Thank you so much to all those who supported our Big Give Arts for Impact fundraising campaign this Spring. Together we raised £20,325 to support dancers via SHIFT Hip Hop, which is now open to applications. Whether you donated or helped spread the word, your support is immensely appreciated.

We’re currently recruiting for a Relationship Manager and for Trustees with dance experience. If you share our ambition for dancers, or know someone who'd be a great fit for our dedicated and dynamic team, please take a look at these opportunities and/or share.

Over the summer we'll be visiting all our Partner Companies, with a packed schedule of workshops, information sharing and individual career consultations. We're looking forward to connecting with hundreds of dancers on these visits, as we encourage them to consider their long-term career aspirations so they can plan for their futures with confidence.

Our team thoroughly enjoyed Northern Ballet’s Gentleman Jack on its recent run at Sadler’s Wells. Many congratulations to the company on this powerful and widely praised work.

Congratulations too, to all those awarded, and nominated for, the National Dance Awards that took place this week. And a special mention for Jennie Harrington, Artistic Scheduling Manager and former dancer at English National Ballet and REACH Ambassador for DCD, recognised in the King's Birthday Honours with an MBE for charitable service.

Read on for opportunities for dancers including upcoming workshops, programmes and grant deadlines. We hope there’s something here to inspire and strengthen your next steps…

With warm regards

Vanessa Lefrancois, Executive Director

What do established dancers wish they'd known earlier in their careers?

In this brand-new series of short films, dancers with years of experience share their honest reflections: the advice, insights and perspective they'd pass on to their younger selves.

Short films, big insights!

In this first episode, global street dance artist and leader Luke Lentes encourages us not to fear specialising, even if those around us recommend having a broader skill set.

For more of our digital content, including insightful interviews with dancers about their career journeys and our filmed events archive, go to our YouTube channel.

Laura joins us from visual arts and climate change organisation, Invisible Dust, where she also held the post of General Manager. Before this, she worked across producing, general management and creative engagement at a wide range of organisations including Complicité, Arcola Theatre, Almeida Theatre and Frantic Assembly. Her expertise lies in developing firm operational foundations to enable ambitious creativity.

Jen began her career in Stage Management, touring internationally with companies including Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Ballet. In 2016, she experienced career change first-hand, moving into fundraising with a focus on the arts. Since then, Jen has developed a strong track record at organisations including Tobacco Factory Theatres in Bristol; with experience spanning events, capital campaigns and individual giving.

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.

Final 2026 application deadline: 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.