YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) is the national dance organisation for children and young people in Scotland. The company works across three key areas – Access and Participation, Education and Talent Development, to give every child and young person in Scotland the chance to participate in dance at whatever level is right for them.
In the 21st century children and young people need to develop a range of transferable skills to help them navigate their lives so they can be successful and responsible citizens. At YDance we believe the arts and dance offer children a unique opportunity to develop a range of skills that will empower them to reach their full potential.
Through working with a range of partner organisations from sport, education, health, social services and youth justice we create projects that allow children from a range of different settings and communities to access high quality bespoke dance sessions, enabling them to learn about themselves, learn about dance and learn through dance.
Access and Participation work provides high quality dance programmes which are accessible for children and young people across Scotland, and leads on the development of skills within the workforce of dance artists working in participatory settings with children and young people. YDance runs targeted projects to enable participation by a wide range of children and young people, aiming to increase access to dance for children and young people from diverse backgrounds.
Education programmes promote the delivery of dance within the formal education sector and influence the future development of dance within the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland. YDance directly delivers dance in schools and provides training and resources to enable and inspire children, young people and teachers to increase their skill base and provide more dance in schools.
Talent Development work provides opportunities for young dancers in Scotland to develop their skills to a high level, and to showcase their talent at home and on the international stage. YDance works with the dance sector in Scotland to develop pathways for young people to progress through participation and dance in education to professional training and work.
At YDance our artistic teaching team are highly trained, passionate and experienced who lead inclusive high quality sessions that allow children to develop their skills and knowledge in dance alongside a range of skills including:
- Creativity
- Motivation
- Reflective skills
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Self Respect
- Self efficacy
- A sense of place
- Empathy
- Responsibility
- Collaboration
- Curiosity
- Confidence
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