12.08.2026

2 min read

As Cheshire Dance reaches its 50th Birthday it will celebrate its role as a pioneering community dance organisation, while recognising that the heritage of community dance is at risk of being lost. It intends to use this special anniversary to look forward as much as to reflect on the past.  

We have had the privilege to learn with and from hundreds of dance artists over the last 50 years, listening deeply, full-bodied, over time. This hasn’t only influenced our dance practice in the studio (or day centre, school, hospital…) but has offered us a way to navigate the world and inspired us to explore how we might lead with the wisdom of the body beyond the dance class. 

As part of our 50th Birthday programme Cheshire Dance would like to invite dance artists from the North West and beyond to gather for ‘Inquiring Bodies 2027’ – a series of up to 5 artist development days across the year. 

For Inquiring Bodies 2027 Cheshire Dance would like to hear, from you, which artists you would like to see as the Guest Artists for this special series. 

Your input and suggestions help us to keep developing Inquiring Bodies as an offer which is relevant to and valued by the dance artists it serves. 

Maybe you’ve attended a previous Inquiring Bodies and there’s an artist you’d like to see return to share more? 

Perhaps there’s an artist you’ve always wanted to work with but haven’t had the opportunity?  

Or maybe there’s an artist who really inspires you and you’d love to spend a day exploring with? 

We are looking to hear about artists from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences and will consider this when programming. 

To suggest a Guest Artist please complete the following short form (please complete a separate form for each artist you wish to suggest.): 

https://forms.gle/cp20ELNWyFQsGaEv616  

The deadline for suggestions is September 9 2026.

About Inquiring Bodies: 

Inquiring Bodies are events by dance artists, for dance artists, which create a mutually supportive environment for exploration and open dialogue. Through Inquiring Bodies we aim to create a safe and supportive space where both participant artists and Guest Artists can offer, share and investigate together.  

Inquiring Bodies prioritises artists working with somatically informed or improvisatory practices and events most often last one full day. 

This 2027 series will offer an opportunity to come together, to dance, explore, question, nourish and celebrate our dance practice. 

“A huge factor is that it brings together artists and practitioners from the wide regions of the NW, of different ages and stages of their careers. This makes for really interesting shared practice and dialogue.”  – Inquiring Bodies Artist

“So good to get to move and dance and connect with so many others, it’s so important to have this for development, learning and connecting!!! Thank you!!” – Inquiring Bodies Artist