Dance4u Inclusive Arts CIC aims to provide accessible and engaging dance classes to individuals from diverse backgrounds and abilities within the UK. The project utilises online platforms such as video conferencing, pre-recorded videos, and online communities to deliver dance lessons that promote inclusion, diversity, and cultural awareness. The project will also employ a range of strategies to foster inclusivity and cultural sensitivity, such as incorporating diverse music and dance styles, providing captioning and sign language interpretation, and designing classes that are adaptable for young people with disabilities or limited mobility. Overall, this inclusive online dance lesson project is an innovative and impactful way to promote the arts, culture, and heritage while creating a welcoming and inclusive community of dancers from different backgrounds and abilities.

What we'll deliver:

• Encourage social inclusion and interaction
• Promoting health and well-being though movement
• Offering a safe and inclusive space for vulnerable individuals
• Increased accessibility
• Increased outreach
• Affordability
• Mental & Physical Heath support
• Providing a safe and non-judgemental space for self-expression

Why it's a great idea:

Online dance provides numerous benefits, including social inclusion and interaction for individuals who may face barriers to attending in-person classes. It promotes health and well-being through movement, offering a safe and inclusive space for vulnerable individuals to engage with others and improve their mental and physical health. Some young people are unable to access extra circular programmes due to financial constraints, time management or travel expenses. Providing an online platform tackles these issues. Additionally, online dance classes increase accessibility for those who may live in remote or underserved areas, or have limited mobility. The increased outreach and affordability of online dance allows more people to participate in classes and benefit from the mental and physical health support that dance can provide. With better access to dance classes online, individuals can work on their fitness, coordination, and self-expression from the comfort of their own homes.

Steps to get it done:

• Increase in number of participants
• Increase in participants from different demographics
• Positive feedback from participants
• Collaborations with different organisations
• Increase in reach through social media following
• Positive Media coverage for inclusive community groups and activities
• Increased funding and donations
• Increased awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity
• Bridging the gap for social inclusion

Our program will be designed to meet the specific needs of individuals with disabilities and other additional needs. We will provide support and adaptations to ensure that all participants can fully engage in the classes and achieve their dance goals. We believe that by creating an inclusive dance community, we can help to break down barriers and promote greater understanding and acceptance. We trialed online dance lessons during the pandemic and we collected data from the impact it had on our participants, whom reported feeling excited, more confident and increased physical health. To fund this program, we are seeking support from donors who share our vision of making dance accessible to everyone. We believe that with your support, we can create a program that will have a positive impact on the lives of individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. Thank you for considering our pitch, and we look forward to partnering with you to bring inclusive dance to the world.