Dance Mama

In celebration of Father’s Day 2025, join Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, as she meets Alex Lloyd Hunter, Co-Founder of The Dad Shift – a campaign for better paternity leave in the UK. You may already realise that the UK’s statutory maternity leave is the worst in Europe with only 2 weeks paid at less than half the minimum wage. On 11th June 2025, the campaign held the DadStrike to raise awareness and inspire change, and previously they strapped baby carriers with dolls to statues of men across London including Gene Kelly which caught the eye of his wife and creator of the Gene Kelly Legacy, Patricia Kelly, who was very much in support. Pre-recorded before DadStrike, Alex discussed this particular issue, with Lucy bringing the specific challenges for Dads in dance to this conversation.www.dadshift.org.uk/www.dancemama.org

Join Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, as she meets Australian entrepreneur and author Denise Duffield-Thomas. Denise is a mother of three with a background in dance. Denise continues to fan the flames for her dance passion (and fly the flag for ballet on social media) alongside running her highly successful business helping other entrepreneurs to have a healthier money mindset and increase their success. Lucy will talk to her about what dancers can do to help their money blocks and the benefits of continuing dance recreationally as a busy working mum.www.dancemama.orgwww.denisedt.com#mothersday #australia #dancemama #moneymindset #moneybootcamp

Join Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, and Grace Whitworth and Xin Ying from @dancersandmotherhood – an Instagram Account created by four dancers based in the USA (including Ingrid Silva and Allison DeBona). With shared aims of improving inclusivity for parents in dance globally, Grace (Rehearsal Director, Yue Yin Dance Company) and Xin (Principal, Martha Graham Dance Company) talk with Lucy about their personal experiences of becoming mothers and what it takes to sustain their careers in dance. The conversation explores the challenges logistically, culturally and physically as well as highlighting recent research, projects and initiatives including International Parenting and Dance Network to address these issues. The release of this podcast also times with Dance Mama’s new webinars presenting Dancing Beyond, new clinical peer-reviewed guidelines for peri-natal professional dancers, by Rachael Kuik . A FREE webinar aimed at dancers in the USA and their fellow colleagues will be taking place on 12th JuneTO BOOK www.dancemama.org/workshops-eventsVisit www.dancemama.org for all the info to find out how you can get involved and how we help parents in dance move their worlds. IG: @lucymccrudden.comFB: @thedancemamaThis episode was recorded in November 2024

Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, had the delight of talking to the fantastic #dancemama, Alice Marshall about her new dance film, Tender Steps, especially created  to raise awareness of baby loss via her lived experience. Alice is a performer, choreographer and Dance Academic with Routledge credentials. She is Artistic Director of Adaire to Dance and leads the undergraduate and postgraduate dance programmes at the University of Derby. She's celebrated in the region for her steadfast commitment to choreography and dance, captivating students and audiences with her passion and expertise.Watch Tender Steps on www.dancemama.org/tenderstepswww.adairetodance.comTwitter/ X: @aeamarshallInstagram: @adairetodance @aeamarshallThis episode was recorded in October 2024

