Discussions of how to create a framework for youth dance activity in London started in 1998. There was a clear need to collate the range of activities happening across the city. Getting this off the ground was going to be difficult, however, because what key providers of youth dance activity really wanted was more funding to deliver those projects they were having to scrabble to implement on a project-by-project basis every year. At the time, funds were extremely tight at what was then London Arts Board. There simply wasn't a clear-cut case on which to build an argument for further investment.
Yet the task of developing a more coherent and sustained approach to supporting youth dance in London remained, along with a whole range of challenges. Could there not be sustained investment in existing provision? Was it possible to widen access to dance for the region's young people, and increase the diversity of those engaging in it? How could the profile of dance for and by young people be raised higher? Surely stronger networks of artists and others concerned with dance and youth could be cultivated. How do we build stronger partnerships with other sectors to generate greater investment? How do we advocate locally, regionally and nationally for the importance and benefits of dance for young people? How do we celebrate models of good practice?
These are questions familiar to anyone working in youth dance across the UK. To define youth dance itself was perhaps an obvious starting point for this challenge. However, the term covers such a wide range of dance forms and practices that it was impossible to draw out a singular definition everyone would subscribe to. Better to abandon this conundrum, if it was going to remain a stumbling block for further progress. Instead, the term Dance & Young People was adopted. This seemed to make sense, as it was taking the lead from national research being carried out at the time by the Foundation for Community Dance (FCD). (1)
It was clear from discussions that people could benefit from a simple IT network. Pressure to try and deliver this was building. In summer, 2000 we set about developing this network with minimum seed-funding. This may seem hard to believe, coming from a funding officer. But, in truth, it had been increasingly difficult for the London Arts Board to get this initiative in gear on its own, without other partners.
Gradually the partnership with the FCD grew. To ensure that the regional and national agendas around dance and young people linked up, it seemed appropriate to commission the FCD to draft a regional strategy for London by first undertaking an audit. Not surprisingly, the brief got bigger as the list of questions lengthened. The focus finally rested on raising the profile, developing the knowledge and information base, strengthening networks and building professional resources.
Raising the profile was the ultimate priority, or so consultations with advisors and key people working in the youth dance sector showed. If this goal could be achieved, then the other areas would stand a greater chance. But how to do this effectively, and with reasonable speed? One of the clearest findings to emerge from the FCD research was that ever to kick-start the process we desperately needed a central co-ordinator. The person who took up the role of London Youth Dance Co-ordinator (LYDC) (2) would need to build up an overview of the London youth dance scene; develop a comprehensive directory of youth dance groups; co-ordinate activities across all boroughs; advocate at all levels on behalf of youth dance in London. This co-ordinator would also work in partnership with the London Youth Arts Network (LYAN) (3), londondance.com (4) and the Arts Council London (5).
The initiative was starting to become a reality.
The brief included the following:
- to raise the profile of and advocate youth dance in London and within the youth arts sector
- to develop strategic partnerships with youth dance providers across London
- to coordinate the centralising of youth dance information and networks for information sharing
- to liase with LYAN colleagues to ensure that dance is fully integrated its work.
Finally, Sally Lewis was appointed in April 2003 as the first London Youth Dance Co-ordinator. She came to this post as a former teacher of Dance and English, a stint as the Community and Education Manager at Sadler's Wells and, latterly, Head of Programmes at the Japan Foundation. 'I hope that I can put my experience of campaigning and developing networks,' she said at the time, 'and of working on large-scale, cross-arts festivals to good use in the context of London youth dance.'
Progress following the setting up of the organisation and partnership with London Youth Arts Network and londondance.com has been steady. The establishment of an LYDN e-Group has been an important development. Its aim is to:
- exchange information, news and notices about youth dance in London
- publicise forthcoming youth dance performances
- share ideas and discuss youth dance projects
- debate current issues affecting youth dance
- seek advise on youth dance matters
- contribute to the London Youth Dance Calendar
- share useful documents via the LDYN website.
