Dance and Health - Advancing Your Practice

A professional development programme for artists working at the extraordinary intersection of dance and health.

Be nurtured, and learn how to nurture.

Connect, and learn how to bring people into connection.

Dance, and learn how to enrich people's lives with dance.

As the number of dance and health initiatives rise, in response to increasing population health challenges, there is a need to skilfully equip and grow the number of artists delivering this vital work.

The Dance and Health - Advancing Your Practice training opportunity has been designed by artists for artists, to address this need. It is an invitation to expand your practice, refining artistic and facilitation skills, within a community of care.

This training adopts an iterative ‘learn by doing’ approach to development, in which artists are guided to interrogate, evolve and sustain their practice - individually and collectively.

It offers space for artists to come together to resource themselves, learn from one another, engage with reflexive practice, and explore both the rewards and complexities of working in the field of dance and health.

The programme is underpinned by both ancient and contemporary perspectives on health and healing, offering broader context to artists’ existing and emergent practice. Specifically, it will support artists in designing and delivering dance experiences with a focus on health and wellbeing. 

Although this is primarily a practice based training programme, trainees are encouraged to engage with recommended texts and contribute to conversation spaces.

A Supportive and Inspiring Learning Community

This training brings together dance artists, facilitators, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds who share a passion for supporting people through dance. It’s a rare opportunity for deep exchange - a space to connect, collaborate, and be refreshed by different ideas, perspectives and insights.

Trainees are guided throughout by experienced teachers, artists and peers, forming a network that extends well beyond the programme itself. It’s a nurturing environment that encourages reflection, creativity and confidence - helping you develop your practice and feel inspired in your work.

Key Focus Areas

The programme consists of five interwoven focus areas, each containing multiple components designed to deepen understanding, artistry and facilitation skills. Click here see a detailed breakdown of the focus areas.

This training is a counterpart to Move Dance Feel’s Dance in Cancer Care – Practitioner Training. We encourage you to explore both options to determine which best aligns with your development and specific interests.

The training is led by Emily Jenkins, Dance and Health specialist and Founder-Director of Move Dance Feel, alongside eight guest artists and contributors including staff at The Place / London Contemporary Dance School. Together they bring cross-sector expertise in: dance and health, community dance practice, teaching and facilitation, dance technique, artist wellbeing, dance science and research, somatic practice, pedagogy and education.

In addition to dance, the programme incorporates arts advocacy and activism, exploring the breath as medicine, creative health, navigating grief and loss in this work, and financial literacy.

Who is it for?

This programme is designed for dance artists or teachers, with facilitation experience, working in community and / or health contexts.

Applicants should have a regular dance / movement practice and be active in the field. The training is delivered over four months, allowing trainees to apply their learning and evolve their practice alongside the programme.

We also welcome applications from:

• Dancers transitioning from performance into participatory dance work

• Dance movement therapists working in group settings

• Somatic movement practitioners with professional dance training and experience

• Health practitioners with an established dance practice looking to integrate their work

We are looking for applicants who:

• Are experienced in facilitating dance

• Dance with diverse groups and communities (either an established or emerging interest)

• Can commit to developing themselves, and their practice, in a group environment

• Embrace mutual learning and contribute actively to the cohort

• Can attend all in person training dates 

Dates and Location

Following a successful pilot with Middlesex University in 2024, this programme is evolving in partnership with The Place, one of the UK’s leading centres for contemporary dance. Insights from the pilot led to a refined and expanded version, running June to September 2026, and reflects a commitment to delivering high-quality, responsive, and evidence-informed training in dance and health.

This hybrid programme combines ten in-person training days at The Place with sixteen online learning sessions across four months.

In-person days: 

• 2, 3, 4, 5 July 2026

• 7, 8, 9 August 2026

• 18, 19, 20 September 2026

All in person days (9:30 - 18:00) are delivered at The Place in central London (WC1H 9PY). Trainees are responsible for organising and paying for their own travel and accommodation (where applicable). In person days are not digitally streamed - physical attendance is required in order to support skills and relationship development.

Online sessions:

The sixteen online learning sessions involve both practical and theoretical elements - spread across various dates between 1 June and 30 September. 

Flexible learning: Sessions are scheduled at different times during weekdays and weekday evenings - making the training accessible alongside work, family, or other commitments. A full schedule, detailing specific dates and times, will be shared with trainees once they are welcomed into the programme. All online sessions will be recorded, creating a digital learning resource, so that trainees can catch up if unable to attend in real time.

Cost

Early Bird (Individuals): £950 (before 13 February 2026)
Full Cost (Individuals): £1,100

Early Bird (Organisations): £1,500 (before 13 February 2026)
Full Cost (Organisations): £1,650

*organisations include registered companies, charities and institutes of higher education, with 4 or more staff members. The cost is detailed per person.

Payment plans are available via The Place, helping to spread the cost across multiple instalments.

How to apply? 

We are welcoming applications from 8 December 2025, at which point a click through application link will appear below (taking you to The Place’s website).

During and after the training, artists will:

• Be part of an ongoing learning community

• Belong to a national and international network of dance and health professionals

• Receive resources and evidence to support their practice

• Examine their own sense of wellbeing and approach to self care

• Have access to professional references (on request)

Please note: This is a practice-based professional development opportunity. During and upon completion of the programme, trainees will be invited to reflect on their learning and share how they are applying it in their work.