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The Collection DANCE PAPAS MEET SOME INSPIRING DADS IN DANCE ​ ​ Read More FEDERICO BONELLI Artistic Director, Northern Ballet​ Read More TERRY HYDE​ Father of six. Phsycotherapist and founder of Counselling for Dancers. TW: @counsellingdance IG: @counsellingfordancers Read More MARC BREW Father. Artistic Director & Choreographer. TW: @marc_brew IG: @marcbrew @marcbrewcompany Read More STEVEN McRAE ​ Father of three. Principal, The Royal Ballet Lucy had the privilege of talking to #dancepapa, Steven McRae about being part of a dancing dynasty with wife who is also a Soloist for the Company, Elizabeth Harrod (part of our articles hub), working for The Royal Ballet who have a family of 3 children. Read More TOM HOBDEN​ Father of three (1 son and 2 adult step-children). Artistic Director of UNIT, choreographer, educator TW: @Tom_Hobden IG: @Tommy_hobden Read More ​ ​ Read More PHIL HULFORD​ 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 Read More WAYNE SABLES Father. Filmmaker, Projection Mapper, Digital Artist, Wayne Sables Project/Fybr TW: @waynesables IG: @waynesables ​ Read More

< Back KRISTINA ALLEYNE Mother of one, Alleyne Dance. Kristina will be delivering on Dance Mama Live on June 11 2023 with Dance East. In our second podcast series, #dancemama Kristina Alleyne talks about her experience being pregnant whilst co-leading, choreographing and performing in Alleyne Dance (with her twin sister), and how the company is supporting her through this transition alongside her rehearsal direction role on Akram Khan Company's Kaash. ​ ​

< 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 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. ​ ​

