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.

People Dancing offers a range of memberships for individual dance artists, teachers and leaders, and for organisations of all sizes.

COVID-19

Follow the link to our page of information about Government and public health guidance and other support resources. Updated 16 June 2021.

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Latest jobs

Browse the lastest jobs and opportunities in dance and post your vacancy on People Dancing's website at no cost to the advertiser.

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Parkinson's reflections

Live Well & Dance with Parkinson's reflections: Kate Swindlehurst, Dave Little, Susie Tait

Susie Tate, discovered a Cumbrian connection between former local Kate Swindlehurst, and current local Dave Little, about the value of dance for people living with Parkinson’s.

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Perspectives on Practice

Krystal Lowe, 'Rewild'. Photo: Sleepy Robot Photography

Perspectives on Practice is People Dancing's new online programme of artist-led events and learning opportunities, discussion and debate, networks and spaces to gather, (re)connect and share.

Perspectives on Practice runs throughout 2021 as our profession and the communities we work with begin to focus on recovery, and beyond to rejuvenation.

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Shifting stones

Shining a light in the changing tide

In the face of personal challenges and a world wide pandemic, and whilst staying true to her values, author Jo Cone now feels safe, secure and supported via five navigational points that she shares with us here.

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Action and trees

Bounded in a nutshell

Freelance Dance Artist Adam Benjamin reflects upon his practice being hoovered up by a pandemic, saving the planet sliding off his agenda and the vitality of touch. He also offers a view into a wilderness, funded by dancers, that reflects a commitment to diversity - a dancers forest.

NEW! Online learning

People Dancing's International Conference, Glasgow. Photo: Rachel Cherry

Improving your teaching skills for community dance practice

This seven-unit online course, developed by People Dancing and co-authored by the Urban Playground Team, aims to support participatory artists to improve their teaching skills.

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Open Space

Photo: Jeremy Wong, Operations and Finance Officer, Improbable

Online conversation

On Friday 25 Sep 2020 an online Open Space conversation with around 170 people in response to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic took place: Is this actually a great time to make some changes in Dance?

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Safeguarding

For individuals

Everyone is responsible for safeguarding, including anyone who works with or around children and/or adults at risk. As a dance practitioner, part of your responsibility is being able to respond safely and well if there is a problem or concern.

Resources and info

Individual artists toolkit

A resource for artists to help them demonstrate the value and impact of participatory arts and develop partnerships for funding work - including a Marketing & Communications pack and a set of Case Studies.

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On a mission

On a mission

Listen to dance artist Tamar Dixon talking about her Podcast series, ‘INSiGHTZ: An insight into your dance journey’: a series of interviews, personal stories, experiences and hot topics about dance.

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Marcia's story

Knocking on doors with biscuits

People Dancing Associate Artist Louise Katerega in conversation with dancer and choreographer Marcia Edwards about her transition from dancer to setting up her own community dance company.

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New skills, new normal?

Moving, in and out of lockdown

Arts participation specialist Peter Laycock offers some thoughts around our new ability to deliver digitally and asks us to imagine what we could achieve in the future without the restrictions of lockdown

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Additional tips

10 things I've learnt over the past five years

Creative Director and artist Kwesi Johnson on mindset, methodology and our ability to transition to teaching dance and movement online.

Read Kwesi's blog