New funding for Derby’s Hubbub Theatre offers a Dance Development programme with busaries, performance and Continued Professional Development opportunities

Hubbub Theatre in Derby have announced a new programme of Dance Development activity following successful grant funding of £58,000 from Arts Council England, and a Small Arts Grant from Derby City Council. Hubbub’s Dance Development Project aims to celebrate and develop diverse leadership and to support professional dance and movement artists in developing their inclusive practice. The project will support four areas of work: mentoring, establishing professional inclusive practice, piloting a SEND youth dance company and presenting regular workshops.

Hubbub’s Dance Development Project includes:

• Artists Bursary Call Out two bursaries for development training for underrepresented dance or movement artists based in Derby/Derbyshire
• Dance Practice – Movement-based inclusive CPD for dance and movement artists, teachers or practitioners
• ‘The Hubbub Way’ Inclusive Training for dance and artist professionals
• Residencies for two dance artists or companies to share their work in performance and through workshops
• A programme of dance and movement classes for SEND young people, with afterschool activity taking place at Chapel Street Arts Centre on Wednesdays.
• Showcase dance events taking place at Hubbub’s home at Chapel Street Arts.
• Mentoring an emerging artist from the learning-disabled community

Forthcoming Opportunities

Hubbub Dance Development Project: Artists Bursary Call Out

Applications are now open for two brand new Bursaries for development training which aim to improve the inclusive practice for underrepresented dance/movement artists from Derby or Derbyshire.  Hubbub are offering two bursaries to support a bespoke programme to develop inclusive Dance and Movement practice, from regional artists with a focus on Dance and Movement based in Derby and Derbyshire. Applications are encouraged from artists who are underrepresented in the sector, including those who experience barriers linked to ethnicity, class, disability, gender and sexuality. The bursaries are open to artists who are at any stage in their career, and there are no strict requirements around education, training, upper age limit or career path. The deadline for applications is 15^th April 2026,

To apply for one of the two bursaries, please submit a CV with name, address and contact details, along with an Expression of Interest in the format of a letter (no more that 1 side of A4) or a video (of under 3 minutes) explaining current work, how the opportunity will benefit the applicants’ practice and how applicants identify as underrepresented. Applications should be titled Dance Development Project Artists Bursary and emailed to:  Jonny@hubbubtheatre.org Hubbub Theatre are committed to making our application process accessible, for those with access needs or support with an application, please contact  Jonny@hubbubtheatre.org

Dance Practice Programme: Movement-based inclusive Continual Professional Development

The Dance Practice Programme is a series of monthly movement-based inclusive Continual Professional Development days; open to artists, teachers or practitioners who use movement, dance and theatre, taking place at the Chapel Street venue from April.

The Dance Practice Programme begins with Brain Gym® with Usha  Mahenthiralingam. Brain Gym® aims to improve physical alignment and cognitive function through simple, repetitive physical movements. This holistic system improves flexibility, balance and whole-body coordination, as well as focus, memory, relaxation and emotional health. For more information about the Brain Gym® concept, please see: https://breakthroughsinternational.org/about/brain-gym/

Brain Gym® takes place on 21^st April, from 9:30am to 4pm and costs £75 per person, with concessions available. To book a place or for more information, email: training@hubbubtheatre.org

The next Dance Practice in May is Dance Interaction with artist Debi Hedderwick. Dance Interaction is a one-to-one practice which focuses on empathetic connection, using movement, music, light, colour and improvisation to build confidence, expressiveness, enhance social interaction and non-verbal communication. Debi Hederwick is a dance artist, choreographer and educator, and has been delivering Dance Interaction programme in SEND schools, community and creative health settings for over 15 years, for information about their practice, please see https://www.debihedderwick.co.uk

Dance Interaction with Debi Hedderwick, takes place on 22^nd May, from 9:30am to 4pm and costs £75 per person, with concessions available. To book a place or for more information, email: training@hubbubtheatre.org

In June the Dance Practice will be Dance for Wellbeing with Neuromotion, facilitated by Sara Rose, Dance Movement Psychotherapist and Supervisor for the Hubbub creative team. This will explore a range of movement approaches that support the nervous system and physical and emotional wellbeing.

In July the Dance Practice will be a Co-Choreography Day led by Hubbub’s Artistic Director Jen Sumner, with Co-Director Bethany Smith and the Dance team. This day will explore how choreography can be co-created in a way that includes everyone in the space, holding wellbeing, equity and kindness at the heart.

For more information about the Dance Practice inclusive Continual Professional Development programme, please contact: training@hubbubtheatre.org

The Hubbub Way: Inclusive Training for Dance and Creative Professionals

The Hubbub Way is an innovative, established training programme, designed to give arts practitioners ways to bring accessibility into their creative practice, to guide and facilitate devising theatre and performance for people of all ages and abilities. The two-day training programme offers participants ways to improve their inclusive practice to create a more accessible, co-creative process; and the skills to communicate effectively to learning disabled, autistic and/or neurodivergent people within creative practice. Led by Jen Sumner and Hubbub’s professional team of performers, The Company, The Hubbub Way is a unique method of co-creation with co-leadership, equity and kindness. The Hubbub Way training is a rolling programme, and the next dates will take place in October 2026. For more information, or to submit an expression of interest in taking part please see https://hubbubtheatre.org/hubbub-way-intro/

Further information on elements of the Dance Development programme: including Residencies, Mentoring, Dance and Movement classes for SEND young people and Showcase dance events, will be announced soon.

For more information on the above projects, opportunities and initiatives please see https://hubbubtheatre.org  call 01332 374 665 or email kathy@hubbubtheatre.org