CoDa Dance Company, led by the artistic vision of Nikki Watson, is a unique contemporary dance company that specialise in multi-disciplinary live productions, exceptional community work and academic research into the health benefits of dance. CoDa is the go-to provider of dance for neuro-disabled people in the South East region.
PERFORMANCE
Through our performance work we want to spark conversation, provide a space for neurodisabled people to share their experiences and emotions and create a new path for understanding that isn’t based on an academic or medical approach. Since 2018 CoDa have been researching how dance and creative technologies can create immersive performance that tells the hidden stories of neurodisabled people. This work paved the way for our current production – As The Floor Shifts – which explores virtual reality as a way of creating immersive performance in times of social restrictions and isolation.
PARTICIPATION
CoDa are delivering weekly dance sessions for people with MS and neurological disabilities at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. Sessions enable participants to move in new ways, build strength, improve mobility, socialise and be creative. CoDa have also delivered dance sessions at the Marjorie Collins MS Centre, St George’s Hospital and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society this year, reaching over 300 people.
RESEARCH
CoDa are excited to be working in partnership with the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability to develop a phased action research project investigating the impact of dance on patients with sustained brain injury. The company will also be working with industry specialists to develop advocacy packs for arts practitioners and health care providers around the benefits of dance delivery.
“CoDa is one of the only companies that pioneer creative interpretations of the symptoms and issues that surround MS through dance. Not only is their work artistically beautiful, it also challenges audiences that needs to be inspired.” – Laura Dajao, Wild Card Producer, Sadler’s Wells
CoDa is currently supported by Arts Council England, Wandsworth Grant Fund, DanceEast, Morrison’s Foundation, Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, Awards for All, University of Roehampton, All Saints Day Centre, Studio 3 Arts.
