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 19 July 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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Forging communities

In the midst of difference, dance artist, choreographer and writer Krystal S Lowe finds ways to forge different communities with countless cups of coffee and focused debate. Here, Krystal writes about finding the best ways to support each other no matter how unconventional that support may look.

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Perspectives on Practice

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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Wales Wide Training Programme

The WWTP creates and connects a network of 19 organisations and 300 individuals working across Wales. Tracey Brown, Mentoring, Training, Development Leader at Rubicon Dance explains how the programme has responded to the pandemic and that there have been achievements that wouldn't have been possible pre-COVID.

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Diverse opportunities

Melissa Pasut, Returning By Katherine Betteridge and Sioned Roberts. Photographer: Matt Dean.

Diverse opportunities

Whilst looking for alternative ways to navigate a lockdown, freelance artist, Melissa Pasut, discovered the Wales Wide Training Programme. Here she reflects upon her expectations, connections found and virtual interaction that removed geographical boundaries.

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Creative practice reflection

Creative practice reflection

Independent dance artist and arts psychotherapist Cai Tomos addresses the physical, emotional and psychological demands brought by a pandemic and reflects upon finding spaces of connection and gaining perspective by being together with support from the Wales Wide Training Programme.

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Coming of age?

Coming of age?

A personal perspective from dance practitioner Heidi Wilson on the development of dance with people living with Parkinson’s in Wales through the Wales Wide Training Programme.

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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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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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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.

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