< Back KITTY WINTER Mother of one. Movement Director, Choreographer and Director. Co-Artistic Director of WinterWalker. kittywinter.com Kitty's credits include the original West End and touring production of The Kite Runner, FIVE with WinterWalker, Theatre Hullabaloo and Derby Theatre. What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? The unpredictability of freelance work is probably the greatest challenge my family and I face. In some ways this is made more difficult because my partner is also a freelance creative (and the other half of my company) so we’re juggling two shifting workloads and our little boy Rufus, and of course, there’s never quite enough money. There are some days where one of us has to turn down work, which always feels terrifying in this industry! On the other hand, I think if one of us had a 9-5, it would be very easy to start thinking of the freelancer’s work as less important, and we wouldn’t both be able to work and parent as equally as we do. So our greatest challenge is also a gift- much like parenting generally. ​ What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? Through the early part of my pregnancy I was mostly working for our own company, producing and directing the national tour of our show . While that work is pretty full-on, I could at least work a lot from home and rest as I needed to, which was great in the knackering first trimester. Later on I was doing a big block of lecturing, and the university was brilliant- it was a very supportive and caring atmosphere from staff and students alike. Anecdotally, it seemed like I had an easier time at work because I’m freelance than friends with ‘proper jobs’. I certainly didn’t feel discriminated against, and I’m very grateful for that. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? I don’t think our current system of Maternity Allowance for the self-employed is really fit for purpose. I was pleased to receive it, of course, but the restrictions on the number of days a freelancer can work while claiming is pretty ridiculous. It was also frustrating not to be able to share any of that parental leave time with my partner, which meant he took on rather more touring work than either of us wanted while Rufus was tiny. ​ Do you think being a dancer made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? I thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant (apart from some complications towards the end) and I think a lot of that stemmed from having an in-depth knowledge of my own body, and of human anatomy in general. It was fascinating to be able to see my baby’s bone structure developing when we went for scans, and to feel how my centre of gravity shifted week by week. At one antenatal pilates class I suddenly found I had perfect balance, and could do triple pirouettes effortlessly- something I’ve never been able to do before or since! Recovery was harder, and I think that wasn’t helped by having unrealistic expectations of my body, in particular my stamina. I had a C-Section, and I really hadn’t taken on board what major abdominal surgery would do to me. Two and a half years on, and with very little time to exercise for myself (as opposed to overseeing actors’ physical wellbeing) I’m still not where I’d like to be in terms of fitness and strength. I realise I now might just have to chalk that down to age and inactivity though- I can’t keep using the baby as an excuse… ​ What changed most for you on your return to work? Time. I have to be so much faster and more efficient now to get everything done. Where pre-baby I could spend days researching and planning for a rehearsal period, I now have to fit that into evenings and nap-times. Again, this is mostly because my partner and I are both freelance- whichever of us isn’t physically out at work on any given day carries the torch of parenting. The feminist concept of the second shift (where women take on all the unpaid work of running a household on top of paid work) doesn’t really apply as we’re both doing it, but add in running a theatre company and it feels like both of us are working three shifts at times. We can easily both be in rehearsals during the day, trying to carve out some family time in the early evening, eating late, and then both doing production work till 10 or 11pm. However, forcing myself to work more efficiently has meant I’ve had to have more faith in my own work. Trusting that I can go into rehearsals, make some movement material, support an actor’s character physicality, or stage a complex scene change without masses of pre-planning has been really liberating. Does parenting help you in your work? Since I specialise in performance for young audiences, having an extra insight into how children and parents think has really helped. Seeing what Rufus engages with and finds funny can feed into my work, particularly making theatre for much younger children, which I’ve shied away from in the past. And talking to other parents, grandparents and carers is really helpful when we’re thinking about how we market our shows. From a more fundamental perspective, parenting keeps me focused, playful and looking forward. Does dance help you in your parenting? Again, I think playfulness is the key here- working in theatre, particularly theatre for children, means I don’t take myself too seriously, and I’m much happier to get down on the floor and engage on a child’s own level than my more ‘grown-up’ parent friends. Rufus is getting a somewhat unusual childhood- he’s spent a lot of time in rehearsal rooms, and hanging out with adults- but I hope it’s a fun and full of rich experiences for him. I’m rather hoping for his sake that he won’t follow in his parents’ footsteps, but at least if he does, he’ll know what to expect! ​ ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? The PiPA campaign has grown up at just the right time for me, and it’s great to see theatres and companies starting to think more carefully about how they make our industry more accessible for people with caring responsibilities. ​ Anything else you think would be worth raising? From working regularly with both dancers and actors, I think dancers are led to expect and settle for lower working standards, which really needs to change. I’ve worked with dancers who are surprised to have their travel and accommodation expenses covered, or to get proper Equity approved contracts. WinterWalker is an ITC member company, so we are committed to meeting union agreed standards and pay for working practices. If we start to demand better for parents in dance, perhaps conditions will start to improve for everyone. ​ ​ ​ More about Kitty Kitty is a movement director, choreographer and director, based in Derbyshire and London, UK. She trained in contemporary dance and choreography at Trinity Laban and on the acclaimed movement MA at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Recent credits include the original production, West End transfers and UK tours of The Kite Runner , the Stage Edinburgh Award-winning production The Fishermen for New Perspectives, and work with Derby Theatre, Pentabus, Nottingham Playhouse, Tamasha and Pilot Theatre. Kitty specialises in theatre for young audiences, working with Theatre Hullabaloo, Polka, Roundabout, Box Clever, and her own company WinterWalker. ​ ​

