The Power of Different: Celebrating Inclusion at The Leadenhall Building
For National Inclusion Week® 2025, the Eastern City BID commissioned a bold and unexpected celebration of diversity and inclusion. At the heart of this activation was The Power of Different - from Combination Dance, a striking dance-theatre piece exploring neurodivergence, community, and belonging.
The Concept
Drawing inspiration from Dr. Gail Saltz’s bestselling work and pioneering research by Dr. Jessica Eccles, the project shines a light on the lived experience of neurodivergent communities. Performed as a surprise outdoor intervention at London’s Leadenhall Building (The Cheesegrater), the work was both a statement of inclusion and a preview of the full-length dance-theatre production set to premiere this November at The National Archives.
The Execution
Produced by Anne-Marie Smalldon and choreographed by Matt Walker and Chloe Mead, the performance used contemporary movement to embody resilience, community, and the celebration of difference. With a script by Katie Arnstein, the narrative combined artistry with lived experiences and cutting-edge research, grounding the work in both authenticity and accessibility.
Staging the performance at The Cheesegrater transformed one of London’s most iconic business hubs into a public stage for inclusion. Office workers, commuters, and visitors found themselves immersed in a performance that interrupted the everyday with a moment of reflection, beauty, and empowerment.
TODDCS ensured the message of the performance reached beyond the square, amplifying its resonance across digital platforms and offering an enduring record of the event.
The Impact
The pop-up performance created a powerful sense of shared experience—reminding audiences that inclusion is not just an aspiration, but a lived practice. By bringing neurodivergence and invisible disabilities into the spotlight, the work aligned art with advocacy, sparking dialogue in both cultural and corporate spaces.
As a preview to November’s premiere at The National Archives, the performance built momentum, raised awareness, and positioned The Power of Different as a landmark cultural moment in the ongoing conversation around neurodiversity and inclusion.
