The Stage

Government strategy for dance demanded

Published Tuesday 6 July 2004 at 13:00 by Jeremy Austin

Government involvement in the development of dance needs to range from ensuring fair pay and conditions for professionals to investigating the social, educational and health benefits of the field, a parliamentary report has found.

The document, Arts Development - Dance, has been published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport select committee. It looks at the current state of the dance economy, the effect of public investment on the dance sector, and education and career opportunities for young people within the sector.

Among the recommendations is that the government sets out a “clear, overarching policy on dance” and that the Department for Education and Skills carries out a policy review relating to the place of dance within the National Curriculum. In line with other DCMS arts policy, there is also a call for research into the benefits to health, reducing crime and increasing social inclusiveness.

The report adds: “We ask the minister, within three months, to set out for the committee the specific action taken to create a government strategy for dance.”

Director of Dance UK Ian Bramley said the report is positive and constructive. He was one of the industry representatives consulted during the research, instigated after Frank Doran MP visited a Dance UK initiative investigating the relationship between politics and dance last year.

“It is just really refreshing that they are interested in looking at dance. It was done in a very positive way. I think they have listened very carefully throughout and it does reflect the feelings across the sector,” he said.

“I think we need to see how the government responds and to keep moving forward to make sure it continues to grow and develop.”

Other contributors to the research included Deborah Bull, Siobhan Davies and Wayne McGregor, whose Random Dance company performed at the Houses of Parliament on the day the report was launched.

Director of dance at Arts Council England Jeanette Siddall added that she hoped the government would be able to create a coherent philosophy covering many different aspects of dance culture, which was currently proving difficult for the industry to do on its own.