4Motion - keeping people connected and moving

Elaine Macey, Director at 4Motion in Newquay, has adapted and turned her dance company into an online community hub…

4Motion is an arts, wellbeing and culture Community Interest Company established in 2006; we are a collective of like-minded people who share a vision – to help people stay moving, connected and feeling great.

I dreamt up and created 4Motion with my friend and colleague Dean Soden in 2006. Inspired by Gandhi’s words - “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” - we set our sights on dreaming big to create a truly inclusive and creative company. Our vision was to create a social enterprise that welcomed everyone, where people could dance and move freely without judgement, improve their fitness, nurture their mental and physical wellbeing, forge friendships and be as wildly and spontaneously creative as they wished to be.

We deliver accessible classes, workshops, training and events that forge partnerships, unite people and celebrate communities. We specialise in delivering inclusive dance and yoga classes, projects and training in primary, secondary and special education schools and community settings. We thrive on creating and managing large-scale performances, festivals and events for all members of the community, and we are extremely passionate about supporting and nurturing the wellbeing of young people and adults.

And then Covid-19 struck! 4Motion responded to the pandemic in a fast, positive and proactive manner. Without a second thought of how our proposed solution would be funded or received; staff volunteered to work extra hours and the team united to share a key vision - to keep people CONNECTED and MOVING. We quickly redefined our mission into three clear goals:

• To help people stay connected and moving.
• To support and pay our freelance staff.
• To keep 4Motion alive and thriving.

Friday 20^th March we stopped teaching in all schools and closed the doors to our community Studio; on Monday 23rd March we launched the 4Motion Online Community. After nearly 14 years of being a face-to-face organisation, we transferred all our classes, workshops and training online to teach 28 classes a week. We offer classes for young people with learning and physical disabilities, people that live alone, for families, young people, children, residents in care homes, and in 14-weeks reached 3207 people across the south west and south east of England and beyond.

We were quick to respond to the immediate crisis and were without a business plan, the technology, software or systems in place. Yet, we adapted, sought advice and continued to keep people connected and moving.

The 4Motion Online Community is now a thriving hub that welcomes everyone; our goal is to build on this virtual community during this transitional phase, continuing to keep people moving and connected.