< Back INGRID MACKINNON​ Mother of one. Movement Director, Choreographer and Educator, www.ingridmackinnon.com Ingrid delivers a workshop in Season 1 of Dance Mama Live . Available for FREE when you sign up to our site. What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? It would be time and finances. I feel that the working hours for artists can be very tricky for parents but we don’t make enough money to be able to afford additional care. I always find myself having to leave a rehearsal early or asking for slightly alternative working times to accommodate being a parent. What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? I didn’t really stop while I was pregnant. I was teaching dance and Pilates as well as working as a rehearsal director. To top it off, I was still studying my MA at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Everyone around me was supportive in the sense that they encouraged me to slow down if I wanted to, but I think everyone could clearly see that I liked to keep moving so I was left to do so. I appreciated that. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? Nothing specific from anyone that I worked with, but I generally felt a lack of other new mothers who worked in my field. I most likely would have benefitted from talking to other dance artist mothers beforehand to share tips etc. The mothers that I befriended just before my son was born and just afterwards are some of the most important relationships. I will always cherish them, but I would have also loved a space for artist moms as well. I wouldn’t have felt so crazy bringing my son to rehearsal if I had seen more parents doing it. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? Yes and no. I definitely have much more awareness and tools at my disposal with regards to body care. I knew how strong I was and felt very comfortable continuing my work with adjustments as I went along, and my bump grew. But after my emergency caesarean, I wasn’t as quick as I thought I would be to get back my six pack. I’ve actually been slowly rediscovering my body as a mother and reframing my idea of fit and beautiful. I’ve had a lot of inappropriate comments about my body in the past five years. It’s amazing because as a dancer your body almost never really belongs to you and becoming a mother, I had to really work hard on loving the skin I was in, stretch marks and all. But I know this is linked to my transition from the stage to a movement director and creative collaborator in the room. I can appreciate that it’s a different journey if you are returning to the stage but hopefully the strength of pregnancy and recovery allows space for more body positive comments and less talk about “snatching back into shape”. ​ What changed most for you on your return to work? The thing that changed most for me on my return to work was all of a sudden I had boundaries. Before motherhood, I feel like I would do anything at any time. Boundaries didn’t really exist or at least they were forever shifting. Now I try to be clear about what I need and I am working on being clear about my boundaries due to practical needs like childcare as well as emotional needs such as time away from my son especially when he was even younger. I don’t think we should wait until we are parents for this, it should be encouraged from the start of your career. ​ Does parenting help you in your work? Absolutely, I feel that I as a teacher I’m much more patient and understanding. I have to be careful not to ‘mother’ my students but I certainly teach with much more care than before. Does dance help you in your parenting? I can drop into a killer kitchen freeze dance party in seconds. But my son has all of the cool moves in our house, my CV gets me nowhere, and I love it! ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? Parents and Carers in Performing Arts Campaign (PIPA) Anything else you think would be worth raising? I had three women who were so encouraging and supportive in my return back to work. Jacky Lansley, Ayse Tashkiran and Vicki Igbokwe. All three literally held my hand (and at times held my child) and welcomed me back to the studio. I will always be grateful for that care. My wish is that all dance parents have that kind of gentle support during such a huge transition, it can really make all the difference. It did for me. ​ More about Ingrid Ingrid Mackinnon is a London based movement director, choreographer, teacher and dancer. Movement direction credits include Hamlet (RCSSD), First Encounters: The Merchant of Venice (RSC) and #WeAreArrested (Arcola/RSC). She currently teaches dance and actor movement at the Guildhall School, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London Studio Centre and Mountview. Ingrid is co-founder of MoveSpace and holds an MA in Movement: Directing & Teaching from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. ​ ​

