Introducing our first South East Dance Resident Company: Second Hand Dance

Headed up by artist and choreographer Rosie Heafford, Second Hand Dance creates bold, accessible and sensory dance experiences for children and adults, and we’ve enjoyed a long relationship with the company since its early days – supporting its development in a variety of ways.

As Resident Company, Second Hand Dance will benefit from joining us at a time when we have the capacity to provide a new home and support, including priority access to rehearsal space, use of our wellbeing spaces as well as our accessible studios. Being based here at The Dance Space, means being able to make the most of the artistic community here in the city and the wider region. We will also create ways for the company to share and seek feedback on their work in progress with our younger audiences – a real priority for us here at South East Dance.   

Our Artistic Director Cath James, says: “We were keen to develop our relationship with Second Hand Dance as our first Resident Company, because their work for children really resonates with our growing focus on early years audiences, supported by our Little Big Dance programme. And it’s vital that we champion female, disabled-led companies like this one to thrive in a sector that continues to be very male-dominated. 

“Rosie is an artist with integrity, curiosity and a talent to help us see the world in a different way. Her work connects beautifully with young audiences through movement – which is also a real commitment for us in terms of providing high-quality activity for our youngest audiences.” 

“As Resident Company, Second Hand Dance joins us at a particularly exciting time. With our new building opening we’ll have the capacity to support Rosie‘s ambition for her company, and can provide that necessity – a home base, from which she can springboard into the future.”

Rosie Heafford says: “I’m thrilled! This is a chance to deepen our relationship and create space to explore questions around making and touring work for young audiences and being a disabled-led company.

“Second Hand Dance has been supported by South East Dance since we first started in 2013 across a variety of projects, continuing professional development and business development opportunities. Their advice and encouragement across the years has been deeply valued.”