The first national development programme for youth dance in England is being supported by a £635,000 grant from Arts Council England (ACE). The award is the largest of ACEs National Activities awards, and has been allocated over two years to support Youth Dance Englands Next Steps programme. The initiative aims to improve the availability of dance participation for young people by investing in networks, training and events, and thereby address problems created by a national shortage of dance teachers and leaders.
Nine dance organisations based in each region of England will work with Youth Dance England to improve dance opportunities for young people. They will also stage large-scale events to celebrate the diversity of youth dance, including the National Youth Dance Festival which will take place in Leeds in July 2006. Youth Dance England will also be working with Channel 4 to encourage young people to work with dance film, and will run a national conference in 2007.
Published: 05-12-2005