Building on the highly successful and groundbreaking work that has taken place at the Bradford Academy over a 5 year period, Dance United Yorkshire is now established as a Community Interest Company (CIC).

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 is artistically directed by Helen Linsell and managed by Duncan Bedson.

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

Photography: Brian Slater

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).

Dance United Yorkshire has created a bold programme of activity in which artistic quality and social concern are seamlessly fused through bespoke projects for the Yorkshire region. We 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.

Click to read the Introduction to Dance United 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.

Read Dance United Yorkshire related news stories.

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