What does true inclusion look like on one of the world’s biggest stages? Critical Mass, part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival, made sure the opening ceremony featured people from the local community, focusing on those most likely to be excluded.
Critical Mass redefined inclusion in major events. Setting out with a bold ambition to develop a truly inclusive mass, amateur dance group – from scratch – to perform as part of the Cultural Festival, including the Opening Ceremony.
The project in numbers
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival worked in partnership with Dance Development Leaders Group, Fabric, Arts Connect, Birmingham Royal Ballet on this project.
“I joined for personal development originally, but I've realised that it’s so much more than that. I have my own little dance family now.”
– Critical Mass Participant
“Critical Mass had already thought about adjustments before we had to ask them for it. Whereas in society now, you have to explain before you get the adjustment.”
– Critical Mass Participant
What does true inclusion look like on one of the world’s biggest stages? Critical Mass, part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival, made sure the opening ceremony featured people from the local community, focusing on those most likely to be excluded.
Critical Mass redefined inclusion in major events. Setting out with a bold ambition to develop a truly inclusive mass, amateur dance group – from scratch – to perform as part of the Cultural Festival, including the Opening Ceremony.
“Personally, I've never had the experience of working with people of different disabilities… It's educated me to want to be able to change my ways to work with people, and also educate myself about different disabilities that are out there.”
– Critical Mass participant
“I joined for personal development originally, but I've realised that it’s so much more than that. I have my own little dance family now.”
– Critical Mass Participant
The project also provided a transformative experience for 242 young participants aged 18–30 who took part in weekly sessions. 45% of these identified as disabled or neurodivergent, emphasising the project's commitment to inclusive participation.
The project in numbers
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival worked in partnership with Dance Development Leaders Group, Fabric, Arts Connect, Birmingham Royal Ballet on this project.
“Critical Mass had already thought about adjustments before we had to ask them for it. Whereas in society now, you have to explain before you get the adjustment.”
– Critical Mass Participant
What does true inclusion look like on one of the world’s biggest stages? Critical Mass, part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival, made sure the opening ceremony featured people from the local community, focusing on those most likely to be excluded.
Critical Mass redefined inclusion in major events. Setting out with a bold ambition to develop a truly inclusive mass, amateur dance group – from scratch – to perform as part of the Cultural Festival, including the Opening Ceremony.
“I joined for personal development originally, but I've realised that it’s so much more than that. I have my own little dance family now.”
– Critical Mass Participant
“Critical Mass had already thought about adjustments before we had to ask them for it. Whereas in society now, you have to explain before you get the adjustment.”
– Critical Mass Participant
The project also provided a transformative experience for 242 young participants aged 18–30 who took part in weekly sessions. 45% of these identified as disabled or neurodivergent, emphasising the project's commitment to inclusive participation.
“Personally, I've never had the experience of working with people of different disabilities… It's educated me to want to be able to change my ways to work with people, and also educate myself about different disabilities that are out there.”
– Critical Mass participant
The project in numbers
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival worked in partnership with Dance Development Leaders Group, Fabric, Arts Connect, Birmingham Royal Ballet on this project.
What does true inclusion look like on one of the world’s biggest stages? Critical Mass, part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival, made sure the opening ceremony featured people from the local community, focusing on those most likely to be excluded.
Critical Mass redefined inclusion in major events. Setting out with a bold ambition to develop a truly inclusive mass, amateur dance group – from scratch – to perform as part of the Cultural Festival, including the Opening Ceremony.
“I joined for personal development originally, but I've realised that it’s so much more than that. I have my own little dance family now.”
– Critical Mass Participant
“Critical Mass had already thought about adjustments before we had to ask them for it. Whereas in society now, you have to explain before you get the adjustment.”
– Critical Mass Participant
The project also provided a transformative experience for 242 young participants aged 18–30 who took part in weekly sessions. 45% of these identified as disabled or neurodivergent, emphasising the project's commitment to inclusive participation.
“Personally, I've never had the experience of working with people of different disabilities… It's educated me to want to be able to change my ways to work with people, and also educate myself about different disabilities that are out there.”
– Critical Mass participant
The project in numbers
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival worked in partnership with Dance Development Leaders Group, Fabric, Arts Connect, Birmingham Royal Ballet on this project.