June & July 2026 Update — The Signdance Group

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Bold. Inclusive. International.

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 June and July have been months of performances, movement, collaboration, and artistic growth for The Signdance Group.

We continued developing and performing NOTIZEN, working across Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia, and strengthening our wider international network. Throughout June and into July, the company refined the performance structure, deepened ensemble work, and stepped into a powerful period of artistic evolution.

Performances Across Central Europe

Over this period, we delivered seven performances, including:

• Graz — dynamic audiences and strong artistic exchange

• Maribor — a warm and engaged community response

• Ana Desetnica Festival, Ljubljana — exceptional energy, enthusiastic crowds, and excellent feedback

Our audiences were incredibly responsive, and we received great reviews throughout the tour — a testament to the strength and uniqueness of Signdance Theatre.

Peer‑to‑Peer & RITUAL Development

A major milestone was our work within the Peer 2 Peer programme with Ana Monro, where we experienced:

• a huge learning curve

• deep artistic exchange

• new insights into ensemble practice, staging, dramaturgy, and accessibility

• strengthened cross‑border collaboration through Shared Environments

We also continued developing RITUAL with Ana Monro, expanding the creative language and preparing for the next phase of performances later in the year.

Community Engagement in Pula

Our work with the Deaf Community in Pula has continued to grow,  sessions in September will be  focused on:

• accessible performance practice

• community participation

• strengthening local cultural engagement

This remains a core part of our mission and identity.

Collaboration with PUF Festival

We have been working closely with the Executive Team at PUF Festival, shaping future collaborations, development opportunities, and shared artistic pathways. This partnership continues to open new possibilities for NOTIZEN and RITUAL.

Bucks Culture Award

We are proud to share that The Signdance Group received an award from Bucks Culture for Open Weekend, recognising our contribution to inclusive, disability‑led performance and community engagement.  

Company Work & Preparation

Our June–July activities also included: • rehearsals and restructuring sessions for NOTIZEN • performance evaluations and development meetings • travel and collaboration with co‑producers • preparation for upcoming applications and touring plans • continued work on accessibility, sound balance, and staging • strengthening our international partnerships

As we move into the next stage, we remain committed to disability‑led innovation, international collaboration, and the evolution of Signdance Theatre — a unique fusion of sign languages, dance, theatre, and music.

Thank you to everyone following our journey. More updates soon as we prepare for the next festival cycle and the upcoming NOTIZEN application with PUF Festival and Ana Monro.

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The Signdance Group Bold. Inclusive. International.

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Announcement — In Memory of Joke Menssink

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Joke Menssink, a long‑time friend, collaborator, and supporter of The Signdance Group.

Joke was part of our history, our story, and our artistic journey. Her commitment to inclusive arts, her generosity of spirit, and her belief in the power of creative community touched many people across Europe and beyond. She supported our work through different eras of Signdance Theatre, always with warmth, humour, and a fierce dedication to accessibility and artistic integrity.

We hold her memory with gratitude. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and everyone who worked alongside her.

May her legacy continue in the movement, connection, and creativity she helped inspire.

The Signdance Group Bold. Inclusive. International.

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Signdance Collective (Signdance Group) Secures Prestigious Four Nations International Fund Award for Major European Collaboration

High Wycombe, UK — May 21, 2026 — Signdance Collective, one of the UK’s leading deaf- and disabled-led performance companies, has been selected as a recipient of the highly competitive Four Nations International Fund 2026.

Co-funded by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, and Arts Council Northern Ireland, the fund supports only 40–50 cultural practitioners across the entire UK, recognising those with exceptional international vision and the capacity to deliver ambitious cross-border artistic collaboration.

With this prestigious backing, Signdance Collective will launch Shared Environments, a major new European partnership bringing together:

• 73 Degree Films (Wales) – award‑winning Wrexham-based film production company

• Transmitter Performance (Graz, Austria) – innovative music producers and interdisciplinary collaborators

• Ana Monro Theatre (Ljubljana, Slovenia) – internationally renowned street‑theatre pioneers and Signdance’s long-term partners of 25 years

A Transnational Disability-Led Structure

Signdance Collective (UK), founded in 2001, builds on nearly 40 years of disability-led artistic innovation, with its directors developing Signdance Theatre since 1986. The company has toured internationally for decades, establishing a methodology recognised across Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas.

In 2020, the company expanded its practice through the creation of Znakovni Ples (Croatia), a younger organisation designed to anchor signdance within the European cultural ecosystem. Znakovni Ples provides a dynamic EU base for collaboration, residencies, and cross-border touring.

Together, Signdance Collective (UK) and Znakovni Ples (Croatia) form The Signdance Group — a transnational, disability-led structure connecting UK legacy with European growth.

Artistic Leadership Statement

“Securing this award from all four UK national arts councils is a powerful validation of our artistic vision and our long-term European relationships,” said Isolte Avila, Co‑Artistic Director of Signdance Collective. “The value of this award lies in its prestige and the multi-nation stamp of approval it provides. It gives us the momentum to deepen our 25-year bond with Ana Monro Theatre, while combining forces with 73 Degree Films and Transmitter Performance to push the boundaries of inclusive, international street theatre and digital performance.”

