Dancefest exists to enable anyone to experience the joy of dance
Dancefest exists to enable anyone to experience the joy of dance. In our eyes everyone is a dancer, regardless of age, ability or experience.
Our work is about joining in – we run over 30 weekly classes across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. We have six community performance companies for all ages, including an inclusive company, and we lead projects in schools, colleges and universities and in community settings, such as residential homes.
Dancefest encourages curiosity - about contemporary dance, who dances, where dance happens - and many of our performances take place in unusual spaces and places.
We pride ourselves on delivering work of high quality that makes a genuine difference to people’s lives, all led by an experienced professional team.
We're a charity that relies on public donations and fundraising to continue our work. Dancefest is funded with public investment from Arts Council England, Worcestershire County Council and Worcester City Council, with additional support from Worcester Municipal Charities, The Elmley Foundation, Saintbury Trust and Comic Relief.
Rose Beeston - Director
Melissa Porter - Business Development Manager
Michele Holder - Access and Inclusion
Elizabeth Crosswell - Adults
Janene Wyatt - Children
Clare Wood - Young People
Karey Parsons - Marketing Officer
Paul Bellamy - Administrator
We have a team of an experienced, professional dance teachers.
Dancefest has a skilled and dedicated board of trustees.
We're grateful to all the people and organisations we collaborate with throughout the year, especially our creative and supportive volunteers.
Our vision is that dance makes a difference to people’s lives.
Our mission is to be an outstanding community dance organisation.
Read our vision, mission and values
Dancefest want people to find joy in dance through being confident and creative participants.
Our highly skilled community dance leaders use contemporary techniques, creative and choreographic skills to work with people of all ages and abilities in a range of settings.
Read our full artistic statement
We're pleased to confirm that we remain part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio for 2018-2022.
Dancefest’s Director, Rose Beeston, says: “We‘re a small organisation and yet we reach a large number and range of people each year. The support of the Arts Council is vital in enabling us to continue to develop and build on this work, to make a real difference to the quality of life in our communities, and to raise income from a wide variety of other sources.”
Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England said: "Dancefest is experienced at creating opportunities for people of all ages to experience the joy of dance. Its work gives people the chance to dance just for fun, or with the support they need to take their talents to the next level. Over the coming years we look forward to seeing our funding support Dancefest to inspire more people across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”
The funding climate is difficult for the arts sector and we still face a challenging future but this is great news and gives us a strong foundation on which to build our future plans.
We send congratulations to all NPO organisations, both old and new, and our thoughts are also with colleagues who have been unsuccessful.
Helen Stallard, the Chair of Dancefest’s board and a Communications Consultant, has been talking to people who come (or used to come) to our classes, to celebrate their achievements and also help other people see how they can get involved with Dancefest. You can see their stories here.
‘Thank you for all of your work and the inspiration you give both teachers and children’ – Teacher, Leominster Primary School
‘It was good to be a part of a project like this and made all of the rehearsals worthwhile – very rewarding’ – Big Jigsaw participant
‘I think that everything Dancefest offers is excellent! The chance to be part of a huge community of dancers of all ages and all abilities who are dancing because they/we love it!’ – Choreography class participant
‘We all look forward to our wonderful classes and to the enjoyment of being in each other's company’ – Chance to Dance participant
‘Good variety, lots of opportunities to go to performances and events’ - Audience response
‘Making friends through the process of having fun and performing, doing something I enjoy’ - Class participant
‘Fantastic'- great fun and I feel part of a big family called Dancefest!’- Worcester DFY participant
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