ARTICLES WHATCHA READIN'? Here's a selection of articles about being a parent working in dance from across the globe. ​ Happy to add more recommendations! Contact me. Meet 4 High-Profile Pros Who Have Launched an Online Platform to Support Other Dancing Mothers Dance Magazine ​ Dancers, Ingrid Silva, Grace Whitworth, Xin Ying and Allison­ DeBona are profiled about starting Instagram account, Dancers & Motherhood. ​ ​ APRIL 2023 READ Surfing the raging sea: pregnancy and motherhood in dance during a pandemic Taylor & Francis Online ​ ​ Professor Ali Duffy (Texas Tech University, USA) writes her findings on being a parent in dance during the pandemic. ​ Professor Ali Duffy has contributed her story on Dance Mama which you can read here . ​ She is also a founding member of the International Parenting And Dance Network which you can find out about here . ​ MARCH 2023 READ Acknowledgment of Dance Mama Support from Scottish Ballet Principal The Sunday Post ​ ​ Bethany Kingsley-Garner speaks to The Sunday Post about her return to dance and how Dance Mama played a role in her transition back on stage. ​ (image: Bethany Kingsley-Garner , Principal, Scottish Ballet, featured in our film . ​ DEC 2022 READ Dance Mama Supports Professional Dancing Parents in the UK Dance Magazine US ​ ​ Julia Mary Register speaks to our Founder, Lucy McCrudden, about how Dance Mama supports parents in dance. ​ (image: Bethany Kingsley-Garner , Principal, Scottish Ballet, featured in our film . ​ JUNE 2022 READ Australian Ballet - A Mother's Laugh Australian Ballet ​ ​ Amy Harris, Amber Scott and Dana Stephensen reflect on motherhood and their roles within the company in celebration of Mothers' Day. ​ MAY 2022 READ Dancing Parents One Dance UK ​ ​ Katie Stevens gives an update on the advancements in parenting in dance. ​ AUTUMN 2021 READ Disappearing Act: Dance Artist Mothers in the Gig Economy of the Performing Arts in Canada Demeter Press ​ ​ Susie Burpee, Artistic Producer, Balancing Act Canada contributes to Mothers, Mothering, and Covid-19: Dispatches from the Pandemic ​ Edited by Andrea O'Reilly and Fiona Joy Green ​ 2021 READ Portfolio Professionals - an update from Dance Mama Portfolio Professionals ​ Lucy McCrudden ​ As an arts case study in the third edition of 'Building A Portfolio Career' (Adrian Bourne, Christopher Lyons & Colin McCrudden), Lucy gives an update on how her portfolio has evolved over the pandemic. ​ MAY 2021 READ Dance and Motherhood with Dance Mama Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing ​ Lucy McCrudden ​ Interviewing five women who are members of the ISTD who work across the sector, Lucy highlights the issues faced by women business-owners in dance at different stages of parenthood. ​ APRIL 2021 READ Patter of tiny feet: dancers on leaping into motherhood The Guardian ​ Lyndsey Winship speaks to #DanceMama Elizabeth Harrod, Lauren Cuthbertson, Bobbi Jean Smith, Temitope Ajose-Cutting, Kate Prince and Colette Hansford about their parenting experiences, supporting parents and the COVID-19 lockdowns. ​ 2021 READ Ballet dancers in lockdown hear the patter of tiny feet The Times ​ The Times speaks to #DanceMama Lauren Cuthbertson and Tara Brigitte Bhavnani of the Royal Ballet talk about their parenting experiences in lockdown. ​ 2021 READ The Lights Aren't On And Everybody's Home PiPA Campaign Ambassadors - incl. Lucy McCrudden​ ​ #DanceMama contribution to the PiPA Campaign article on parents in the arts during the COVID19 crisis ​ 2020 READ Does the dance industry lose it's female dancers to motherhood? Belinda Lee Chapman ​ Belinda explores the question around why there are less women working in dance who are parents. ​ 2019 (originally published 2016) READ Dancing after having a baby KJ Mortimer blogs about her experience as a #DanceMama whilst performing with Stopgap Dance Company 2019 READ Dancers in a new role Danceinforma.com talks to three American #DanceMama 2016 READ Are you a dancer and a mother? Danceinforma.com talks to four American #DanceMamas 2016 READ Ballerinas with bumps: Elizabeth Harrod and Laura McCulloch on the challenges of balancing dancing and motherhood Chris Shipman Head of Brand Engagement & Soical Media The Royal Opera House ​ Chris interviews two Soloists - one a new mother and the other expecting - on the challenge of juggling two hugely exhausting but rewarding jobs. ​ 10 APRIL 2015 READ Does the dance industry lose its female dancer leaders to Motherhood? Belinda Lee Chapman ​ Fellow of The Arts Foundation /Dance UK Mentoring Programme 2015 ​ Belinda explores her experience as a parent in dance and the effect this experience has on her peers and colleagues career advancement in the dance industry. ​ Belinda is also a featured story . ​ 2015 READ Dancing a new routine Lucy McCrudden​ ​ #DanceMama original article for One Dance UK ​ 2014 READ Dancing Through Pregnancy Dancemagazine.com.au talks to Australian #DanceMamas 2012 READ TARA TIMES Ali Duffy - Pandemic Mam

ARTS "Motherhood is as creative an act as performing; both require real patience, intuition and love." READ Stories Miaomiao Yu - Music Mama Praise Sarah West-Valstar - Participation Mama Hannah Young - Actor Mama Ruth Crilly - Model Mama Praise Caroline Sheen - Musical Theatre Mama Praise Director - The Wedding Crecherz

ARTS "We should all be talking about it more, to be honest. It’s completely normal to have children whilst continuing a creative freelance career but the situation can be made more difficult by keeping it quiet. Thank you, Dance Mama for creating a space to talk about these issues!" READ Stories Composer - Anonymous

