Dance in Education Advocacy
Dance has the power to transform lives, and its place in education matters now more than ever.
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November 2025 marked a significant moment for dance education. Major wins in the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, alongside proposed reforms to Progress 8, signal a long-awaited shift. For the first time in years, schools are being given greater flexibility to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum- one that properly values creative subjects, including dance.
This is a huge step forward. It represents renewed recognition of the educational, cultural and social value of dance, and the vital role it plays in supporting young people’s wellbeing, creativity and confidence.
At DLG, we are incredibly encouraged by these developments, but our advocacy continues.
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DLG are working with One Dance UK to continue to champion the transformative power of dance in education. Our campaign features a series of four compelling films, each tailored to resonate with a unique audience: Government & Policy Makers, Head Teachers & Governors, Parents and Young People.
"Access to high-quality dance education is the birthright of every child, not a luxury"
Andrew Hurst, Chief Executive of One Dance UK
In the past decade, dance education in the UK has suffered marginalisation due to shifting educational priorities and the focus on a 'knowledge-based' curriculum. The challenges exacerbated by the global pandemic have further endangered its place in the education system.
Yet, there's a compelling case for not just preserving but enhancing dance education. Its proven benefits on physical and mental well-being make it a crucial tool, especially amidst rising concerns in physical and mental health among young people.
Moreover, the thriving creative industries in the UK underscore the importance of valuing and respecting dance education. Despite the challenges, there's an opportunity for a fresh perspective on dance education, spurred by the disruptions of COVID-19.
Access to high-quality dance education should be a fundamental right, not a privilege. This research advocates for ensuring that all children in the UK can access and benefit from the transformative power of dance.
How To Support The Campaign
Share on social media
Use the campaign hashtag #LetUsDance, tag relevant stakeholders, policy makers and changemakers and encourage followers to engage with the content to increase its reach.
Download the guidance for social media amplification below
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Add the film(s) onto your own website
Identify the most appropriate target audience that you or your organisation has, and embed them directly from the DLG You Tube channel.
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Newsletter Features
Include information about the campaign in newsletters and blogs to highlight the importance of dance in education.
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Engage with Educational Institutions
Offer to partner with local schools to support their dance programs, providing resources, expertise, or workshops that align with the campaign’s goals.
Advocacy to Headteachers & Governors: Directly engage with school leadership, sharing the campaign films and offering to present at school board meetings about the importance of dance in education.
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Lobbying Efforts
Join forces with the Dance Leaders Group to lobby local and national government officials. Share the campaign materials during meetings with policymakers to push for stronger support for dance in the curriculum.
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Engage with Parents and Young People
Parent Outreach: Distribute the parents campaign film through parent networks to inform and encourage parental support.
Youth Engagement: Use the campaign’s films for young people in workshops, dance classes, or social media channels. Empower young dancers to be advocates for dance education within their own schools.
Appealing to your local MP
Local MPs can play a pivotal role in supporting a campaign for arts in education by leveraging their influence and resources. One of the key ways to demonstrate the impact of the arts to local leaders is to invite them to see activity first hand.
Director of Birmingham Arts School, Steve Ball has provided a letter template to invite your local MP to classes, events or performances to inspire their support of our campaign to prioritise dance.
In Partnership with
Funded by
The DLG dance in education strategy group was convened as part of the ‘DLG & Critical Mass What Next 2022-24’ programme, and comprised 14 representatives with diverse backgrounds in dance education, who came together to develop an ambitious approach for advocating for dance in education.
Alison Haynes - Independent
Alison Penn - Independent
Anna Belyavin - Shropshire Inclusive Dance
Becky Bailey - FABRIC
Chris Radford & Sara Macqueen - Linden Dance Company
Emma Morgan - Independent
Katy Sterran - Flexus Dance Collective
Marcia Edwards & Fleur Hall- ME Dance
Mark Anderson- Infuse Dance
Ogechi Ochiagha - Independent Dance Artist
Paul Golz - University of Worcester
Rebecca Brookes - Birmingham Royal Ballet
Sam Lane - OneDanceUK
Steve Ball - Birmingham Arts School
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Filmmaker - Ryan Charles
Project Manager - Katie Holtom