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About us

People Dancing is the development and membership organisation for community and participatory dance, driving forward inclusion and excellence through professional development, resources & safeguarding services, specialist programmes & networks. It supports a UK-wide network of members - dance artists, practitioners and organisations - who make great dance happen in all its diversity. Our membership reaches more than 4,500 dance professionals worldwide.

We have more than 35 years’ experience of working to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy dance. This work is also focused on driving excellence in community dance practice. We are inspired by our firm belief that everyone has a right to experience dance.

Find out more about us in this area

Our organisational values

The way we work at People Dancing is defined by our organisational values. These are to strive for:

  • Excellence – in participation and progression in dance for all
  • Inclusion – always at the heart of what we do and why we do it
  • Collaboration – where actions give greater strength and voice to all involved
  • Openness – in all our working practices.

Our artistic values

These underpin our activities and the way we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. Our artistic values call on us:

  • To place people, their aspirations, rights and choices at the centre in providing opportunities for individuals and communities to operate creatively and artistically
  • To respect everyone’s right of equal access to quality experiences in dance of all kinds
  • Not to be limited by form, style or convention and to embrace digital possibilities
  • To contribute positively to people’s health and wellbeing, resilience, social relationships and creative learning
  • To develop dance as an artform, working with highly skilled and professionally developed dance artists and practitioners.
People Dancing Summer Intensive 2024
Courtesy of Empowering Dance (archive of the project).
Online and in-person events running 07 - 28 July 2024
Join us for one or more days of People Dancing's Summer 2024 Intensive. This mix of inspiring courses with artists from the leading edge of community and participatory dance is a chance for you to learn, experiment and reflect with like-minded colleagues.
Approaches to Dance with Older People Qualification
People Dancing Summer School. Photo: Rachel Cherry.
The Level 4 Certificate Approaches to Dance with Older People is a single unit qualification that introduces dance artists to key issues that may affect older people who participate in dance.
Approaches to Dance for Early Years Qualification
‘Vitolda Klein’ – Vitolda Klein (Unsplash)
The Level 4 Certificate Approaches to Dance for Early Years is a single unit qualification that introduces dance artists to key issues that may affect the delivery of dance sessions for children aged 4 years and under.
Risk Assesment Qualification
The Risk Assessment for Participatory Arts Practitioners - Level 2 Award is a single unit qualification which requires you to develop your understanding of the processes involved in a risk assessment for participatory arts activities.
Support People Dancing's work with a donation
People Dancing Summer School. Photo: Rachel Cherry
Please enable us to continue our vital work by making a donation online
A choreography of parenting
Anita Clark.
Anita Clark, Director of The Work Room in Glasgow, Scotland, frames the voices of parent-artists contemplating or navigating the complexities of resuming their practice alongside the care and raising of children.
Contact with consent: online recording
Contact with consent: Exploring autonomy for dancers with additional needs, facilitated by Sali Gresham, delivered in partnership with Sense charity.

This session is for practitioners working within inclusive dance practice but could be a valuable reference for anyone working with non-verbal participants in dance.

This is a recording of a previous online event.
F-ing Good Zine
F-ing Good Provocation is a zine (project as well as a practice) that celebrates the 20 artists of East and Southeast Asian diaspora involved, who live, create and contribute to the vibrant arts landscape of the UK and beyond.
Read, Watch & Listen: Films
11 Million Reasons to Dance, inspired by Chicago. Photo: Sean Goldthorpe
People Dancing have been involved in making films for 20 years - find some of them here.
Jobs and opportunities
People Dancing in the Summer. Photo: Rachel Cherry.
Here you can browse jobs and opportunities in community and participatory dance.
People Dancing Membership
People Dancing Summer School. Photo: Rachel Cherry
Membership of People Dancing is open to all who support, engage with or have an interest in community and participatory dance. People Dancing Membership reaches more than 4,500 dance professionals worldwide.
Online learning courses
People Dancing's International Conference, Glasgow. Photo: Rachel Cherry
These online learning courses address a range of subjects that community dance practitioners may wish to learn more about providing dance practitioners with a chance to learn at their own pace, at a time and in a place to suit themselves.

Company details

  • People Dancing is the trading name of the Foundation for Community Dance
  • Registered Charity no. 328392
  • Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales no. 2415458
  • VAT no. 109056137
  • Registered office: LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1RE.

Our funders