One third of UK schools are not teaching compulsory dance education – Royal Academy of Dance helps out
One third of UK schools are not teaching dance even though dance is part of the United Kingdom’s specified national curriculum. The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is doing its part to try and compensate for the lack of state education in dance, which is the second most popular physical activity after football among young people.
The Arts Council’s Dance Education, a guide for Governors and Trustees paper states:
In UK schools, dance is a compulsory activity within the National Curriculum for Physical Education. It is also regularly offered as an after-school activity, and contributes to the life and culture of the whole school. Dance as a subject is unique, in that it blends artistic practice with physical activity. Dance has an affirmative impact on young people’s education and learning and offers opportunities for all young people to perform in school and in local, regional and national events. When compared to sport and academic activities, dance exhibits more positive changes in well-being. High-quality dance also promotes whole school improvement through influencing the culture of the school, raising aspiration and enhancing the profile of the school in its community.
Dance remains one of the most popular art forms amongst young people. Surveys show that dance is the second most popular physical activity following football, and is a very attractive cultural form through which young people of all learning abilities can express their own identities and cultures. Dance enables young people to gain artistic skills and discipline, as well as developing their ability in physical interaction, team working, problem solving, observing, evaluating, and verbal and non-verbal communication. Through dance young people collaborate with other art forms, and make connections with design in space, musicality and creativity. Dance can improve self-esteem and confidence; it can widen aspiration and help tackle obesity and other health issues.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, says:
Studying cultural education subjects, such as art and design, dance, drama and music, sparks creativity across the curriculum, encouraging young people to be inquisitive, disciplined and determined. Wherever children start in life, a high quality cultural education in every school should be a right, not a privilege.
Alongside literacy and numeracy, another skill needed in our workforce today is creativity. Cultural education subjects help young people to unlock their innate creativity, enabling them to become more rounded and confident human beings.
So next month, on 1 February 2025, RAD will host Battle: Break-It-Down, a hip-hop event produced by RAD’s Step into Dance programme, the UK’s largest inclusive dance programme for secondary school students, in partnership with Jack Petchey Foundation.
Designed for young people aged 11-18 (up to 25 for SEND students) who attend a school in London or Essex, the event will see a takeover of the RAD’s London headquarters in which participants will learn about hip-hop culture and how this informed battling.
Battle: Break-It-Down will feature workshops including Krumping, Voguing, Locking and more, freestyling opportunities, plus talks by industry professionals including Kenrick ‘H20′ Sandy MBE, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director/Choreographer of Boy Blue, Emma Houston (Shortbread the Breaker) and Caine Harrison.
Established in 2006, Step into Dance reaches around 4,000 students annually.
Alexander Campbell, Artistic Director of Royal Academy of Dance says:
The Step into Dance programme has been running for nearly 20 years and is an integral part of the work we do at the RAD. Although we are known to many as an organisation specialising in ballet, and are hugely proud of this enduring legacy, our work sits across other dance forms including hip-hop, which is hugely popular on the Step into Dance programme.
As we continue to evolve as an organisation, it’s events such as Battle: Break-It-Down that showcase our mission to widen access to dance and support young people. It’s why we are delighted to be opening our doors next month so that young people can come together and share in the power and influence of hip-hop dance culture.
If you’re a young person based in London or Essex and would like to participate, registrations for Battle: Break-It-Down close at 12pm on 31st January. To find out more visit: https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/event/break-into-battle/
To find out more about the Step into Dance programme visit: https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/dance-classes/step-into-dance/
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
