Second Hand Dance Announces New Tour Dates For THE STICKY DANCE

Second Hand Dance’s The Sticky Dance, an interactive performance installation for young children and their families, has announced new tour dates for summer/ autumn 2024. 

In the engaging and colourful show co-created by Rosie Heafford and Takeshi Matsumoto, three dancers shimmy through the audience weaving a tapestry of sticky tape. Children are encouraged to explore freely, choosing how they engage and turning the rules upside down.

The Sticky Dance visits Birmingham and Canterbury in August; Cambridge and Wimbledon in September; Darlington, Bath and Gloucester in October; and Bicester in November. 

Second Hand Dance recently became an Associate Company at Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. The performances there are part of the theatre’s Big Dreams Festival, and Second Hand Dance is co-curating a discussion on the critical discourse around work for young children on Friday 27 September.

The Sticky Dance premiered in February 2024 at Southbank Centre's Imagine Festival, and ahead of the summer/ autumn tour has dates inBrighton (Brighton Festival, 17 May) and Leicester (Spark Arts Festival, 24 & 25 May). Full tour details are below.

The idea for The Sticky Dance came from a desire to explore autonomy within performances for young audiences, asking how children can contribute to a performance in a space curated by adults. Rosie Heafford and Takeshi Matsumoto said: “Our greatest hope for an adult experiencing the work is that they see the child(ren) they came with, in a new light. Our greatest hope for the child is that they feel the permission from the space, the people, the lights and the sound, to be how they want to be in that moment.”

Rosie Heafford is Co-director of Second Hand Dance. Graduating with a BA (HONS) from Laban in 2009 and an MA from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2010, Rosie creates live and digital dance performances for children and adults, focusing on co-creating with her audience. As a disabled leader and parent-carer, she is passionate about creating a more accessible world believing that all children and adults deserve access to inspiring theatre and dance.

Takeshi Matsumoto an inclusive dance artist, dance movement psychotherapist and choreographer, and an Associate Artist with Second Hand Dance. After obtaining his BA in Dance and Drama in Japan, he moved to London where he completed further studies in Contemporary Dance at Laban and an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy at Roehampton University. He has a passionate vision to create dance performances both for and with children and young people to develop their voice and creative opportunities. As a performer, he has worked with Darren Johnston, Beatrice Allegranti and SLiDE. His production Club Origami commissioned by Little Big Dance has toured extensively across the UK and internationally.

Established in 2013, Second Hand Dance has an adaptive leadership model, run by disabled Co-Director Rosie Heafford and non-disabled Co-Director Claire Summerfield. Creating joyful, inspirational performances and digital dance films for children and adults, the company has presented work across three continents. The company collaborates with dancers, film-makers, animators, musicians and audiences in a co-creation process that is accessible, welcoming to all bodies, and places the audience experience at its centre.

The Sticky Dance is Co-commissioned by Southbank Centre and The Place, and South East Dance, with support by Stanley Arts. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Second Hand Dance became an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation in 2023. www.secondhanddance.co.uk.

Tour Dates

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: Brighton Festival at The Dance Space

Dates: Friday 17 May

Performances for ages 3-5: 10am - 12pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.15am). Sensory adapted performances for ages 3–7: 2pm and 3.15pm
Tickets: www.brightonfestival.org / 0127 369 6844

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: Spark Arts Festival – Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester

Dates: Friday 24 & Saturday 25 May

Performance Times: 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.15am / 3.15pm)
Tickets: www.attenborougharts.com / 0116 252 2455

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
Dates: Sunday 18 August 
Performance times: 10am - 12pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.15am). Sensory adapted performances for ages 3–7: 2pm and 3.15pm
Tickets: www.macbirmingham.co.uk / 0121 446 3232 

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: bOing Festival, Canterbury
Dates: Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 August
Performance times: 10am - 12pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.15am). Sensory adapted performances for ages 3–7: 2pm and 3.15pm
Tickets: www.boingfestival.com / 01227 769075 

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: Cambridge Junction, Cambridge
Dates: Saturday 22 September
Performance Times: 10.30am – 12.30pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.45am). Sensory adapted performances for ages 3–7: 2.30pm and 3.45pm
Tickets: www.junction.co.uk / 01223 511511
ON SALE FROM MID-MAY

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: Polka Theatre, Wimbledon
Dates: Saturday 28 September
Performance Times: 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.15am / 3.15pm)
Tickets: www.polkatheatre.com / 0208 543 4888

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington
Dates: Friday 4 & Saturday 5 October
Performance Times: Friday 9.15am – 11.15 and 1pm – 3pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 10.30am / 2.15pm); Saturday 10am – 12pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.15) & Sensory adapted performances for ages 3–7: 2pm and 3.15pm  
Tickets: www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk / 01325 405405
ON SALE FROM MID-JULY

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: The Egg, Bath
Dates: Friday 11, Saturday 12, Sunday 13 October
Performance Times: Friday Sensory adapted performances for ages 3–7: 9.15am and 10.30am and 2pm - 4pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 3.15pm) ; Saturday & Sunday 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.15am / 3.15pm)
Tickets: www.theatreroyal.org.uk / 01225 448844

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: Gloucester Guildhall, Gloucester 
Dates: Thursday 17 October
Performance Times: Sensory adapted performances for ages 3–7: 10am 11.05 & 2pm – 4pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 3.15pm)
Tickets: www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk / 01452 503050

Second Hand Dance – The Sticky Dance
Venue: Glory Farm School, Bicester 
Dates: Sunday 2 November
Performance Times: 10am - 12pm (entry slots available at 15 minute intervals, last entry at 11.15am). Sensory adapted performances for ages 3–7: 2pm and 3.15pm
Tickets: www.themillartscentre.co.uk / 01295 279002

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