On 9 July 2026, Emily Green one of our Dorset Youth Dance members took part in the VISUAL FEATS Research Lab at Tit for Tat Studios in Bristol.
The lab, facilitated by Jenny Sealey (Artistic Director, Graeae), Nicole A’Court-Stuart (Artistic Director, Circus City) and Ryan Murphy (Artistic Director, Tit for Tat) brought together Deaf artists, choreographers, directors and creatives with circus professionals and artists, to talk about what barriers exist to making Deaf-led circus and what circus can be when it’s made accessible to Deaf creators.
Emily says, “I have moderate hearing loss in both ears which is managed with lip reading, reading body language and hearing aids. I have been deaf since birth due to a genetic condition that runs in my family. I am a singer and a dancer; I have been dancing since I was three and I am very passionate about making dance accessible for all. I work with The Remix and also dance with Dorset Youth Dance.
We had several workshops, discussions and talks that were run by Jenny from Graeae, Tit for Tat and Circus City. This included a hat juggling workshop, watching a documentary about Jenny Sealy’s work with the artists in the Paralympic games in 2012 and a Q&A about that, a movement workshop using two random objects and creating a non-verbal scene, and group discussions about what we can do moving forward and what barriers we can break down.”
Participants also had time to network in sessions and over lunch, with all communication supported by BSL interpreters. Emily attended with Reuben one of Activate’s support workers who works with The Remix.
Emily’s top takeaways were:
- How to juggle a hat!
- How incredible Deaf artists are
- How to use BSL in dance choreography
- How to incorporate BSL into theatre and performance work – so as to include d/Deaf people in watching any performance so they can experience it fully rather than having to watch an interpreter standing on the side of the stage.
This is the start of a campaign by Circus City looking at how they support Deaf artists and creatives already working in and around the contemporary circus sector but also how they create the space, conditions and support to welcome new Deaf creatives into UK contemporary circus. Emily is excited to now be part of this campaign and future thinking.
Emily sums up her experience by saying, “Deaf artists are just as incredible as non-disabled artists, in their own way. We have work to do but there are so many ideas that we could share with others to break down these barriers. It was an incredible, powerful and eye-opening day. There was a lot to take in but all in a positive way.”
Find out more about VISUAL FEATS Research Lab and watch their film – in which Emily and Reuben feature!
Main image: Courtesy of Circus City, photo Ruby Burgess.
Other images: Courtesy of Emily Green.