About the Project: Shared Environments

Shared Environments brings together the casts and creative teams of two major signdance collaborations — NOTIZEN (Signdance Collective England & Transmitter Performance Graz) and Stream Walkers (Ana Monro Theatre & Signdance Collective) — for a focused period of shared development and exchange.

The project investigates how Deaf, disabled, deafened, sight‑impaired, and physically disabled artists create and perform in complex outdoor and climate‑affected environments. It explores:

• multi-sign-language communication

• access as a creative engine

• mixed‑ability ensemble practice

• climate‑responsive performance methods

• new approaches to outdoor signdance, puppetry, and digital streaming

Initial development begins May 23, 2026 in Graz, followed by June 8–10 in Ljubljana, with creative outcomes to be shared later this year.

About Signdance Collective

Signdance Collective is an award-winning, deaf- and disabled-led international touring company. Established in 2001, the company pioneered signdance theatre — a fusion of sign language theatre, contemporary dance, and original live music. The company is globally recognised for its inclusive creative practice and its commitment to touring innovative, diverse work worldwide.

Media Contact

Name: Isolte Avila De Graal
Title: Co‑Artistic Director / Dance Development
Email: signdanceco@gmail.com
Phone: 07887974684 (UK) / 00385993934145
Website: www.signdance.org
Social Media: @Signdanceco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Major 2026 Projects 

• March 28–30 — LLjubljana, Slovenia

•  NOTIZEN Catch-up/ R&D Revision   at Jambor Studio, Ljubljana, Signdance Group UK/Croatia, and Transmitter Performance  

• 🔹 April 15th & 19th - RITUAL Development with Ana Desetnica Theatre Ljubljana NOTIZEN Preps / Brush Ups JAMBOR 

•  🔹April 19th -27th   NOTIZEN Pula Residency Supported by Creative Europe / Culture Moves Europe administered by the GOETHE Foundation  ,  Development at ROJC Pula  

• 🔹 May 23-27 — Graz, Austria Development and Performances in collaboration with Transmitter Performance and funded by Kultur In Graz NOTIZEN Performance May 27th Graz City Centre 

•  🔹May 29th NOTIZEN show at 5.30 PM in the village of Bresternica, Maribor Slovenia 

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• 🔹June 1-11 RITUAL  development with Ana Monro Theatre 

• 🔹 June 23-27 NOTIZEN Development and performances Graz Austria 

• Performance 26th  & 27th 

• 🔹June 29th  NOTIZEN at Ana Desetnica Performance Maribor / Lent Festival City Centre 

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• 🔹June 30-July 3 Ana Desetnica International Street Theatre Festival Notiizen enters the Peer‑2‑Peer programme, followed by performances at the Festival itself.

• 🔹July 4 & 5 TBC 

• 🔹  August  12-16— 

• Wrexfest in North Wales, programme available soon 

• 🔹September RITUAL  Development and performances - Ljubljana and Pula 

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• 🔹 Signdance Collective UK has several developments for workshops and training in UK which we will post here as soon as they are confirmed 

 

Major 2025 Projects

• NOTIZEN: This major outdoor signdance theatre project began its first public events in the summer of 2025.

  • Themes: Explores protest, love, and the artistry of observation.

  • Touring Locations:  R&D Performances were staged in Austria, Croatia, and Wales England

  • Collaborators: Features an international cast from Cuba, Wales, Slovenia, China, and Austria.

• Stream Walkers (Spletohodci): A hybrid movement-vocal show addressing the rise of artificial intelligence.

  • Performance: Notable performances took place in Ljubljana  throughout 2025

  • International Reach: The project included streaming from Ljubljana to Surge in Glasgow, Scotland.

• SUGLA Training: The group participated in the SUGLA production and training program throughout the 2025 season. 

Activity & Events

• CoFestival 2025: The group recently completed participation in this international festival of contemporary dance, ending in early December 2025.

• Graz Residency: Performances were held at the Graz City Beach, Graz Pavillion  and other locations in Austria in July 2025. 

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Signdance Theatre is an innovative art form brought to life by the Signdance Collective, a diverse touring company. By blending sign language, dance, and live music, they create accessible performances led by Deaf and disabled artists, challenging perceptions of disability and art. Founded in 2001, they have been leaders in this integrated approach since the late 1980s.

Key Aspects:

- **Art Form Fusion**: A unique combination of British Sign Language, physical dance, and original music.
- **Inclusive & Diverse**: Led by Deaf, disabled, and non-disabled artists, promoting inclusivity and cultural diversity.
- **Pioneering**: Evolved from Signdance Theatre in 1987 to a globally touring collective.
- **International Reach**: Collaborates with artists worldwide, producing work in Europe, the USA, and India.
- **Accessibility**: Fully accessible performances that incorporate new media, song, and spoken word.

Overall, the Signdance Collective uses the power of sign language in dance and theatre to tell compelling stories and showcase that disability is a source of artistic strength.

In 2025, the Signdance Group (also known as the Signdance Collective) is engaged in several international productions and collaborative projects focusing on inclusive practice and "signdance theatre" (a fusion of sign language, dance, and music). 

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