Beyond Words makes fearlessly human dance-theatre.

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Founded by Helen Calcutt, an award-winning poet, choreographer and mental health activist, the company makes confronting work about human vulnerability, the forces that shape us, and how we survive. Through richly crafted sound, design and movement we invite audiences to encounter difficult realities through an otherworldly lens.

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Driven by story, we push what dance can do, combining rigorous physicality with groundbreaking approaches to text embodiment. ​​

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At the heart of our work is Hypha, a pioneering gestural language for aritculating text. Developed through sustained research and practice, it enables words to be spoken through the body with remarkable precision and depth.

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In performance, “the edge is where the work lives” (One Dance UK) reflecting our commitment to risk and curiosity in both subject and form.

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Through ongoing research, we continue to ask questions about the relationship between story and the body, nurturing multisensory dance that transcends the page, culture and binaries.

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Our work has been consistently awarded funding by Arts Council England, commissioned by NSCD, RBC, and supported by One Dance UK, the Birmingham REP, FABRIC Dance, University Centre Leeds, and the Society of Authors. 

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