We Touch, We Play, We Dance For Ages: 0-3
- Created in October 2019 - currently touring
- Running Time: 45 mins
The four dancers in We Touch, We Play, We Dance weave around the space, inviting babies and children to join them in a warm hearted and playful performance.
With music mixed live by a DJ, the dancers respond to the children, guiding them through a series of exchanges and encounters, with high fives, hugs and dancing.
Created by Second Hand Dance, We Touch, We Play, We Dance is a mesmerising, engaging and fun performance for children under 3. It’s a show filled with surprises and joys where you and your child can listen and watch or let loose and join in, either way, you'll have a wonderful time.
“Watching other bodies move makes something move inside you” Exeunt Magazine
Please contact claire@tandemworks.uk for bookings and information.
Photos: Zoe Manders
Creative Team
Marc Stevenson - Dancer
Takeshi Matsumoto - Dancer
Alice Shepperson - Dancer
Froud - Sound Designer and Production Manager
Ben Pacey - Costume, Set & Lighting Designer
Katherine Morley - Dramaturg
Previous Performances
2019
- The Egg, Theatre Royal
- The Place
- Gulbenkian
- Deda
- Chapter Arts
2022
- Quarterhouse
- The Lowry
- Edinburgh International Children's Festival
- Theatre Hullabaloo
- Cambridge Junction
- Southbank Centre
- Pavilion Dance South West
- Chats Palace
- The Mill Arts Centre
- Think Big! Festival, Munich
- Polka Theatre
- ROHM Theatre Kyoto
- Southern Kus Chikugo
- Ricca Ricca Festa, Naha Cultural Arts Theatre NAHArt
- Kawasaki Arts Centre
2023
- Cambridge Junction
- Krokus Festival
- The Albany
- Belfast Children's Festival
- Esplanade Theatre Studio, Singapore
- OYAP Trust
- Sadler's Wells
- Brighton Festival
- Warwick Arts Centre
- The Egg, Theatre Royal
- MAC
2024
- Opening Doors Festival
Reviews
I like that dance is inherently sensory – watching other bodies move makes something move inside you – and Touch takes this one step further, inviting physical contact between performers and audience. For the little ones, it encourages play, curiosity, exploration. For me, I come out feeling looser, more alert.
Exuent Magazine
I loved being able to watch a piece of dance, enjoy it and see my children learn to love it too. I hope this is the start of us being able to enjoy dance together more often. I have said in my blogs in the past that I have found it hard to engage with arts activities like I used to but after this performance I feel like I have found something that has been missing from my life for a while and it is lovely to have it back.
Greatest Showmum
Wonderful cast, and generous engagement in a relaxed environment
Audience member
A widely diverse cast of 4 who were fluid, engaging and captivating. A great show for active babies and toddlers to explore movement
Audience Member
Engaging and incredibly valuable children’s dance performance. It was such a beautiful way for the youngest ones to experience art, diversity of humans and communication
Audience Member
Fantastic performance of Touch at The Gulbenkian this morning. Beautiful dancers who listened and responded to the babies sensitively but inquisitively. A real uplifting morning – thank you!
Audience member
Partners
Commissioned by The Place, Pavilion Dance South West and supported by The Egg, Gulbenkian, Bath Spa University and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Research and development of Touch was supported by Polka Theatre, developed through the Hopper Early Years scheme with the support of Take Art, Surrey Arts, China Plate, Arts Partnership Surrey, and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
