Masterclass 3: Stuart Waters

The Masterclass Series

The session will follow the frame work of Stuarts Arts Council funded project, 'Inside out'. Inside Out is a research and development project that approaches ways to bring the invisible, visible. Stuart will be focusing on bringing hidden disabilities into the space from his embodied practice, as a disabled dance artist. Particpants do not necessarily have to be exploring hidden disabilites and are welcome to bring an existing question or theme that they may want to explore within the frameworks of the masterclass, such as memory, identity or linaeage. The masterclass series is also an opportunity to connect with a dancing community, and to enjoy reflective dance practices.

You do not necessarily need to identify as disabled to attend the masterclasses, however we encourage disabled dance artists and artists interested in inclusive practices to come along. Access workers welcome in the space! Please let us know in advance if you have any access requiremnents you would like our support with.

Masterclass 3: Stuart Waters

This final masterclass will be lead by Stuart and is an opportunity to explore his reseach of mental health, access and inclusion.

The session will hold space for reflective practice, as well as creating small studies and opportunites to bring your own creative inquiry to the space. Parts of Stuarts own research will be posed as starting points, particularly how objects, words and movement will inform practice, process and performance.

No specific dance technique background is required, but a comfort with moving your body, and an openness to try and experiment, engage in your own movement and collaborate with others.

Workshop attendees are encouraged to adapt all proposals to what suits them on the day.

Stuart Waters

As an alumnus of Northern School of Contemporary Dance (BA) and London Contemporary Dance School (MA) Stuart’s 26 year career in the dance sector has been eclectic - performing and teaching in a wide range of educational and community settings nationally and internationally as well as touring with a range of companies and choreographers across different touring networks in the UK and overseas.

Over the last decade, Stuart’s practice has shifted into maker, researcher, curator, facilitator, mentor and coach (EMCC Senior practitioner accreditation). Stuart’s practice is an evolving enquiry into care. It is led by his lived experiences, intersectionality and his hidden disabilities as an access-led practice. How does mental health access, recovery, neurodiversity and queerness develop space, practice, process and performance, and how does this enquiry contribute to these conversations?

Stuart’s work includes ‘Rockbottom’ (2016-2019), a touring solo show approaching mental health and chemsex. This began Stuart’s ongoing enquiry into “safeguarding the dancer in the studio process, live performance and engagement”, beginning conversations with communities and audiences around the UK.

Between 2021-2024, through partnerships, commissions and collaborations with The Place, Wellcome Collection, FABRIC, Southeast Dance, PDSW, ACE, East Sussex Arts Partnership and The Brighton Festival, Stuart co-created ‘A Queer Collision’, a practice which evolved from an enquiry question into a touring show: how to embed access and audio description to lay the foundation for a queer, time-travelling show which told audio-described autobiographies. The show was also a deep look into care and inclusion for participants, audiences and teams. In the last 10 years, Stuart has also co-led and collaborated with a host of artists and partners to deliver ‘Head:ON Conversations’, a thread of Stuart’s work which looks at step-change within the dance and cultural sector. This has developed through films, live events, well being cafés, public speaking, articles and online symposiums.

Stuart advocates for mental health and disability step-change in dance as an Unlimited and Clore ‘Inclusive Cultures’ alumnus and through his contributions as a trustee with Candoco Dance Company and STEPPS - a mental health charity for dancers.

https://stuartwaters.info