A central London-based dance studio, provides inclusive opportunities to learn different styles of dance for disabled communities.
Founder Rashmi Becker launched Step Change Studios in 2017, inspired by challenges faced by her brother, who has autism and sight loss.
She explained that she had seen the positive impact of physical her brother’s mental health and wellbeing, and felt motivated to create more opportunities for disabled communities.
Becker said: “This can be very demanding work, it can be very challenging, it can be draining, but then you see the impact and the difference in makes in people’s lives [it all becomes worth it].”
Becker has a history of working social care, and is passionate about sport, physical activity and dance.
She was on board of the English Federation of Disability Sport, now the Activity Alliance, an organisation that champions disabled people’s participation in sport, and the positive benefits of physical activity on quality of life.
Becker was conscious of the fact that there were few inclusive opportunities for disabled communities and set Step Change Studios thinking it would be a part-time project.
Becker said: “It just snowballed.”
Step Change now runs classes in schools, special needs schools and residential care settings, in community settings, sports centres, and even hospitals facilitating classes for people with complex needs and severe disabilities.
She has a popular blind ballroom class which has gained popularity ever since Chris McCausland, a celebrity with sight loss, won BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Step Change provides classes for elderly with dementia and age-related conditions too, as well as working in hospitals with patients who have had a fall, providing gentle movement to help with their recovery.
Becker explained that many people Step Change support previously experienced loneliness and isolation, and found it difficult engage in wider society.
She said: “You see them blossom and make friends and grow. It becomes hard not say yes to everything as it’s hugely rewarding.
“I always think about my brother because there was nothing around when he was growing up.
“He was born at a time where people didn’t even know what autism was and there was just no support at all.”
During her work, Becker has explored the intersection of disability, gender and race and the additional barriers this can create.
One student shared their experience of domestic abuse and becoming an advocate for the issue as they developed confidence to speak out through attending dance classes.
Becker added: “Ultimately, it’s about being able to be in control of your own story and being able to share that is also, or can be, empowering.”
Becker stated that it is tiniest the accomplishments which feel most signifcant.
Working in a residential care home, she encountered a resident who was reserved and never joined in.
She said: “One day he got up and had a little dance, and that’s such a big win because you feel there’s a breakthrough.”
“At the other end of the scale, we work with people who are initially shy, and lacking in confidence, and then fast forward a few months and they are able to travel independently to get to class, and perform in front of an audience, and take part in TV interviews.”
Becker recalled a heart-warming quote from on her students, which underlined the challenged.
She said: “One of our students said, you grow up constantly hearing what you can’t do and you start to believe that.
“Mindset is so important because if you set limitations on people, they are not going to aspire to achieve their potential’.
“I would love to get to a point where we don’t have to exist because people can just go to a mainstream dance class and be included.”
This was delivered by Step Change, supported by Metro Blind Sport and Vision Foundation.
Becker said: “People see the disability and limitation first, rather than the potential and the possibility.
“I would love to get to a point where we don’t have to have step change studios because people can just go to any dance class and there’s provision for them.”
Becker explained that there will always be a need for more specialist support for people with complex needs, but there is no reason why they should not be able to participate with a few adaptations.
This includes instructing blind dancers by asking them to follow the choreographer’s voice or helping students with autism with sensory needs, using things like sensory props.
Becker said: “You can’t be what you can’t see. This is also true when it comes to public perception.
“We’re often asked how it’s possible to dance if you’re blind, but when people see it, they get it.”
Becker added it was important to think of the wider social context of disabled people’s experience.
The accessibility and affordability of transport, for example, can impact their ability to travel to a class.
A lack of representation also means the general public are not informed about disability, which in turn can lead to people having low expectations.
Becker said: “While perceptions of disability are better than they were 50 years ago, there is still a long way to go.
“For our part, we’re trying to make a difference one dance step at a time.”
For more information, visit https://www.stepchangestudios.com/.
Photo of blind dancers competing in Blackpool at the famous Tower Ballroom credit: Nicole Selby
Photos via: Rashmi Becker, founder of Step Change Studios
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