How dance is helping young people with autism

FuzzyClear is an all male youth dance company for boys with autism and other sensory differences.

The dancers explore different situations and emotions and learn how to manage them

FuzzyClear is a dance company for young men aged 8-25 with Autism Spectrum Condition, including Asperger’s Syndrome and other sensory differences. Together, they are using dance to develop their creative skills and learn about themselves. They meet in Southampton, Hampshire, every Tuesday and during these sessions they work on their dance skills and using improvisation, contact work and physical theatre to explore ideas and create art. The group create their own dances, which explore different situations and emotions. They look at how emotions create a physical response, and how we learn to manage them.

“We want the boys to own the work they make…”

BrightVibes asked Hannah Bevan, Creative Engagement Producer at ZoieLogic Dance Theatre to tell us more:

BV: Why did your dance company decide to want to work with people with autism?

HB:“We did a summer youth dance project and 3 of the boys who were part of this wanted a separate dance group because of their neurodiversity. They understood that having their own class would mean they could learn at their own pace and that their own skills would take them someone differently to our other offers.” 

BV: Can you explain how you work with people with autism?

HB:“We use the art of play, setting tasks and games so that improvisation is at the core of our pieces. We don’t teach routines so it’s about the boys finding the movement for themselves. They can change the movement if it doesn’t feel right to them or push themselves if that’s the right direction for them. We want the boys to own the work they make, picking the themes and stories they care about.”

BV: Explain how long you prepare for a show? 

HB:“We have weekly sessions with the boys every Tuesday in Southampton. In these sessions we explore what the boys want to make and build it from there. It usually takes us around 6–8 sessions to make anything and then we rehearse and refine from there.”