London Youth’s Getting Ready Dance programme works with 10 youth organisations from 10 different boroughs alongside professional dance providers, The programme offers engagement with high quality dance opportunities for young people across the capital. London Youth aim to support youth workers to develop skills and confidence to work alongside professional dance providers, with the ambition of creating longer term relationships. The initial two year funding of £67,685 was matched by Sport England.
In April 2016, 63 young people aged 9-15 attended the Getting Ready Dance residential at Woodrow High House. Over the course of the weekend, the young people undertook dance workshops in popping, house, locking, street, hip hop and lyrical, which culminated in a mass flash dance performance on the Sunday.
Delivered in partnership with Pineapple Community, the weekend brought young people together to build positive relationships, share ideas and learning, be active through dance workshops, participate in team building exercises and swimming sessions, and crucially, have fun.
The project now continues to offer a broad range of opportunities including weekly sessions, masterclasses, residentials, training and performance.
We are delighted to be part of the cultural education challenge which will enable London Youth to deliver bespoke dance programmes through 10 youth clubs across London, enabling over 200 young people to take part in activities they would otherwise miss out on. We have some impressive partners on board already such as Pineapple Community and Dance West – and have delivered some fantastic opportunities. We are aiming to leave a strong legacy of local partnerships within communities across London, so that young people from all backgrounds can get involved in dance, and learn about culture, now and into the future.
Zoe Mellis, Head of Sports Development
Alternatively, head to http://londonyouth.org/ or contact John Jones john.jones@londonyouth.org
(Photo credit: London Youth)
