This week we’re excited to be working towards our latest fundraising target - to raise £16,000 in one week, for our SHIFT programme, via the Big Give Arts for Impact. Every donation will be doubled by generous match funders, until we reach our target, so every gift received will have double the impact. In designing the campaign, we've been inspired by looking back at dancers who've taken part in SHIFT, and the varied and courageous paths they've taken to build sustainable freelance careers and continue performing! Two of the dancers' stories are included below, and we'll be sharing more on Instagram throughout the week.

This newsletter contains numerous opportunities for dancers including: a one-day programme of talks and discussion focussed on how we care for ourselves and others in our industry, International and DCD Retraining Grant deadlines, a free workshop on navigating uncertainty and bursaries for dancers on the Global Leaders Institute's Arts Innovation MBA. Please take a look and share the opportunities with dancers in your network who may be interested.

This month we've also enjoyed listening to the latest episode of The Business of Showbusiness, a podcast produced by DCD-supported dancer Jamie Body, featuring DCD Relationship Manager Crystal Nicholls. Through interviews with a range of industry professionals, Jamie examines the skills and stories of performers and others working in the creative industries. In this episode Jamie and Crystal talk transferable skills, the value of the DCD community and life after performing.

Spring is always a great season for dance, and in the last week alone I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Scottish Ballet’s riveting new production Mary, Queen of Scots, choreographed by the talented, former company and DCD-supported dancer Sophie Laplane; as well as students about to graduate from Elmhurst Ballet School, whose dexterity was evident in classical, commercial and contemporary works. 

With warm regards

Vanessa Lefrancois, Executive Director

In partnership with One Dance UK, we will be delivering a one-day event as part of People Dancing’s Summer Programme 2026.

Wednesday 22 July, 10am-5.30pm, Leicester

In the rush of everyday life, wellbeing is often the first thing we put on hold.

This one-day programme offers a compassionate, body-aware journey into wellbeing, self-care and the care of others. You will be expertly guided to explore how we relate to our minds, bodies and identities when health, injury, pain or neurodivergence shape our experience.

Dance artist and creative producer Francesca Miles took part in SHIFT to improve her DJ skills and expand her music industry network.

“Earning from dance alone can be really challenging. Learning to DJ has opened up exciting new work opportunities and networks, and given me a unique selling point as a female dancer-DJ-producer, making me more employable overall. It has also definitely made me a better dancer, since the two disciplines feed one-another. I can absolutely recommend the [SHIFT] programme.”

Isaac Ouro-Gnao is a Togolese-British multidisciplinary artist, somatic trauma therapist, mental health scholar-activist and freelance journalist.

“The SHIFT programme was a great support at a key time in my career. I was able to upskill in marketing at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School thanks to the grant. I’m now able to apply these skills in a new job I managed to pick up as a result… The programme was also key in building plans for [my] immediate and long-term future. I can’t recommend SHIFT enough!”

In 2025, DCD were invited by the family of Prue Skene CBE to establish a fund in her name. Prue was a senior arts leader and a passionate champion for dance, whose leadership and belief in artists significantly impacted the UK’s dance sector.

Thanks to the exceptional generosity of Prue's friends, colleagues and family, we are delighted to announce that the Fund now stands at just over £11,500. This will enable DCD to make three consecutive annual awards, starting in 2026. Each annual award will enable a dancer to develop their career within the creative industries.

DCD’s Retraining Grants can help support dancers with the practical costs of developing and progressing their career, whether within or beyond the arts. Grants can be used towards a range of costs related to retraining, from course and training fees, to equipment, maintenance, travel and childcare costs.

Upcoming application deadlines:
Monday 1 June
Monday 7 September

Anyone considering submitting an application must book an Individual Career Consultation with a DCD Relationship Manager at least two weeks prior to the application deadline.

Please send us any feedback you have on our newsletter, so that we can make sure future editions are relevant, informative and interesting. Also, do keep in touch with us on social media, your support in sharing our posts with your network is hugely appreciated.

DCD is ambitious for dancers' futures.