Safe, healthy, and effective environments for dance

 

The NIDMS Best Practice Charter is a benchmark for dance organisations to:

• establish, support, and enhance health, wellbeing, and performance for all those in dance.

• gain recognition and continue to develop existing good practice in healthcare, dance science support, and health education for dance professionals and students 

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Dance is a popular activity in the UK. 4.8 million people participate in community dance each year in England. In 2021-22, 48% of children aged 5-7 and 25% of those aged 11-16 participated at least once in dance in the last week. There were over 10,700 dancers and choreographers working in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 2023 , and in 2021 roughly 6,300 who are in full time vocational training in the performing arts.

 

However, according to our research among training and professional dancers, 80% report sustaining an injury each year and 92% report experiencing a mental health concern (Laws, 2005).  

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Through shared expertise and a network of multidisciplinary partners, NIDMS works to provide the dance sector with access to high quality, affordable, dance specific health care and dance science support services in private practice and the NHS. These services are underpinned by dance medicine and science research, including that developed and implemented by NIDMS partners.  Best practice, information and resources are disseminated to the wider dance and health community through educational workshops, conferences, and publications.

 

Currently dance is unregulated. This means that no minimum standards exist for safe practice, leader qualifications or professional development, or policing of quality and safety in training or professional settings.  

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