At A glance

Kate Stanforth Academy of Arts is a registered non-profit providing accessible arts opportunities.

KSAA has a worldwide audience, with over 500 members and disabled dancers joining in live sessions multiple times a week
KSAA hires disabled artists who would usually struggle to access the arts community. There are currently over 10 staff members at KSAA with more on a casual basis.
KSAA ensures that all classes are accessible.

Access:
'Movement not improvement' policy. Knowing people can join in and move how they like, whether that's from their bed or simply listening to the music, with no pressure to improve like many dance/physio based classes.
Low cost thanks to our lead parter , Allied Mobility. Classes start from £3.75 per session with many 'Pay As You Feel' options available throughout the year.
Inclusion and community at its core. Sessions are recorded, subtitled and adaptations available for individual needs. Time allowed in sessions for 'general chronic illness life' including extra breaks for drinks, medication, legs up and chatting to friends afterwards as we know social contact is rare. Community sessions, not dance related, planned regularly to allow members to socialise.
Leading in online professional opportunities. Allowing students to take exams, train with professional external dancers and perform from their bedrooms.

Staffing at a glance:
Kate Stanforth - Director and an award winning choreographer, teacher and dancer. Qualified in Rambert Grades, IDTA, PBT, Arts Awards, Dance for Parkinsons + Dementia. Artist in residence at Great Ormand Street and Associate Artist with Moving Art Management. Teaching experience for major dance organisations such as Rambert and Matthew Bournes New Adventures.
Fay Crockett - Online Troupe Lead. Creates monthly online dance performance via social media for the academy. Trained through the dance academy with PBT Level 3 and Rambert Grades Level 1.
Mae Taverner - Advanced Dance Lead. BA Combined Honours in Acting and Sociology. Vice President of the Board of Directors for Dance Nova Scotia. 
Jade Armstrong - Advanced Lead. FDA contemporary and danced on TV with Diversity. Creates incredible commercial routines.
Noa Porten - Hand-tap Lead. Meditation and mindfulness teacher. Choreographed the tap for BBC One Show.
Sophia Adzoa-Moore - BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (PPA); ISTD DDI Modern & Tap. Professionally trained in ballet, tap, modern and musical theatre, with West End, live performance and teaching experience.

Lucy Turner - London Contemporary Dance School graduate (2024). Professional dancer, choreographer and teacher with credits including BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer, MOVE IT, Pineapple Dance Studios and Resolution Festival, specialising in contemporary dance, creativity and inclusive practice.

Jet Gates - Marketing and communication specialist and teacher. First-Class BA (Hons) Digital Media Design graduate from the University of Winchester. Accessibility consultant, designer and disability advocate with experience working with organisations and brands including Primark, London Fashion Week, NBCUniversal and Making Space. 

Isobel Jones - Isobel is currently working as a teaching assistant , admin and grant writer for the academy. 

Lula Chinery - Dance and performing arts teacher with experience in dance, acting, musical theatre and choreography.
Lucy Bailey - Virtual PA. Forever helping us sort tech issues.
Shona Cobb - A highly skilled photographer who we have worked with at events.

 

Plus, support from our our teams at MK Moves (Mads and Kaas) and Moving Arts Management. 

Awards Include:
Cosmopolitan Fav Inclusive Fitness Class List (2024)
Guardians Best Cheap Fitness Class List (Named next to Joe Wicks)
Highly Commended Award from BBC Newcastle
Dance Trailblazer for Motability Magazine (2024)

Collaborators:

Ofiicially partnered with The Royal Ballet School
Scholarship and long-term collaboration with Rambert Grades
Long-term collaboration with Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
Collaborated with Christopher Tendai (Jesus Christ Superstar choreographer) + Katie Bruce (Lead in Hairspray tour)
Collaborating with Layton Williams
Collaborating with brands, such as Capezio, Snag tights + Loopwheels
Part of EDI steering group for IDST

Appearances:
Dancers appeared on BBC One Show, The Last Leg, Steph's Packed Lunch, CBBC: My Life Leading The Dance
Fay appeared on 'Strictly It Takes Two' after adapting this season
Performances both in-person and online for dancers include Naidex, Allied Mobility Roadshow, a premiere online for CTD company

Links:
https://dancemagazine.co.uk/tag/inclusive-dance/

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/fitness-workouts/g38332593/inclusive-fitness-classes/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/15/dancer-wheelchair-strictly-disability

Info:
Registered address: 71-75 Shelton Street, London, England, WC2H 9JQ
Email: katestanforthdance@hotmail.com
Socials: www.katestanforthacademyofdance.com @katestanforth @katestanforthdance