The Delights Film
An early years sensory dance performance that explores story, music, and movement. Makers of Imaginary Worlds and Turned on its Head joined forces to make this work with and for young children and their grown-ups in Nottingham during 2022 to 2024.
Get creative, make a sensory ball!
Discover the secret to crafting an up-cycled jumper cover
for an exercise ball and enjoy movement play adventures with your little one!
” Love the fabrics. Low-cost ideas of getting some material and making different things out of them.” parent 2024
The sensory ball is versatile and can be used both indoors and outdoors. The free pdf tutorial in the download link below, showcases the use of an extra-large upcycled jumper and an exercise ball. This design is specifically created to encourage active play among children, with a stalk to assist younger ones in holding and manoeuvring large balls. Additional sensory and tactile elements can be added to the ball to enhance playtime.
Research shows that “children that engage in activities outside… are involved in more active play, have higher levels of physical activity and that this “contribute(s) significantly to children’s health”. Mackett/Paskins (2005).
Audience Feedback
Don’t take our word for it – here’s what our audience say:
Watching performances, she really liked watching, and she doesn’t usually just sit and watch something.
I think engaging with the dancers, she really enjoyed that. Yeah, but I mean my little daughter said: they’re very talented.
It’s incredible that your child will express themselves in ways you haven’t seen before”
Oh yeah, definitely, especially the Lycra. That’s brilliant. Yeah, I’m definitely gonna give that a go at home.
Audience Report
To gauge the impact of our work on audiences, we collaborated with Pavlos Panagiotidis, PhD researcher from the University of Nottingham. This student interviewed audiences at four outdoor performances in 2023 and delivered a comprehensive report.
Download Report
Our Team
Supported by
We are grateful for the support from Small Steps Big Changes Ideas Fund, Arts Council England and to the children, early years practitioners, storytellers, dancers and artists who helped us develop this work.
