Press release - 10 July 2006

NCA and Dance UK present the Dance Manifesto to Rt Hon David Lammy MP

At 12.30pm today, Britain's best-loved ballerina Darcey Bussell, Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips, and choreographer Jonzi D presented the new Dance Manifesto to the Minister for Culture, David Lammy MP. They were joined by Alistair Spalding, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Sadler's Wells and Chairman of Dance UK; Victoria Todd, Director of the National Campaign for the Arts and Caroline Miller, Director of Dance UK.

To produce the Dance Manifesto the National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) and Dance UK undertook a six month countrywide consultation process, talking to an extensive cross section of individuals and dance organisations. The four key ambitions as published in the Dance Manifesto are:

· Dance to be supported and developed as an art form

· Dance to be an integral part of every young person's education

· Dance to be available and affordable for everyone to watch and participate in

· Dance to be a sustainable career with world class training

Following today's hour-long meeting, ballerina, Darcey Bussell said: The creation of the Dance Manifesto is an important step forward in the development of dance in this country and I am proud to have been able to present it to the Government on behalf of the British dance industry.

Arlene Phillips: As we have seen with the massive viewer numbers that enjoyed Strictly Come Dancing and Strictly Dance Fever, the popularity of dance is on a real roll at the moment. The Dance Manifesto is a very positive move to help even more people to experience and enjoy this most brilliant of artforms.

Jonzi D: Dance is a unifying movement. It can enable all kinds of people, from all kinds of backgrounds to join together in a common language. The initiative of the Dance Manifesto is a positive step forward in promoting this powerful phenomenon.

Victoria Todd, Director of the National Campaign for the Arts: The Dance Manifesto is the first time that the British dance industry has united in one voice in pushing for what is needed in order to safeguard and develop dance for the future.

Caroline Miller, Director of Dance UK: This is an important day for Dance and we look forward to working together to take the initiative forward.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. For further information please contact the NCA, 1 Kingly St, London W1B 5PA. Telephone: 020 7287 3777. Fax: 020 7287 4777. Email: nca@artscampaign.org.uk. Website: www.artscampaign.org.uk

Or contact Dance UK on 020 7228 4990, email info@danceuk.org or visit www.danceuk.org.

2. The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) is the UK's only independent lobbying organisation representing all the arts. It provides a voice for the arts world in all its diversity. It seeks to safeguard, promote and develop the arts and win public and political recognition for the importance of the arts as a key element in our national culture.

3. Dance UK is the national voice for dance, working with and on behalf of the dance sector. It aims to raise the profile of dance with the public and government. It promotes sustainable, longer dance careers and works to improve the conditions in which dance is created, performed and experienced.

Return to index