The education team offers a programme of weekly dance classes for young people aged 11-16yrs in Street, Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary — at beginner and general levels. They are designed to encourage newcomers, and to provide secondary students and our regular youth group members with additional technique classes. Each year, we organise a performance project for those who want to take part.
For class details, see class timetable

We run four youth dance groups, designed to provide access to dance for specific age and interest groups. All four meet weekly during term times and are scheduled through the class timetable
JUST FOR KICKS
Open to anyone with or without dance experience — all that's needed is enthusiasm and dedication. Covers a wide variety of dance styles.
MUGHDA
Dedicated to the technical form and cultural roots of the classical South Asian dance style, Bharat Natyam.
D-MEN
A boys-only group that creates and performs its own pieces, exploring a range of dance styles.
SWINDON YOUTH DANCE COMPANY
Swindon Dance's flagship youth company. Performs locally, regionally and nationally. Gives young dancers a year-long opportunity to strengthen technique, improve technical and creative skills and work with guest choreographers.

The education team organises performance projects for young people, led by local and national guest artists. These takes place in half-term, Easter and summer holidays and are often held on location with partner organisations. A recent example: the Flux Transitions project led by Michael Kitchen at the new Isambard School, Swindon .....
Current projects get listed on the performances + events page, which is automatically updated.

A Showcase is a scheduled performance event that features the best of our home-grown talent plus invited guest groups from the South West region. Showcases give aspiring young dancers the chance to perform in a professional dance theatre and usually take place in the summer term. When one is programmed, you can find details on the performances + events page.

Curtain-raisers are short performance projects linked to Swindon Dance's main performance programme. Typically, they are 5-minute pieces, choreographed by a visiting professional, performed by local young people and presented as part of the main performances + events programme. We organise one Curtain-raiser each term.

An annual event that always sells out is the Youth Summer School held at Swindon Dance in the summer holidays. Aimed at young people aged 11–16, each year a different theme, culture or style of dance is the focus. For example, the Roots Dance Summer School (2006) featured specialist teachers of Irish Step, Capoiera, Street Dance, Lindy Hop and South African gumboot dance. Watch the performances + events page for details.

Swindon Dance is a regional centre for the national Arts Award scheme. We have two Arts Award advisors, who act as catalysts, mentors and internal assessors. The award is granted to young people aged 11-25 years for their development as artists and arts leaders. It consists of a personal learning programme, and is a QCA qualification that sits at levels 1, 2 and 3 on the National Qualifications Framework.

A 4-day course for dance students, recent graduates and freelance artists wanting to develop their teaching skills, confidence and knowledge of leading dance with young people in a range of settings and styles.
The course covers...
– community dance (philosophy into practice)
– safe and effective teaching (practical tips and advice)
– working creatively with young people
– emergency first aid
The course runs in September each year.
We are looking into an accreditation award.