Dance – Company of Others

Company of Others are inviting women and girls with family connections (for example mother & daughter, grandmother & granddaughter) to take part in a new, gentle and playful dance theatre project called HELD.

This opportunity is for families who are People Seeking Sanctuary, have lived experience of displacement, and/or are from the Global Majority, living in Gateshead, Newcastle or Stockton.

Led by our Artistic Director Nadia, the first workshops take place during April school holiday. These workshops will be fun, welcoming and a chance to come along see if you enjoy it. No previous experience needed.

The call-out is available in Arabic, Bengali, English, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani, Pashto, Tigrinya and Urdu. Interpreters will be available for the workshops.

Full details and the Expression of Interest form can be found here: https://www.companyofothers.org.uk/held-recruitment/

We’re very excited to share some news from Company of Others Ensemble – a new academic paper by researcher Anna Goulding has been published, celebrating the artistic and social impact of our incredible community of dancers over 60.

Company of Others Ensemble is a performing company of dancers who happen to be over 60. Their powerful, moving choreography is rooted in lived experience and challenges outdated ideas about age, while celebrating creativity, belonging, and respect.

In her study, Anna Goulding explores how dance can reshape perceptions of ageing. She highlights how the group isn’t just about movement — it’s about connection, expression, and the joy of discovering what’s possible at every stage of life.

As Dory, one of our Ensemble members, reflects:
“I’ve been here for eight years because of the trust and confidence built within this group. Ensemble makes me feel like I’m resisting old age.”

Beyond the stage, Ensemble members regularly attend theatre trips, lead workshops, and continue rehearsing and growing together as artists through weekly workshops at our home in Walker, The Bricks. For George, the impact has been profound:
“Since dancing with Company of Others Ensemble, I feel happier, more purposeful, definitely healthier and fitter.”

We’re honoured that the Ensemble’s journey has inspired such meaningful research. It’s a testament to the power of dance, community, and the bold creativity of older artists.

Read the full study by Anna Goulding here.

Tag: Dance

Call Out: Women & Girls for New Production

Ensemble’s Artistic Impact Recognised in Academic Study