Dance/Connect: Coproduction and creativity in research with young people

Part of the seminar series, The Spaces Between: Equity, Voice, Agency and Care Practices Involving the Arts and Arts Therapies Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased interest in exploring the role of online arts activities as a form of mental health support. As young people and individuals with existing mental health conditions have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, the aim of the Dance/Connect study was to explore if and how eight weeks of group online dance classes may support young people (aged 16-24) living with anxiety. The study was mixed-methods (qualitative, quantitative, participatory, arts-based) and was delivered in partnership with a youth advisory of young people aged 16-24. In this presentation, we explore our coproduction processes of collaborating with young people to deliver this research, as well as reflect on and share the arts-based methods we used to explore experiences of dance and coproduction.