Inclusive conference inspires ideas

English Dance and Song Winter 2016

EDS, the magazine of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, is the world’s oldest magazine for folk music and dance. First published in 1936, EDS is essential reading for anyone with a passion for folk arts. The following sample article is copyright. You are welcome to share it in the format supplied and accompanied by this title page, but you may not reproduce it, in full or in part, by any other means.

Inclusive conference inspires ideas

Rachel Elliott, EFDSS’ Education Director, discusses how our first Inclusive Folk conference has set the tone for future activities with disabled participants.

This summer, our Folk Educators Group ran EFDSS’ first national conference on folk music and dance with disabled young people and adults.

The one-day event, which took place in June, presented a line-up of inspiring speakers and workshop leaders from around the country. They represented years of experience working with people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEN/D) in schools and community settings.

The 60 delegates came from a wide range of backgrounds, including staff from music education hubs and arts organisations, teachers, folk dancers, callers and musicians, as well as folk educators.#

Our keynote speaker was disabled arts activist, Suzanne Bull MBE, CEO of Attitude is Everything, who challenged and reminded delegates that being truly willing to change is the first and most important step in including more disabled people in folk arts.

Following her motivating speech, Cat Kelly led delegates in a joyous folk song with Makaton signing, which uses signs and symbols to help people communicate.

This set the tone for a lively day of case studies and workshops. Daryl Beeton, of national disability music charity Drake Music, highlighted the inclusive power of assistive technology. Folk 3D presented their work with St Andrew’s SEN School in Derby, and Matthew Jones and Dave Gray shared their approach to using folk music in SEN/D settings in their work with Live Music Now.

“An inspiring day which allowed delegates to re-evaluate their SEN/D provision. The whole event was interactive, fun and seamlessly organised as well as being incredibly informative. I particularly enjoyed planning a dream project in the last session… there was a great feeling of community and motivation in the room which has stayed with me and will no doubt give rise to new ideas throughout the year.” Lucy Duff, Area Leader at Kent Music, folk arts educator, violin teacher and morris dancer.

Wren Music’s Paul Wilson and David Faulkner and Jenni Coates of Pathfield School from Devon brought a van full of instruments and led an accessible music-making workshop.

Emmie Ward and Sarah Glover led a creative session on using interactive storytelling and multi-sensory approaches to engage participants with complex learning disabilities in folk music.

There were two song workshops; Rebecca Denniff led a session on including participants with autism and Cat Kelly on using Makaton signing with participants with learning or communication difficulties. Fergus Early of Green Candle Dance led a seated morris dance workshop, and a session on wheelchair folk dancing was facilitated by Sue Coe with Rosie Allport and Julia Barnes from Ravenscliffe High School and Sports College in Yorkshire.

Before joining together at the end of the afternoon for ceilidh dancing with Alex Cumming and Nicola Beazley, all delegates had a discussion and generated ideas on devising new and exciting possible inclusive folk projects for future action.