Join Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, for a slice of conversation with choreographer Anna Watkins and musician, Barry Ganberg, after she led one of our hybrid workshops for professional dancing parents with Swindon Dance.  Anna and Barry talk about their experiences as well as what makes their professional relationship work so well. This, our third podcast series holds tantalising snippets of the conversations we had on Dance Mama Live Back On The Road - season 2 of our professional development programme, specially made for and about parents in dance supported by Arts Council England. It followed our first Dance Mama Live 2021-22 which was entirely delivered online and is available to engage in for free when you sign up to our site. Season 2 was our post-pandemic follow-up, where we were able to go ‘back on the road’ and get out and about in person as well as virtually to 10 national dance organisations across the UK.   This third podcast series will enable you to get a glimpse of what we got up to speaking to great British dance artists and makers including; Lizzie Klotz, Siobhan Hayes, Folk Dance Remixed, Sally Knight - Artistic Director of  CScape Dance, Melody Sinclair - Associate Choreographer of Six The Musical, Company Chameleon, Eleesha Drennan, Alleyne Dance, Anna Watkins and York Dance Studio.   To experience the full enchilada of 40-hours of workshops and webinars we have produced on Dance Mama Live, head on over to our site and subscribe as a Silver Member to -      access all this inspirational and informative content -      experience a monthly interactive webinar with Lucy for latest developments for parents in dance, as well as address what’s coming up for people -      and most importantly to connect as a community.   You can also see series 1 and 2 of our podcast in video format on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2k1Bc-mnit69sZcOLOmTaw- part of our collection of over 70 stories.   Visit www.dancemama.org for all the info to find out how you can get involved and how we help parents in dance move their worlds.   TW: @thedancemama IG: @lucymccrudden.com FB: @thedancemama The conversation in this episode was recorded in March 2023 as part of Dance Mama Live Back On The Road supported by Arts Council England. It features reflections on the project from participants who took part in the project when it toured to Sadler’s Wells. The full edit of this can be viewed in our film by Flett Films and Tambrisk Pictures here: https://youtu.be/zsUd-N5lNn8 .

Join Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, for a glimmer of conversation with Co-Artistic Director of Alleyne Dance, Kristina Alleyne, after she led one of our online workshops for professional dancing parents with DanceEast. Kristina speaks about the support network she is modelling and creating with the company bringing out the brilliant possibilities there can be for parents in dance. This, our third podcast series holds tantalising snippets of the conversations we had on Dance Mama Live Back On The Road - season 2 of our professional development programme, specially made for and about parents in dance supported by Arts Council England.   It followed our first Dance Mama Live 2021-22 which was entirely delivered online and is available to engage in for free when you sign up to our site. Season 2 was our post-pandemic follow-up, where we were able to go ‘back on the road’ and get out and about in person as well as virtually to 10 national dance organisations across the UK.   This third podcast series will enable you to get a glimpse of what we got up to speaking to great British dance artists and makers including; Lizzie Klotz, Siobhan Hayes, Folk Dance Remixed, Sally Knight -Artistic Director of  CScape Dance, Melody Sinclair - Associate Choreographer of Six The Musical, Company Chameleon, Eleesha Drennan, Alleyne Dance, Anna Watkins and York Dance Studio. To experience the full enchilada of 40-hours of workshops and webinars we have produced on Dance Mama Live, head on over to our site and subscribe as a Silver Member to -      access all this inspirational and informative content -      experience a monthly interactive webinar with Lucy for latest developments for parents in dance, as well as address what’s coming up for people -      and most importantly to connect as a community.   You can also see series 1 and 2 of our podcast in video format on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2k1Bc-mnit69sZcOLOmTaw- part of our collection of over 70 stories.   Visit www.dancemama.org for all the info to find out how you can get involved and how we help parents in dance move their worlds.   TW: @thedancemama IG: @lucymccrudden.com FB: @thedancemama The conversation in this episode was recorded in June 2023 as part of Dance Mama Live Back On The Road supported by Arts Council England. It features reflections on the project from participants who took part in the project when it toured to Sadler’s Wells. The full edit of this can be viewed in our film by Flett Films and Tambrisk Pictures here: https://youtu.be/zsUd-N5lNn8 .

