*Photo credits: Tina Frances Photography

"This Is Us give everyone access to the arts, allowing individuals to express themselves. In doing this, everyone is able to be seen, heard and belong."

This Is Us Dance run inclusive classes and opportunities, in and around the Tunbridge Wells area. Our work is sensory based, with activities and tasks that help dancers build on fundamental cognitive, social and physical skills.  We run both a Junior and Youth group, that is based at Bishops Down Primary School and have been running since 2016. As well as our Junior and Youth Group, we are proud to run TIU Dance Company for those dancers that have shown a huge amount of commitment and talent. In addition to this we also deliver, private lessons and outreach sessions across schools/ social organisation groups.

Our dance classes are open to all - Whether a child may need a boost in their self esteem and social engagement, or a physical/ learning disability. We create the class to ensure all individuals are reaching their own goals and challenging themselves, whilst feeling part of a family and being respected for who they are.  We run in association with Stopgap Dance Company as one of their IRIS syllabus youth groups. This is a specialised inclusive syllabus to allow our dancers to work towards an end goal as well as develop their dance and social skills. Dance Teacher, Hannah, has worked for several years in a number of professional Contemporary Dance companies, including that of Stopgap, and has gathered all that she has learned to create her own unique style of inclusive teaching to allow our dancers to grow in confidence, independence and feel proud of who they are.
HOW WILL YOUR FUNDRAISING HELP US?
All fundraising activities will allow us to continue our journey in providing our dancers a space to be nurtured, a platform to perform and a canvas for them to create and develop their ideas. We can work with them to develop and nurture their creative skills as they grow and continue to offer them a number of exciting opportunities. Our funding allows us to offer dancers opportunities at very little cost to their families. We cover transport, costumes, uniform, equipment, performance opportunities and in some cases fee's. This is a company for every child/young adult to feel free, creative and open. There is no right or wrong - we truly believe in embracing creativity and emotion, allowing this to be the driving force behind our work.

A MAGICAL MOMENT:When one of our students articulated how he was really feeling and what dance meant to him, he opened our eyes to the difference dance can make, as well as reducing us and the support staff to tears… "The dancing has always been in us… we just needed someone to bring it out." We hope to continue to offer children a platform to perform, a space to spin and company to communicate with for years to come.

Our vision is to continue sharing the importance of this very resonant statement which is:“Diversity is being invited to the party; but Inclusion is being asked to dance.”- Verna Myers