The research and development project Tandem Ballet (May – July, 2012) and resulting outdoor choreographic production, Everyday Hero (2013-14) investigated interior/exterior landscape dialogues with an integrated company of vision impaired and sighted participants.

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Central to the projects aims was an investigation into the experiences of outdoor public spaces for people who could not see them. To explore this, dance improvisational scores were developed that directed participants into an awareness of the connection between their internal felt perceptions and their ability and confidence in moving outdoor spaces. These explorations focussed on themes of travel and were undertaken through dancing, discussions and cycling tandem bicycles with a sighted front rider.

Both projects were part of a four year UK wide Cultural Olympiad programme of events championing culture and education alongside sport, that culminated in the 2012, London Olympic and Paralympic games.

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The projects contributed to site-dance and dance research and practice by presenting new choreographic models for good integrated practice and they represent innovations by demonstrating new methods and aesthetics that includes diverse, non-classical bodies and untold narratives in site-situated dance productions.

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The creative team were: Virginia Farman (choreographer and director), Karen Poley (creative-producer), Oliver Aylmer (sound-designer), Holly Murray (costume designer), Kirsten Smith (writer Tandem Ballet) and Tracey Hamnet (writer Everyday Hero) working alongside an integrated company of sighted and visually impaired community participants and professional dancers [1].

[1] The project was supported by the following partners and investors: funding was provided by Arts Council England, Wandsworth Council and South London Big Dance led by Siobhan Davies Dance, and support in kind was given by; The Thomas Pocklington Centre, Roehampton University, Linden Lodge School, Wandsworth council, Merton Sport and Social Club for Visually Impaired People [1] and Wheels for Wellbeing [1], London.

Tru Thoughts records, Roehampton University, Wandsworth Council, Linden Lodge School for Blind, The Vision For Growth group and Merton Sport and Social club. The project was funded by Arts Council England, South London Big Dance, Siobhan Davies studios and Wandsworth Council.