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Yorkshire Dance

About Us | The History of Yorkshire Dance

The Yorkshire Dance Centre concept was originally conceived by Dr Janet Adshead who undertook a comprehensive survey of groups and individuals in the region in 1981 - 1982. Yorkshire Dance was launched in 1982 with support from the regional Sports Council, as both an inner city community dance centre for the Leeds area and a specialist dance resource for the Yorkshire region.

Sessions were originally held in the Grand Theatre studios and subsequently at the City of Leeds School. The success of the initial pilot period led to a search for a permanent home which ended in 1985 with the purchase of a derelict four storey textile warehouse in Leeds City Centre, made possible by grants from the Sports Council and Leeds City Council.

With money raised from private donors and grants from the Sports Council, Leeds City Council and the former County Council, the first two studios were created along with changing rooms, office space and reception/social area.

Further office and reception space was created at a later stage, enabling Phoenix Dance Company to be based in the building. The conversion of the final large studio was subsequently achieved with Arts Council Incentive Funding, which Yorkshire Dance succeeded in winning in the first year of the scheme.

A major grant from the Government and Leeds City Council through the Urban Programme enabled the conversion of surplus space in the building in to a number of small workspace units for leasing to compatible arts based and training organisations, as well as the fundraising campaign that enabled the construction of a new entrance and lift in 1993 which completed the wheelchair access to the building. The ten year programme of building development was completed with funding from the National Lottery in 1996 with the addition of an administrative projects base. The building acquired for £38,000 is now estimated to be worth a figure in the region of £1.3 million.

In addition to providing a full and varied programme of Centre based sessions and courses for people of all ages and levels of experience, Yorkshire Dance has initiated a dance development programme in a variety of community venues in Yorkshire, acts in an agency capacity matching teachers with work throughout the region, and is the national administration centre for the Dance Leaders in the Community course. Yorkshire Dance also offers a studio hire facility for local dance artists and small companies.

In 1991 Yorkshire Dance was recognised by the Arts Council as one of the first five National Dance Agencies. This national status and associated funding enabled Yorkshire Dance to develop the areas of production and promotion. As a NDA, Yorkshire Dance is a focus for artists to meet, dance, choreograph and make contact with new audiences. An expanding programme of productions, commissions, training events and the touring of new work enables Yorkshire Dance to play an increasing role in the development of dance on a regional and national level, as well as broadening the network of venues promoting dance performance. In 1996 Yorkshire Dance ran the first Yorkshire Dance festival to great acclaim. Since then, the Centre has nurtured dance into the new millennium. As a company limited by guarantee we continue to grow from strength to strength.