Step into Dance
Step into Dance and the Jack Petchey Foundation
Step into Dance is an inclusive dance programme for secondary schools and youth groups in the UK. In partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation, we deliver regular dance classes in secondary schools and youth groups across London and Essex.
The Jack Petchey Foundation, is a charity set up by the late Sir Jack Petchey CBE to inspire and celebrate young people. Since 1999, it has invested over £170 million in programmes and partnerships. These have directly benefitted almost 1.2m young people aged 11-25.
One of the largest inclusive dance programmes in the UK, young people benefit from opportunities to get involved in a wider programme of workshops and performances. It has reached over fifty thousand young people since its creation in 2007.
Sir Jack Petchey set up the Foundation to encourage young people to work hard and reach their full potential. He believed each and every young person should be given the chance to achieve. As he always said: “If you think you can, you can!”
Learn more about Sir Jack Petchey.
Our Step into Dance programme
Come and dance with us!
Delivered by professional dancers, Step into Dance supports young dancers to progress, excel and realise their creative potential.
Step into Dance Opportunities
Opportunities for young people!
Learn more about our Leadership Programme, Youth Dance Company, and other opportunities to get involved.
Step Forward
Our exciting new dance taster series!
This new programme features 3-hour taster sessions in Hip Hop, Jazz, or Contemporary dance.
What’s on
Step into Dance Case Studies
Hear from those involved in the Step into Dance programme.
Agnes Rosa Lamb
“My time with Step into Dance really helped me prepare for my future in dance, and helped me believe that I could choose dance as a career.”
From Step into Dance to the Fonteyn, Agnes Rosa Lamb’s professional dance career has flourished. Having first joined the Step into Dance Company at age 11, Agnes then went on to completing exams and competitions with the RAD. Most recently, she competed in the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2023.
Agnes has since been rehearsing with the English National Ballet for their upcoming ballet, Giselle. We are so proud to be a foundation for her wonderful professional dance career, and we are excited for what is to come.
“I first joined Step into Dance in 2016 at the age of 11. I was the youngest in the contemporary company at the time and had little confidence with contemporary, and performing. My time with SiD really helped me prepare for my future in dance, and helped me believe that I could choose dance as a career. The teachers were really supportive and I performed at the Southbank Centre in the Step Live event, which was an incredible experience.”
Riana Morrison-Kirnon
“Step into Dance taught me that I have the freedom and the platform to speak my mind and let my voice be heard.”
Dance brings so much to young people. We love when our programme allows them to excel into new and exciting opportunities. Riana first joined the Step into Dance programme when she was 13. She is now a Youth Trustee at the Jack Petchey Foundation. During her time on the programme, Riana excelled in dancing, confidence and within her role as a leader.
“Step into Dance taught me that I have the freedom and the platform to speak my mind and let my voice be heard. I was able to go to university where I studied pharmacy and ran the dance society there and that was a great experience but I had the foundation for this from SiD.”
Mona El Ghzal
“The classes felt like a safe space to express and push yourself to achieve and learn unimaginable things.”
While taking part in the Step into Dance programme, Mona was introduced to Breaking, a Hip Hop dance style. She is now Breaking competitively as a B-girl!
“Step into Dance has helped me push myself to strive for so many goals and provided me with skills that are relevant in every aspect of my life. I have been involved in Breaking competitions, travelled, met so many dancers, performed at various locations and used my breaking skills to engage in charity work (creating fundraisers is one example). I am also aiming to use Breaking to inspire young people, by promoting STEM subjects and teaching concepts of Physics through dance.”
Oonagh Cox
“Without Step into Dance, I wouldn’t have the technique and confidence in my dance that has helped me to get where I am.”
Oonagh is an alumni of our Youth Dance Company.
“What I enjoyed the most about being a Step into Dance student was the diversity of people I met. Also, affordable training within an otherwise elitist industry is a rarity, and so the work that Step into Dance has done and continues to do I think is crucial.”
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Support us
We are a dance charity, relying on donations from trusts and foundations, corporations, and individuals. Help us in our mission to support dance and bring joy into communities.
Happy to help
Reach out to us to find out more about our STEP into Dance programme.
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