Join Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, for a slice of conversation with international choreographer Eleesha Drennan after she led one of our hybrid workshops for professional dancing parents live from Sadler’s Wells Theatre.  Eleesha speaks about the logistics and challenges of bringing her daughter into the studio, the mental load of being a parent in dance, perfectionism and ‘decision fatigue’. This, our third podcast series holds tantalising snippets of the conversations we had on Dance Mama Live Back On The Road - season 2 of our professional development programme, specially made for and about parents in dance supported by Arts Council England.   It followed our first Dance Mama Live 2021-22 which was entirely delivered online and is available to engage in for free when you sign up to our site. Season 2 was our post-pandemic follow-up, where we were able to go ‘back on the road’ and get out and about in person as well as virtually to 10 national dance organisations across the UK.   This third podcast series will enable you to get a glimpse of what we got up to speaking to great British dance artists and makers including; Lizzie Klotz, Siobhan Hayes, Folk Dance Remixed, Sally Knight - Artistic Director of  CScape Dance, Melody Sinclair - Associate Choreographer of Six The Musical, Company Chameleon, Eleesha Drennan, Alleyne Dance, Anna Watkins and York Dance Studio.   To experience the full enchilada of 40-hours of workshops and webinars we have produced on Dance Mama Live, head on over to our site and subscribe as a Silver Member to -      access all this inspirational and informative content -      experience a monthly interactive webinar with Lucy for latest developments for parents in dance, as well as address what’s coming up for people -      and most importantly to connect as a community.   You can also see series 1 and 2 of our podcast in video format on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2k1Bc-mnit69sZcOLOmTaw- part of our collection of over 70 stories.   Visit www.dancemama.org for all the info to find out how you can get involved and how we help parents in dance move their worlds.   TW: @thedancemama   IG: @lucymccrudden.com FB: @thedancemama   The conversation in this episode was recorded in May 2023 as part of Dance Mama Live Back On The Road supported by Arts Council England. It features reflections on the project from participants who took part in the project when it toured to Sadler’s Wells. The full edit of this can be viewed in our film by Flett Films and Tambrisk Pictures here: https://youtu.be/zsUd-N5lNn8 .

Join Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, for a brief snippet of conversation with Juliana Javier (Associate Artist, Company Chameleon ) after she led one of our online workshops for professional dancing parents at the company’s studios in Manchester.  Juliana speaks openly about her experience as a female dancer and mother. This, our third podcast series holds tantalising snippets of the conversations we had on Dance Mama Live Back On The Road - season 2 of our professional development programme, specially made for and about parents in dance supported by Arts Council England.   It followed our first Dance Mama Live 2021-22 which was entirely delivered online and is available to engage in for free when you sign up to our site. Season 2 was our post-pandemic follow-up, where we were able to go ‘back on the road’ and get out and about in person as well as virtually to 10 national dance organisations across the UK.   This third podcast series will enable you to get a glimpse of what we got up to speaking to great British dance artists and makers including; Lizzie Klotz, Siobhan Hayes, Folk Dance Remixed, Sally Knight - Artistic Director of  CScape Dance, Melody Sinclair - Associate Choreographer of Six The Musical, Company Chameleon, Eleesha Drennan, Alleyne Dance, Anna Watkins and York Dance Studio. To experience the full enchilada of 40-hours of workshops and webinars we have produced on Dance Mama Live, head on over to our site and subscribe as a Silver Member to -      access all this inspirational and informative content -      experience a monthly interactive webinar with Lucy for latest developments for parents in dance, as well as address what’s coming up for people -      and most importantly to connect as a community.   You can also see series 1 and 2 of our podcast in video format on our YouTube channel part of our collection of over 70 stories.   Visit www.dancemama.org for all the info to find out how you can get involved and how we help parents in dance move their worlds.   TW: @thedancemama IG: @lucymccrudden.com FB: @thedancemama The conversation in this episode was recorded in May 2023 as part of Dance Mama Live Back On The Road supported by Arts Council England. It features reflections on the project from participants who took part in the project when it toured to Sadler’s Wells. The full edit of this can be viewed in our film by Flett Films and Tambrisk Pictures here: https://youtu.be/zsUd-N5lNn8 .