CONTRIBUTORS MAP FIND THEM FAST We want parents in dance to get the bespoke help they need easily. Saw someone in our webinars and workshops and want to get in touch? Find them listed in the map below (link to replay guide underneath map). ​ Want to be a contributor? Contact us. ​ Dance Mama is proud to partner with SOMA. ​ Founder, Niamh Morrin PhD is also a member of our Research Advisory Group, and has contributed some brilliant blogs. SOMA provides functional, strength and mobility training to dancers who are navigating postural and physical changes related to pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. Whether you are struggling with a weakened core, leaking, prolapse symptoms or chronic pain, SOMA can help you feel strong and mobile, improve your dance performance and manage injury and pain. SOMA offers 1-1 individualized training and a 12-week SOMA Method | Postpartum, Return to Dance Programme - both training options aim to provide a thoughtful, knowledgeable and functional training approach appropriate for any level of dancer. SOMA works in-person, online and via the intuitive TrainHeroic app where all training sessions can be viewed and completed via short, bespoke videos. ​ Silver Members can get 15% off SOMA's fantastic service. Join here . Check out our IG Live chat to find out how our Founder/CEO, Lucy, got on with it aired Thursday 21st September 2023 ​ HEAD TO SOMA READ BLOGS Season 1 Guide Season 2 Guide Healthcare Practitioners Directory VISIT Find a pelvic health physio directory VISIT The Mummy MOT Find a Mummy MOT near you VISIT Squeezy Squeezy app directory VISIT

RUTH CRILLY MODEL MAMA Entrepreneur; A Model Recommends, COLAB and The Night Feed App " Flexible working for parents is becoming much more of a possibility now that people aren’t so tied to a physical workplace - numerous blogs and influencers talk about how they have been allowed to work from home and that high-speed internet, conferencing calls, video calls and social media have made it possible to work remotely. For many industries, however, this isn’t possible - dancing, sports, acting, modelling, all require a physical presence and I think that Lucy’s research and writing in this field will prove to be both an invaluable resource and an important expansion on the current flexible working campaigning." THE NIGHT FEED APP A MODEL RECOMMENDS

LEARN Maximise Your Potential From bespoke support, workshops and events to training online, we want you to be supported in your development. Click on the images to find out more... Silver Membership Join our inspiring community, accessing monthly online sessions, our unique collection of 40 CPD workshops and webinars created with national dance organisations + benefits. Mentor Mama Bespoke mentoring support 121, in groups or organisations to enable parents in dance to thrive. Project Management Masterclass - Digital Course Turning your project management hell, into saintly sensible steps to success! ⚡️ Now in digital format to learn at your convenience. 💥 In demand for over a decade, learn the tried and tested approach of Lucy McCrudden (Dance Mama Founder/CEO) to arts project management from her wealth of experience in world-class projects. Lucy will lead you through 3, glorious lessons of online training on the ins and outs of project management in a dance learning and participation context which is applicable to most arts projects. Project Management Masterclass has been delivered to a variety of people via Dance Mama’s online sessions in the pandemic stand alone, as well as in collaboration with the Royal Opera House, Dance East and New Adventures since Lucy made this available in 2013. 💯 of attendees have said: 😀 they felt more confident in their project management abilities 📝 found all three parts very useful 🤖 loved the digital resources 🔗 said they made useful new connections ❤️ would recommend it to others Topics covered include initial ideas, building partnerships, finance, delivery and evaluation across three sections: Consolidating Your Idea, Planning and Delivery, Self-Management. With over 20 years’ experience in leadership and project management in high-profile projects with organisations including the Royal Opera House, The Place and Rambert as well as the creator of award-winning Dance Mama, Lucy will give you a good understanding of best practice on how to get your idea up and running. '[I came away with a}...greater understanding of the most efficient way of running a successful project' - previous participant, January 2020 ‘Just want to say thank you Lucy for a really wonderful and inspiring masterclass. One of the most helpful and relevant workshops I've attended this past year and I feel that I have a much better grasp on project management as a whole, what it involves and how to run my project!’ – participant 2021 ‘Thank you so much Lucy for making something that felt quite daunting a lot more achievable and giving me confidence in what I am looking to do in the future’ – participant 2022 Who is this relevant for? Anyone who wants to up-skill their project management, confirmation of best practice for new and early career project managers and a fresh perspective for the seasoned project manager. The added bonus of networking with other like-minded individuals who have the desire to deliver artistic projects of this nature. You do not need to be a parent - all project managers and aspiring are welcome to take this course 😀 This Mum Moves 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. One-off workshops and events From TEDx to Move It, see where Dance Mama pops up next. Dancing Towards Connection Postnatal dance classes for the general public. Inspired by the professionals, accessible to all. PMMC (SM & MM) RESOURCES & RESEARCH Learn More