The Signdance Group | Pioneers of Signdance Theatre -A transnational, disability‑led company creating and touring Signdance Theatre across the UK and Europe. Innovative, inclusive performance since 1986.

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            Shaping the future of Signdance Theatre.

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Who We Are

Inclusive arts leaders blending sign‑theatre, dance, and music to create innovative, accessible performance.

Based in the UK and Pula, Croatia, The Signdance Group is led by a team of Deaf, disabled, and diverse producers and artists. We pioneer, develop, and tour Signdance Theatre — a unique performance language blending sign‑theatre, dance, and live original music. Our work is rooted in nearly four decades of innovation, cultural exchange, and international collaboration.

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Our Origins

The original creators of Signdance Theatre, developed in London in the 1980s and expanded internationally.

Signdance Theatre began in London between 1986–1987, when the founders of Signdance Collective UK first developed the form.

In 2001, the directors redeveloped the company into an international touring group, working initially from an old Dutch barge in Amsterdam.

By 2005, Signdance Collective became company‑in‑residence at Wycombe Arts Centre in High Wycombe, England, expanding collaborations with artists worldwide and significantly increasing touring activity.

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A Transnational Structure

UK–Croatia arts partnership supporting cross‑border collaboration, touring, and disability‑led innovation.

To support a growing international practice, Signdance Europe / Znakovni Ples was established in 2020 in Croatia and is now proudly based in Pula, strengthening our presence within the European cultural ecosystem.

Today, The Signdance Group consists of:

• Signdance Collective UK, led by David Bower and a team of diverse artists • Signdance Europe / Znakovni Ples, based in Pula and led by Cuban dancer‑choreographer Isolte Avila

Together, these organisations form a transnational, disability‑led structure that unites UK legacy with European growth, enabling year‑round collaboration, creation, and touring.

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Our Art Form

Signdance Theatre: a unique fusion of sign language, dance, and theatre shaping contemporary inclusive performance.

Signdance Theatre fuses sign language, dance, and theatre to create a distinctive, visually rich performance language.

Sign‑theatre — the theatrical language of the Deaf community — forms the foundation for developing visual narratives, movement, and choreography. Dynamic and spatial sign language elements bring emotional clarity and precision to the stage.

Combined with contemporary dance, this vocabulary deepens artistic expression and strengthens connections between Deaf and hearing communities. The result is a powerful, inclusive art form rooted in shared human experience.

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Our Work Today

Workshops, residencies, touring productions, and community projects connecting Deaf and hearing audiences worldwide.

From our bases at Wycombe Arts Centre (Buckinghamshire, UK) and our new home in Pula, Croatia, we engage with local artists and communities through:

• Workshops • Residencies • Transnational projects • Performances • International touring and collaboration

The Signdance Group continues to develop, tour, and collaborate internationally — producing work that is bold, accessible, and grounded in our signature performance language, Signdance Theatre.