Join Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, for a brief snippet of conversation with Melody Sinclair (Assistant Choreographer, Six The Musical UK Tour ) after she led the first Dance Mama Live adult’s workshop in person (and hybrid) since the pandemic, for professional dancing parents One Dance UK, Birmingham.  Melanie speaks about her experiences as a female choreographer in musical theatre and how she has navigated including pregnant dancers in her work with comment and ideas from the live audience and Lucy. This, our third podcast series holds tantalising snippets of the conversations we had on Dance Mama Live Back On The Road - season 2 of our professional development programme, specially made for and about parents in dance supported by Arts Council England.   It followed our first Dance Mama Live 2021-22 which was entirely delivered online and is available to engage in for free when you sign up to our site. Season 2 was our post-pandemic follow-up, where we were able to go ‘back on the road’ and get out and about in person as well as virtually to 10 national dance organisations across the UK.   This third podcast series will enable you to get a glimpse of what we got up to speaking to great British dance artists and makers including; Lizzie Klotz, Siobhan Hayes, Folk Dance Remixed, Sally Knight - Artistic Director of  CScape Dance, Melody Sinclair - Associate Choreographer of Six The Musical, Company Chameleon, Eleesha Drennan, Alleyne Dance, Anna Watkins and York Dance Studio.   To experience the full enchilada of 40-hours of workshops and webinars we have produced on Dance Mama Live, head on over to our site and subscribe as a Silver Member to -      access all this inspirational and informative content -      experience a monthly interactive webinar with Lucy for latest developments for parents in dance, as well as address what’s coming up for people -      and most importantly to connect as a community.   You can also see series 1 and 2 of our podcast in video format on our YouTube channel part of our collection of over 70 stories.   Visit www.dancemama.org for all the info to find out how you can get involved and how we help parents in dance move their worlds.   TW: @thedancemama IG: @lucymccrudden.com FB: @thedancemama The conversation in this episode was recorded in March 2023 as part of Dance Mama Live Back On The Road supported by Arts Council England. It features reflections on the project from participants who took part in the project when it toured to Sadler’s Wells. The full edit of this can be viewed in our film by Flett Films and Tambrisk Pictures here: https://youtu.be/zsUd-N5lNn8 .

Join Dance Mama Founder/CEO,Lucy McCrudden, with Artistic Director of CScape Dance, Sally Knight (with hall for Cornwall) speaking about her experiences as a female choreographer with children making work for early years audiences, outdoor spaces and with other parent choreographers. This, our third podcast series holds tantalising snippets of the conversations we had on Dance Mama Live Back On The Road - season 2 of our professional development programme, specially made for and about parents in dance supported by Arts Council England.   It followed our first Dance Mama Live 2021-22 which was entirely delivered online and is available to engage in for free when you sign up to our site. Season 2 was our post-pandemic follow-up, where we were able to go ‘back on the road’ and get out and about in person as well as virtually to 10 national dance organisations across the UK This third podcast series will enable you to get a glimpse of what we got up to speaking to great British dance artists and makers including; Lizzie Klotz, Siobhan Hayes, Folk Dance Remixed, Sally Knight -Artistic Director of  CScape Dance, Melody Sinclair - Associate Choreographer of Six The Musical, Company Chameleon, Eleesha Drennan, Alleyne Dance, Anna Watkins and York Dance Studio. To experience the full enchilada of 40-hours of workshops and webinars we have produced on Dance Mama Live, head on over to our site and subscribe as a Silver Member to access all this inspirational and informative content, experience a monthly interactive webinar with Lucy for latest developments for parents in dance, as well as address what’s coming up for people and most importantly to connect as a community.   You can also see series 1 and 2 of our podcast in video format on our YouTube channel part of our collection of over 70 stories.   Visit www.dancemama.org for all the info to find out how you can get involved and how we help parents in dance move their worlds.   TW: @thedancemama IG: @lucymccrudden.com FB: @thedancemama The conversation in this episode was recorded in February 2023 as part of Dance Mama Live Back On The Road supported by Arts Council England. It features reflections on the project from participants who took part in the project when it toured to Sadler’s Wells. The full edit of this can be viewed in our film by Flett Films and Tambrisk Pictures here: https://youtu.be/zsUd-N5lNn8 .