Community and Outreach
At Ipswich School of Dancing, community is at the heart of everything we do. For over 75 years, we have been proud to use dance not only as an art form, but as a powerful tool to build confidence, create opportunity, and bring people together.
Our outreach work is focused on access, inclusion, wellbeing, and connection, ensuring that dance is available to everyone, regardless of background, experience, or circumstance.
Get Involved
If you are a school or organisation interested in bringing Groove and Grow into your school day, we would love to hear from you.
Please get in touch to discuss how the programme could work in your setting.
Groove and Grow Programme
Groove and Grow: Dance Education for All is an inclusive, schools-based dance outreach programme developed and delivered by Ipswich School of Dancing, with funding support from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD).
The programme was created following conversations with local schools, families, and community partners, which highlighted a need for high-quality dance provision to be delivered as part of the school day, supporting pupils within a familiar and structured environment.
Delivered directly within schools, the programme is designed to make movement part of everyday school life. It creates welcoming, accessible dance experiences for children of all backgrounds and abilities, supporting confidence, wellbeing, and positive connection through movement.
Groove and Grow places equal value on working with both pupils and teachers, sharing practical ideas and approaches that help dance and movement continue beyond the life of the project. Rooted in collaboration and community, the programme is flexible and responsive to the needs of each school, creating sustainable and meaningful opportunities for children to engage with dance in a positive and inclusive way.
HAF School Holiday Camps
We proudly deliver HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) funded School Holiday Camps in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council, providing high-quality dance activities during school holidays for children eligible for free school meals.
Our holiday camps include:
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Fun and creative dance sessions including arts and crafts and games.
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A safe and welcoming environment
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Nutritious meals
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Opportunities to make friends, stay active, and build confidence
These camps support both wellbeing and routine during the school holidays.
BBC Children in Need
We are proud to have supported BBC Children in Need through a very special dance project.
Our teachers worked closely with a young Ipswich girl, Brianna, providing tailored support to help her learn and perform a dance that built confidence and self-belief. She went on to perform on the Strictly Come Dancing television show alongside professional dancers as part of the Children in Need broadcast, an inspiring moment that highlighted the power of dance to change lives.
We also worked with BBC Radio Suffolk on a Strictly-style fundraising event for BBC Children in Need. This collaboration helped inspire the creation of our own annual charity dance event, which has now been running for over ten years and has raised significant funds for local causes.
Strictly Charity
For over ten years, we have run our own Strictly-style charity dance event, pairing local participants with our experienced dancers for a live performance experience.
The event raises vital funds for local charities, including Inspire Suffolk, while giving participants the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills, and achieve something truly memorable.
It has become a much-loved community event, bringing together dancers, families, and supporters to celebrate dance while supporting important local causes.
Inclusive Learning
At Ipswich School of Dancing, inclusion is part of everyday teaching within our dance school.
We welcome children, young people, and adults with a wide range of learning needs and learning styles, adapting our teaching to ensure everyone feels supported, confident, and able to take part.
Our teachers focus on:
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Teaching individuals, not labels
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Creating calm, structured, and positive learning environments
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Adapting movement, communication, and pace to suit each dancer
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Encouraging confidence, independence, and enjoyment
Whether dancing for fun, confidence, fitness, or progression, we aim to create an environment where every dancer feels valued and included.
If you would like to discuss how we can support you or your child within our dance school, please get in touch, we are always happy to talk through individual needs.
We are always keen to work with schools, organisations, charities, and community groups who share our belief in the positive power of dance. If you would like to:
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Find out more about our community programmes
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Explore partnership or outreach opportunities
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Discuss inclusive dance provision
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Support or take part in a future charity event
We’d love to hear from you.