At A glance

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

KSAA has a worldwide audience, with over 300 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 7 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 own sourced sponsor , 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.
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. Creates beautiful contemporary routines.
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.
Ellen Jones - Content Creation Lead. Award-winning writer, speaker & strategist helping our students develop skills on socials.
Lucy Bailey - Virtual PA. Forever helping us sort tech issues.
Shona Cobb - A highly skilled photographer who we have worked with at events.

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:
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