Hidden Beach Presents: Belly Dance & Embodied Expression — with Cate Brick

A playful belly dance workshop with Cate Brick at Humble Hub as part of Hidden Beach, inviting you to explore rhythm, flow and expression.

Hidden Beach Presents: Belly Dance & Embodied Expression — with Cate Brick
Delivered at Humble Hub as part of the Hidden Beach Summer of Culture

Overview

This project consists of one or more participatory belly dance workshops led by dancer and facilitator Cate Brick, delivered at Humble Hub as part of the Hidden Beach Summer of Culture programme.

The workshops use movement, rhythm and embodied exploration as accessible tools for creative expression, wellbeing and social connection. Participants are invited into a welcoming, supportive environment where they can explore belly dance as a cultural movement form and a creative practice, regardless of age, background or previous dance experience.

The project supports physical awareness, creative confidence and emotional wellbeing through shared movement, music and participation.

Artistic & Cultural Rationale

Belly dance is a culturally rooted movement practice that emphasises fluidity, rhythm, groundedness and expressive movement. It offers an accessible and non-competitive entry point into dance, particularly for people who may feel excluded from formal or performance-oriented dance spaces.

By positioning belly dance as a form of cultural expression and creative play rather than technical training, the project reframes movement as a shared human language available to all bodies.

The workshops introduce participants to cultural rhythm patterns and movement qualities while encouraging personal interpretation, self-awareness and creative response.

Participant Experience

Participants will:

• Take part in a gentle warm-up focused on body awareness and comfort
• Learn basic belly dance movements and rhythmic patterns
• Explore simple combinations and flowing sequences
• Experiment with personal expression through movement
• Share a collective movement experience in a supportive group setting

The workshops prioritise safety, consent, choice and emotional comfort. Participants can engage at their own pace, choosing the level and style of participation that feels right for them.

No prior dance experience is required.

Access, Inclusion & Wellbeing

The workshops are designed to be:

• Open to adults and young people (approx. 14+)
• Inclusive of all bodies, genders and movement abilities
• Non-judgemental and non-performance-based
• Supportive of physical and emotional wellbeing

Participation supports wellbeing by encouraging:

• Gentle physical activity
• Sensory and embodied awareness
• Emotional release and expression
• Social connection and reduced isolation

Community & Public Benefit

The project contributes to:

• Increased access to cultural activity through non-traditional art forms
• Engagement with dance outside formal institutions
• Community cohesion through shared experience
• Creative participation across diverse demographics

It supports Hidden Beach’s mission to embed culture into everyday life and to create low-barrier, inclusive cultural pathways.

Delivery Details

• Format: Participatory movement and dance workshop
• Duration: 60–90 minutes
• Group size: Up to 20 participants
• Location: Humble Hub, Hastings
• Lead facilitator: Cate Brick
• Programme context: Hidden Beach Summer of Culture

Intended Outcomes

Participants will:

• Experience increased physical awareness and confidence
• Engage creatively with movement and rhythm
• Feel increased wellbeing and connection
• Develop a positive relationship with embodied expression
• Feel welcomed into a cultural space regardless of experience

Strategic Fit

This project aligns with priorities around:

• Participation and access to culture
• Creative wellbeing and mental health
• Inclusion and diversity of engagement
• Community-based cultural provision
• Informal learning through creative practice