Second Hand Dance (UK)
The Sticky Dance
September 28th - October 1st, 2025
AGE GROUP: 3 - 5 years
The Sticky Dance invites children and families to tape, stick, and dance along! Three dancers weave a playful web of tape, opening up a space where the audience can explore, join in, and engage freely in this colourful, interactive experience.
September 28th, 14:00
September 29th, 14:00
September 30th, 14:00
October 1st, 14:00
(arrival 14:00 / 14:15 / 14:30 / 14:45 / 15:00 / 15:15)
Duration: The performance is available for a period of 2 hours. We recommend that you allow a minimum of 45 minutes to experience the performance from the booked arrival time.
TICKETS FOR DAYCARE CENTERS
There are morning performances reserved for daycare centers.
Read more about which performances, when they play and how to book tickets here (in Danish).
An interactive performance for children and their families.
Three dancers’ shimmy through the audience weaving a tapestry of sticky tape in this dance performance for young children ages 3 to 5 years. They invite you to tape, stick and groove, to see and feel sound or to be still, watch and listen. Audiences are encouraged to explore freely, choosing how they engage, and turning the rules upside down.
The Sticky Dance is co-created by Rosie Heafford & Takeshi Matsumoto, with designs by Alison Brown (Scottish Dance Theatre, Barrowland Ballet), lighting design by James Ball and a soundscape by Dinah Mullen (Rachel Mars Forge, Kate Cross/Tim Bell Squirrel).
Age groups: Neurotypcal 3 – 5 years or neurodiverse 3 – 7 years.
IMPORTANT! PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT BUYING TICKETS AND ARRIVAL
The performance is a 2-hour sensory experience that allows you to arrive and leave (and return) according to your child’s rhythm and needs. It is recommended to spend approximately 45 minutes in the room, but you are welcome to stay longer or shorter. There is a maximum capacity for how many people can be in the room at the same time, so there may be some waiting time (it is possible to stay in the baby lounge while waiting).
Admission is every 15 minutes. The first two time slots, 14:00 and 14:15, have smaller crowds and are particularly suitable for children who prefer a quiet start.
You buy tickets for a specific arrival time during the two-hour performance period: Arrival either 14:00, 14:15, 14:30, 14:45, 15:00 or 15:15.
You can download a visual guide to help you prepare for the experience here (pdf)
Aboud Second Hand Dance (UK)
Established in 2013, Second Hand Dance is run by disabled and non-disabled co-directors, Rosie Heafford and Claire Summerfield. The company works both nationally and internationally with local and regional impact, creating joyful, inspirational performances and digital dance films for children and adults.
Collaborations include dancers, filmmakers, animators, musicians, and audiences in a co-creation process that is accessible, welcoming to all bodies, and places the audience experience at its centre.
Work by SHD has been presented in venues and festivals across three continents: The Lincoln Centre (NY), Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, Sadler’s Wells, Dublin Theatre Festival, Esplanade Theatre (Singapore), Cheers! Festival (Hong Kong), and Ricca Ricca Festival (Japan). In 2016, Rosie Heafford was the winner of the Arts Foundation Children’s Theatre Shortlist award.
Second Hand Dance serves as Artistic Advisor to Sadler’s Wells, with a focus on their family programme.
Credits
Concept & Artistic Direction:
Rosie Heafford & Takeshi Matsumoto
Performers:
Andrei Nistor
Chloe Mead
Paolo Pisarra
Swing:
Lesley Howard
Set & Costume Design:
Alison Brown
Sound Design:
Dinah Mullen
Lighting Design & Production Management:
James Ball
Production Advisor:
Froud
Company Tour Manager:
Keir Patrick
Technical Stage Manager:
Niamh Percy/Joshua Lucas
Dramaturg:
Neve Harrington
Audience Ambassadors:
Chris Fonseca
Katherine Smith
Kimberley Harvey
Laura Dajao
Rachna Joshi
Partners:
Co-commissioned by The Southbank Centre and The Place, and South East Dance, with support from Stanley Arts and using public funding by Arts Council England.
Thank you to:
Selhurst Nursery School, Addington Valley Academy, Crosfield Nursery School, Coin Street Children’s Centre, and Cherry Garden School for supporting our creation process.