With so many priorities to meet and agendas to satisfy, it remains a challenge for the LYDN to identify and keep on top of key areas. 'It feels like a good time to be embarking on this venture,' Sally says, 'what with the current heightened interest in the area of youth dance in general. In London we're blessed with three key elements just waiting to be capitalised upon. One is the richly diverse and vibrant young dance talent emerging from all 33 boroughs. Another is the growing pool of experienced practitioners skilled at responding to and developing that talent. Last but by no means least, there is an abundance of world-class, resident professional dance companies and venues that can act as an inspiration and resource right on the doorstep.'
Immediate priorities include:
- profile raising
- training days (the first will be on Wednesday, 15 October at Greenwich Dance Agency)
- developing the e-group
- developing the youth zone of the londondance.com site
- establishing a London Youth Dance steering group.
Further medium-term initiatives will focus on:
- increasing the number of youth dance performances
- sharing models of best practice
- youth Dance Partners Scheme
- getting interactive with the londondance.com site
- youth Dance on Film
- virtual Link ups!
Many more plans are being developed and any details of new initiatives will be available on the website.
Both the National Foundation for Youth Music and the National Association of Youth Theatres have raised the profile of youth music and theatre over the years by reacting to and influencing political and cultural policy making at the highest levels. Isn't it past the time for dance to have achieved a similar standing and impact?
In order to redress the balance the first National Youth Dance Agency (NYDA) is set to be launched in autumn, 2003. It will arrive with £300,000 worth of investment from the Department for Education and Skills, in partnership with Arts Council England from 2003/4 to 2005/6. The provision of the NYDA is intended to act as a focal point for youth dance, to give it a voice at a national level and to advocate on behalf of the youth dance sector. So the situation for youth dance is only getting better.
What is anticipated that investment in a National Youth Dance Agency will bring? Aiming to support, develop and promote youth dance in England, the NYDA will:
- be a national focal point for information and advice
- provoke debate
- instigate national initiatives to improve youth dance provision and practice
- increase the resources for the sector
- raise the profile of youth dance
- be an advocate for the sector.
With a strong independent profile and the ability to react quickly to political and cultural agendas surrounding youth dance and the youth arts sector generally, this agency will provide bridges between formal education and vocational training, forge links with all other relevant organisations and take a lead role in, for example, setting up conferences and training, gathering and disseminating information and developing the quality of youth dance. This is a unique opportunity to take a strategic approach to the long-term development of youth dance in England. It is hoped that further opportunities will arise over the initial three-year period to establish a firm foundation for youth dance.
Whilst all of this is great for dance, we must not lose sight of the wider debate around youth arts. It is timely as Youth Music (6), an organisation that combines the roles of funder, development agency and lobbyist, is undertaking a consultation to establish a shared strategy to benefit young people and the youth arts sector. The proposals outlined for consultation include:
1. Creating a Network of Development Organisations in order to strengthen the environment and provide wider benefit across youth arts
2. Co-ordinated approach to making the case
3. Develop a common framework for quality assurance
For the outcome of this consultation, you are welcome to contact Youth Music directly.
To conclude, it has been a slow process to get to where we are now. I am convinced that with Sally Lewis carving out a strategy for youth dance over the next five years, we are now on the right pathway and no doubt in 2008 we will reflect on London's youth dance scene from a very different place.
References:
1 Foundation for Community Dance : www.communitydance.org.uk
2 London Youth Dance Network - For all the latest info on youth dance in London visit: www.londonyouthdance.com If you are involved with youth dance in London and would like hear about future LYDN training days, please contact the London Youth Dance Coordinator at sally.lewis@londonyouthdance.com or call 07739 607218
3 London Youth Arts Network - c/o Half Moon Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, London E1 OND
4 www.londondance.com or email editor@londondance.com or telephone 020 7863 8118
5 Arts Council England, London www.artscouncil.org.uk or telephone 020 7608 6100
6 Youth Music, 1 America London SE1 ONE Telephone 0207 902 1060 or email youtharts@youthmusic.org.uk