News

Brighton and Hove’s first-ever building designed especially for dance has announced its first resident company will be Second Hand Dance. The Dance Space, which will open on 15 July 2022, will be run by South East Dance who have a longstanding relationship with Second Hand Dance.

As a Resident Company, Second Hand Dance will benefit from the facilities offered by the new building, including priority access to rehearsal space, use of its wellbeing spaces as well as accessible studios. Being based at The Dance Space means being able to make the most of the artistic community in Brighton and Hove and the wider region. South East dance will also create ways for us to share and seek feedback on their work in progress with our younger audiences.  

South East Dance’s Artistic Director Cath James said “We were keen to develop our relationship with Second Hand Dance as our first Resident Company because their work for children really resonates with our growing focus on early years audiences, supported by our Little Big Dance programme. And it’s vital that we support female, disabled-led companies like this one to thrive in a sector that continues to be very male-dominated.”

“As Resident Company, Second Hand Dance joins us at a particularly exciting time. With our new building opening, we’ll have the capacity to support Rosie‘s ambition for her company and provide that necessity – a home base, from which she can springboard into the future.”

Rosie Heafford says: “I’m thrilled! This is a chance to deepen our relationship and create space to explore questions around making and touring work for young audiences and being a disabled-led company. South East Dance has supported second Hand Dance since we first started in 2013 across various projects, professional development and business development opportunities. Their advice and encouragement across the years have been deeply valued.”

Second Hand Dance are a disabled-led dance company driven by Artistic Director Rosie Heafford and Executive Producer Claire Summerfield. Our mission is to create aesthetic and sensory dance experiences for and with children and adults. Our work is underpinned by a pursuit of inclusion to create bold and thought-provoking art.

We are seeking a calm, practical and nurturing support worker for Artistic Director Rosie Heafford. The role will support Rosie in traveling to Edinburgh International Children’s Festival and Bibu Festival (Helsinborg).

Fee​: £120 per day/ £15 per hour (varying hours with day and evening work) plus travel, per diems and accomodation

Dates: 11 – 15 May in Edinburgh, 18 – 20 May in Sweden plus preparation and logistics beforehand.

Application​: Please send a covering letter or video/audio recordings plus a CV outlining why you would be suitable for the post and previous similar experience. It would be helpful to receive a CV also. Please send your application to rosie@secondhanddance.co.uk by 18 April 5pm.

About Rosie:

This role will be primarily to support Artistic Director Rosie Heafford in travelling to 2 international festivals. Rosie has Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) and Fibromyalgia. These are long-term conditions that mean she works with chronic pain and fatigue.  These symptoms can change each day, sometimes they are worse and sometimes better. Rosie makes the following adjustments to her working environment to manage symptoms:

• Working shorter hours and taking frequent breaks to rest
• Working with a support worker or deputy director who can carry on in her absence
• Managing and minimising travel through working online or taking the shortest route (including taxis) and on longer distances travelling with a companion who can carry bags/arrange taxis and suggest the best travel routes.
• Using a mobility scooter
• Creating a comfy environment, such as using mats, cushions or a beanbag to sit or lie down while working

Support worker tasks:

• Regular check-ins with Rosie
• Book/identify taxis and travel
• Book/identify restaurants (in line with dietary requirements – let restaurant know if advance if possible what requirements are)
• Drive or accompany RH while travelling
• Contacting train/plane providers to notify of access requirements and Blue Badge exemption applications
• Assist with taking notes
• Carry bags, foldable mobility scooter, food, laptop, technical equipment and yoga mat/chair
• Ensure and set-up rest spaces
• Any other access assistance as mutually agreed

The above duties and areas of responsibility are reflective of the current work situation and provided as an overview of the contract. It does not preclude changes and developments that may be required or made in the future.

Person Specification:

• This role would suit graduates of contemporary dance or other artforms or those with a similar level of experience in the artform
• Excellent organisational, travel planning, logistic and communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work as a team member.
• Empathetic, willing to help and collaborative attitudes are the most important attributes required in this position
• Calm, supportive, rational and sensible, caring, easy going and nurturing personality
• Patient and generous nature
• Being able to work on own initiative

It is not necessary, but would be beneficial for the Support worker to:

• To able to drive
• Previous experience of or an interest in accessible working practices
• Be located in Surrey/London or nearby