About

Dance UK [ www.danceuk.org ] is the national voice for dance. It was founded in 1982 by a group of dance professionals who identified the need for a central organisation, which could tackle the big issues facing the dance sector as a whole.

By working with and on behalf of the sector, Dance UK aims to promote sustainable, longer dance careers and to improve the conditions in which dance is created, performed and experienced. As the national voice for dance, Dance UK advocates and lobbies government and the cultural industries to promote the importance of dance and needs of dancers. We work to create a diverse, dynamic and healthy future for dance.

Dance UK has over 1000 individual members including dancers, teachers, students, choreographers, managers, dance medics and scientists, and over 230 corporate members including the leading dance companies, theatres and vocational colleges, ranging from Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Ballet Company to the National Dance Company of Wales and Akademi, South Asian Dance UK. Dance UK is also currently in a strategic alliance with the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD).

On behalf of Dance UK members and the wider dance sector the organisation facilitates networks for the profession; nurtures and encourages career development; provides information and guidance for the public and professionals; and works to relieve poverty amongst dancers and their dependents.

Dance UK's Healthier Dancer Programme is a worldwide leader in the promotion of dancers' health and well-being, and the application of dance medicine and science to support and encourage professional practice.

Dance UK is the lead advocacy and lobbying body representing the dance industry to government and to funding bodies in all its diverse and dynamic forms. In 2006 Dance UK created and published the Dance Manifesto, (in partnership with the National Campaign for the Arts), and in 2010 it devised and led the DanceVote 2010 advocacy campaign (www.dancevote2010.com) which resulted in 85 MPs publically pledging to support dance.

Dance UK is regularly funded by Arts Council England, membership fees, income from publications and events, sponsorship and support from Equity and various trusts and foundations. Dance UK is run by a small team of staff based in London, close to Sadler’s Wells Theatre. The team reports to a voluntary Board of Trustees made up of leading dance professionals with diverse backgrounds.You can read our accounts here: