30 January 2025
We all believe in securing a bright future for dance. In 2024, we published Dance for All – Extending Our Ambition for Dance in the UK, outlining our commitment to collaborating across the sector to promote the value of dance and speak with one voice.
Our members are already changing lives, promoting health and wellbeing, and enriching our vibrant culture. As our President, Shirley Ballas, states in her foreword to the Dance for All report: “Dance does so much for us all – it builds confidence, inspires creativity and friendships, and makes us feel good about ourselves.”
Lets Dance! is a new national campaign spearheaded by ISTD Grand Council member, Angela Rippon.
Let’s Dance!
You bring the vision of Dance for All to life every day through your teaching and dedication. With Let’s Dance! you now have a new opportunity to showcase the incredible work you’re already doing. This national campaign celebrates your passion for dance and invites even more people to experience its benefits. Together, we can spread the joy of dance and demonstrate how it strengthens bodies, minds, and communities across the UK.
Let’s Dance! is founded by ISTD Grand Council member Angela Rippon and features our President, Shirley Ballas, as one of its ambassadors.
"Dance does so much for us all – it builds confidence, inspires creativity and friendships, and makes us feel good about ourselves." - Shirley Ballas
On 2 March 2025, Let’s Dance! will get the whole nation moving, and we invite you to join the movement! Here are some ways to participate:
- Open your existing dance classes to new participants.
- Host an open studio event.
- Partner with a local school to offer a taster class.
- Organise a ‘bring a friend to dance’ session.
- Create exciting taster classes and collect contact details for future follow-up.
- Promote the event through local media or on your social media platforms.
- Use the Let’s Dance! logo in your marketing materials to show your support.
- Share health benefits and statistics about dance to highlight its positive impact.
How you choose to get involved is up to you – you know best! What if 2 March doesn’t work for you? No problem – other dates are also fine!
Find out more about how to get involved and download marketing assets here:
Resources to help you
- Promote your ISTD credentials:
Showcase your qualifications and association with the ISTD to highlight your expertise and attract potential students. Visit: www.istd.org/dance/the-mark-of-quality-teaching - Update your details on Find a Dance Teacher:
Ensure your contact information, class offerings, and other details are up-to-date on the ISTD's Find a Dance Teacher directory to help people easily find you. Visit: istd.org/find-a-teacher - Use resources from the Find Your Dance Space campaign:
Leverage materials from this campaign to reach out to local schools, health professionals, and communities to introduce your dance school. These resources also help demonstrate the physical and mental health benefits of dance. Visit: www.istd.org/findyourdancespace - Take part in Let’s Dance! on 2 March 2025 (or other dates that suit):
Join the biggest dance event the UK has ever hosted. It’s an open invitation for everyone to celebrate dance in a fun and inclusive way. Visit: www.istd.org/discover/lets-dance
If you believe that you have the makings of a good media moment you can share it with the Let’s Dance! team via the form on our Let's Dance page.
Shirley Ballas on Let's Dance
Our ISTD President and ambassador for Let’s Dance! shares her perspective.
What made you want to be an ambassador for Let’s Dance?
Well, dance has been a part of my life since the age of three when I started ballet classes, so I know first-hand the benefits on both physical and mental health. When I heard about Let’s Dance! and its aim to bring people together through dance and encourage those that don’t usually dance to give it a go I just knew I had to become an ambassador.
Why is Let’s Dance! a great opportunity for ISTD members?
I feel any opportunity to dance is a great one for ISTD members, and this event in particular will get people dancing. You’ll get the chance to do what you love, meet ISTD members and I’m sure even enrol a few new students along the way too. It’s going to be a fabulous event.
What role do you see dance teachers playing in this initiative, and how can they contribute to its success?
Dance teachers are going to be at the heart of Let’s Dance! Hosting a class, spreading the word, encouraging signups will contribute to the success as the more people dancing the better. They are going to inspire thousands of participants through their events, and I can’t wait to see what everyone gets up to.
What advice would you give to those who are hesitant to try dance for the first time? How can we make it more approachable?
If you can move to music, stay in time and enjoy yourself then really that’s all that matters. Don’t be frightened of making mistakes, it’s how we learn. Everybody has to start somewhere.
What strategies do you recommend for dance teachers to engage their local communities and encourage more people to participate in dance activities?
Social media now plays a huge role in events like this. So, to all the dance schools and dancers out there I’m sure a few Instagram stories will help make a difference. You’d be surprised by how many people you can reach. It’d also be great to see some posters in as many dance schools as possible, perhaps some leaflets on reception desks would work well.
