This present study examines year two of the Dancing Inside project:Motionhouse Dance Theatre workshops conducted with prisoners in HMP Dovegate’s Therapeutic Community.

Its aim was to provide evidence for the short term impacts of participating in the workshops and also to examine the longer term gains made by dance participants. It also examined the role of dance within the prison system as a tool for facilitating emotional and psychological change. It examined the impact of the workshop on the prisoners, with respect to:

• psychological change
• changes in prisoners’ self concept
• changes in emotional states,

awareness, and ability to express

emotional material.

The qualitative data, exemplified by the imaging tasks and interviews, indicated the positive impact and sustainability of change as a consequence of the Motionhouse project. A previous report by Surrey University in October 2003 evaluated the impact of their first project during 2003.

Dancing Inside was an 18 month ground breaking project delivered by Motionhouse at HMP Dovegate as part of Arts Council England's 'Dance Included' programme. Through 8 residencies between January 2003 and July 2004 , Motionhouse dancers worked closely with small groups of residents from HMP Dovegate's therapeutic community to develop physical skills, promote creative exploration and devise 2 performances for their peer community.

The interview material demonstrated that the insights they had gained through the experience of dance and working with Motionhouse did translate into the Therapeutic Community especially in terms of confidence and having a greater sense of self and sensitivity towards others. These insights also persevered beyond Dovegate and went with them as resources to call upon when dealing with a new prison environment.