Building on the highly successful and groundbreaking work which has taken place at the Bradford Academy over the past 5 years, Dance United Yorkshire is now established as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and a founding member of the Dance United federation.

The award-winning Bradford Academy pioneered the original twelve-week project which offers a radically intensive, contemporary dance-led programme for young offenders and young people at risk of offending.

Dance United Yorkshire will be artistically directed by Helen Linsell and managed by Duncan Bedson.

Click to read the Introduction to Dance United Yorkshire.

Our Vision: To see more young people in Yorkshire transform their lives through dance; prepare young people for adulthood, enable them to be socially aware of their responsibilities and realise their potential for a positive future.

Our Mission: To offer a programme of innovative contemporary dance and performance projects across Yorkshire for vulnerable and marginalized young people including young offenders in custodial and community contexts, young people at risk of offending and young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

2011 – 2012

Our first year of operation will be a year of transition from national to regional leadership.

Dance United Yorkshire will create a bold programme of activity in which artistic quality and social concern are seamlessly fused through bespoke projects for the Yorkshire region. We will provide short and long-term projects in a variety of contexts that motivate learning and ambition by working in partnership to deliver specialist services for the criminal justice sector, social services, education and the arts. The company is wholeheartedly committed to the training and development of dance artists in the region, who will deliver this challenging work, and to collaborate with leading choreographers to create new work that nurtures the talent of all our young people.

Following a 4 week intensive project working with new partners Kirklees Council, Kirklees Youth Offending Team, Kirklees College, Batley Boys, Brian Jackson College and the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Dance United Yorkshire held an official launch event in October 2011. The evening was a huge success and included a performance by a group of young people from the Dewsbury area.

There’s reasons it’s really good, it’s not just luck, it’s because of the choices the company makes.
Cluny Macpherson, Regional Director, Arts Council Yorkshire

Beyond Yorkshire

Dance United Yorkshire also intends to contribute significantly to the progression and sustainability of other Academies across the UK, including Wessex, as well as increasing international relations.

Our first international project took place at the International Community Arts Festival in Rotterdam through a residency with the Luna foundation.

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