‘Riverdance the show’ (1996-2001) as a lead dancer. Other performance experience includes a year with Henri Oguike’s sister dance company H20, a season in the West End production of The Shaughraun (2006), and performing at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics (Dublin, 2003). Edel is a member of Dance Mama's Research Advisory Group. ​ ​

HELPING DANCE MAMAS MOVING THEIR WORLDS We empower parents who dance to blend their caring responsibilities with their artform Dance Mama™ is an advocacy entity celebrating professional dancing parents, highlight the issues that they face and providing inspiration, informatio n and su pport. ​ We believe that just because you start a family doesn't mean you have to stop moving. We empower parents who dance to blend their caring responsibilities with their artform. We can support you in a variety of ways so you can be inspired, be informed and stay connected. Founded by TEDx Speaker, Lucy McCrudden, it began as an article in One Dance UK’s magazine back in 2014 after she became a mum and was dissatisified with the lack of industry support. The site now holds over 70 stories (15 our now a podcast), a mentoring programme, information hub and most recently Dance Mama Live! A programme of professional development activity online, supported by Arts Council England and in partnership with Sadler’s Wells, One Dance UK, Yorkshire Dance, DanceXchange and Clearcut. TEDx WELCOME Hello - I'm Lucy McCrudden, Mother of two and Dance Advocate and Specialist. ​ How are you? ​ Working in a physically demanding industry like dance brings an extra dimension to your pregnancy and parenting experience. We are here to provide you with information , inspiration and connection to help you navigate your dance career and parenthood. ​ Back in 2014, when I was a 33-year old mother of one, I was dissatisfied with the amount of resources available for parents working in dance? It occurred to me pretty early on that these issues were hardly talked about, let alone supported adequately in the formal arena. ​ So I decided to do something about it. I asked the then-known Dance UK (now part of One Dance UK), if I could write an article on the subject. This started our foundations of collating a series of profiles of industry parents in many different situations. Dance Mama has built upon this, creating a Dance Mamafesto , sharing over 60 stories, now in podcast format, delivering our Mentor Mama service, information hub and learning events with a variety of partners including The Royal Opera House and Dance East. ​ 2021 saw the launch of Dance Mama Live! a one-of-a-kind online professional development programme for dancing parents supported by Arts Council England and in partnership with Sadler's Wells, One Dance UK, DanceXchange, Yorkshire Dance an Clearcut. All 20 hours of sessions are free to access when you join this site. This continues into 2022 with Dance Mama Live: Back On The Road touring to 10 national dance partners and you can join here for replays and lives. ​ In 2021 I also started the Parenting And Dance Network (UK & Ireland) to connect the growing momentum for positive change for parents in dance. Taking this to the global community, I co-founded the International Parenting and Dance Network . Both are free to join for anyone working on this cause. ​ 2022 also marks the start of my taking this work further and commencing my PhD with Christ Church Canterbury University in researching this area. It is also the year I delivered my TEDx Talk . ​ Connect with our community via our Facebook page or our other social handles above. ​ You can read more here about my two decades career in dance learning and participation with organisations including The Royal Opera House, Rambert, The Place , DanceXchange and English National Ballet or visit my LinkedIn page, Dance Magazine US feature , The Rogue Monkey podcast and interview for Dance In Mind also gives you some insights to my background on-the-go. ​ My portfolio life is also a case study in business handbook Building A Portfolio Career – 3rd edition (Bourne, Lyons, McCrudden – Management Books 2000) – available on Amazon and at Portfolio Professionals Partnership . Dance Mama is also part of Maternal Journal 's 2021 book. ​ Hopefully, these stories will resonate with some, spark some discussions, give you some ideas and information for those already with families or others in our community who are thinking about starting a family and may not have the luxury of being close to a parent working in dance. ​ Enjoy! ​ ​ Lucy xo WATCH FILM ACCESS REPLAYS STORIES JOIN DANCE MAMAFESTO

< Back LAURA HARVEY Mother of two. Lead Guest Artist on Dance Mama's Class Programme and Head of Creative Programmes, English National Ballet What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? Working self-employed as a dance artist in this industry is particularly challenging. There are physical aspects such as getting the body back into shape and feeling like you can re-connect with the physicality of dance and then there are practical things like unsociable hours (this includes evening and weekend work), having the creative brain space and co-ordinating child care. I went back to work teaching just one class per week, six months after having my little boy. Like many people living in London, I don’t have family close by so my Mum travelled down from the Midlands once per week to look after my son for the two hours my class took place. There was also the logistics of breast-feeding, and trying not to worry that he would starve whilst I was away from him for those few hours. After 9 months I started back with my evening class. To help me the organisation I worked for agreed to put both my classes on the same day which meant I only needed childcare across the one day. As my son grew, he started to attend nursery which in London is nearly £100 per day. I had to balance out what I was earning self-employed vs what I was paying in childcare. As lots of work is often project based there was increasing difficulty in having to change his days every term which became impossible and meant he lacked consistency. In the end I only agreed to work two days per week and just had to hope that work fell on those specific days. [Dance Mama note: Laura was freelance Dance Artist for Rambert and Project Manager for English National Ballet when she became a Mum.] ​ What support did you feel you had from work when you (your partner was) were pregnant? I was mounting a production at Sadler’s Wells and preparing a number of other performances. I had assistants to help me for the rehearsals periods and individuals within the departments I worked within were supportive. The companies I worked for were paying me on a self-employed basis so they had no responsibility to me in that sense and I was very much self-managing my own time although I obviously had deadlines to meet in terms of the shows themselves. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? The biggest challenge is the responsibility of the employer if you are self-employed. What responsibilities do they have? We work in an industry that has a fluidity in artists coming and going and the nature of the work often means we aren’t on PAYE. I also think there maybe could have been some more support offered on the return to work specifically in terms of childcare and support to get your body back to full fitness. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? I felt like I needed to get back sooner rather than later. This was partly because I wanted to get back into the creative space but also because I was aware of not wanting to drop out of the loop. It’s difficult when you are self-employed because you don’t have the security of a job to go back to so you don’t want people to forget about you. I don’t remember considering my recovery. I think I was too busy worrying about a new baby, earning money, organising childcare and the general madness of logistics that come with having a family! Nearly three years on I don’t feel like my body is back to where it was prior to having my little boy. Equally I have seen dancers in the profession come back after six weeks to get back into training, that wouldn’t have been an option for me. From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? It’s all so individual. What suits one, might not suit another. I would say try not to worry. When I returned to a more usual pattern of working a year after my son was born, nothing had changed, and I felt like I picked up where I had left off. There was also a surprising transition of work now not been my sole focus. The time away gave me space to reflect on my career and I realised I had been running manically from one job to the next, working seven days a week, evenings and weekends and now I questioned more why was I doing this. Having a baby has made my work choices since then more considered and I guess I now always ask the question is this worth the time away from my son. I learnt to let go of things and filter out anything that felt like it would put too much pressure on me. If you were expected to dance postnatal (either by yourself or your employer) how did you approach your recovery? This is a difficult one. I wasn’t dancing as a professional dancer on stage but in returning to teaching I was expected to lead technique classes, teach phrases of repertoire and often for prolonged periods of time. I continued going to the gym as much as possible, (which was also challenging with sleep deprivation and childcare logistics) but in honesty I just got on with it and gradually got stronger over time. My own self was pretty low down on my priority list! What changed most for you on your return to work? Everything and nothing. I fundamentally was changed from having my son but everyone still perceived me in the same way and I guess you still want to have that persona as that is your profession. As a teacher in the context of my work, it can often feel like a performance and even on the days when I’d been up for half the night, I still had to be energetic and vibrant and physical. It was hard but I think it also allowed me to tap into that part of myself that was me before I also became ‘Mummy’. I picked up some freelance work that enabled me to do things at home. The producer on the project also had a child so we would have meetings with the kids which was refreshing. I did have a few occasions on that project where I would be trying to have a work conversation with a venue and my son would be howling in the background. This didn’t look very professional and I remember thinking I’m not doing a good job at work or as a Mum. My husband also took annual eave from work to come and help me when I was on tour for longer periods of time. It wasn’t an ideal scenario in any sense. Those few months became a turning point for me and I realised that I needed to separate my work life from my home life. This has definitely influenced my career choices since then. Does parenting help you in your work? I think becoming a parent gave me perspective and allowed me to re-address the work/life balance. The responsibility of motherhood also helps in general terms of been the one on charge, the decision maker, finding solutions. I also think it filters into the creative aspects of my work. Does dance help you in your parenting? Certainly in doing improvised performances for my son which he finds hilarious! Dance has been part of my life since I was young so I think it must help me in some ways because it is part of who I am. Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? Only Parents in Performing Arts (PIPA) ​ Anything else you think would be worth raising? When I look back over the last few years, I can see that there were really mad, challenging times. Are these any different to what other working parents deal with, I don’t know. I have since shifted my career to be more office based as my son likes routine and he benefits from his set days at nursery. Equally I benefit from knowing what I am doing on a weekly basis. This compartmentalisation of my work life and home life has enabled me to be clearer with who I am when, and feel like that when I’m at work I can give 100% and when I’m at home I can do the same for my son. ​ As a working parent in dance, this is a topic we need to keep talking about and I would encourage organisations to be scrutinising what procedures they have in place for working parents who are employed by them in any capacity. This doesn’t have to mean paying for maternity leave but could be more practical in terms of childcare, help with recovery, catch up meetings and how work is scheduled for those artists. ​ ​ More about Laura ​ Laura is part of team #dancemama and is our Lead Guest Artist . Laura began her career at Rambert leading on the youth dance programme, touring nationally as an animateur and teaching on the Dance for Health programme. She is the Artistic Director of Quicksilver, Rambert’s youth dance company. In 2007 she joined English National Ballet as Learning & Participation Officer and went on to become Creative Associate choreographing and directing their flagship programmes. She has worked for Disney, Ballet Boyz, Richard Alston Dance Company and Sadler’s Wells amongst others. Laura is currently Head of Creative Programmes at English National Ballet leading on their professional artist programme Choreospace, Schools Link and Dance for Health programme. Laura has a BA in Dance & Arts and Cultural Management and an MA in European Dance Theatre Practice. Laura is a Board Member for PiPA Campaign. ​ ​