U.Dance First  

U.Dance is a national framework which celebrates youth dance in a non-competitive, inclusive environment. We want to ensure that, at every level, children and young people can achieve, be inspired, and aim higher in dance.  

U.Dance First is a strand of the U.Dance framework and aims to amplify and celebrate those early, or first dance performance activities, for children aged 5-11 years.   

What is U.Dance First?   

U.Dance First is a programme to support and encourage children's dance performance activity across the UK involving groups from primary schools, and community settings.  We would love to see all children being able to access high-quality, inclusive dance performance opportunities, regardless of their location or background.   

Who is U.Dance First for?  

Primarily, the U.Dance First programme is aimed at providing non-competitive performance opportunities, in front of a live audience, for children aged 5-11 years old.  It serves to inspire children's creativity by introducing them to dance and performance in a safe, inclusive, and joyful way.  Dance activity provides the unique opportunity for children to explore and work together and share their work with peers, whilst developing a wide range of skills to support their growth and learning.  

The U.Dance First programme aims to champion dance for primary aged children whether in a school, or an out-of-school setting.  However, performances or events that include older and younger children and young people, are welcomed, and are still able to register as a U.Dance First performance or event. 

What a performance or event can look like:  

Our aim is to get children dancing and performing.  A class performing a dance that they have carefully crafted in lessons, to another class, is equally as special as a bigger event involving youth groups and school groups performing to an invited audience of family and friends.  

We encourage you to work with the capacity and resources available in your setting, no matter how big or small, as we believe that all children’s dance performance activity can and should be celebrated.  So, start with something small if that suits you better, or invite people to collaborate and develop something bigger.  Whatever the size, One Dance UK can help you celebrate and shout about your children and young people's dance achievements.  

Where should my U.Dance First performance or event take place?  

It can take place in a school hall, in a classroom, or in an out-of-school setting like a theatre, hall, or community space.  Whatever space you use, we do suggest that it is big enough for the capacity of performers and audience, and that it is a safe and appropriate space for dance activity.   

Who can register a U.Dance First performance or event?    

We encourage anyone working with children and young people in a school or out-of-school setting, who is facilitating or teaching dance, to register their performance opportunity.   

Here is a list of possibilities/examples as a guide, rather than an exhaustive list:

• a primary school teacher (if sharing their pupils’ dance work with others in a performance scenario; maybe to parents/carers or another class) 

• a lead PE specialist, a Key Stage Lead, or a headteacher within a school setting who is organising a performance, which may even involve visiting groups and freelance artists contributors 

• an organisation running a platform or dance festival that includes several different performing groups 

• a theatre running a children and young people's dance performance, event, or festival 

The performance or event should be registered with U.Dance First by the person leading, running or overseeing it, who will also be responsible for collating and sharing anonymised information and data about participants and audience members. 

Why register your performance or event as part of the U.Dance First programme?

One Dance UK are here to support you with your performance or event and will help you to shout about your pupils’ or participants’ successes.     

We will:   

• provide exciting and informative resources to support the delivery of dance  

• offer guidance about putting on a performance   

• help you to shout about your performance by including it in a U.Dance First regular e-bulletin and on our social platforms    

• signpost to useful resources  

• provide every participant with a One Dance UK U.Dance First certificate!   

Registering your performance or event is quick and easy but do get in touch if you have any questions at info@onedanceuk.org, and a member of the team will get back to you.