Connection through Dance: an exploration of the meaning that dance can have in a care experienced young person's life

Dance is an art form that is becoming more widely participated in across populations and there appears to be a shift away from the traditional dance routes. In 2023, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, alongside 26 members from its movement and dance division published a report that highlighted the overlooked social value that dance can have (Boardman et al., 2023). It proposes that dance and movement has a social value of £3.49 billion, saving £430 million on physical and mental health, generating over £700 million work of enhanced social capital and contributing to the UK economy through participation in classes, employment of teachers, purchasing of clothing alongside many other contributors. Despite this evidence, there remains a 'recognition deficit' of the potential contribution that dance can have in the sector (Boardman et al., 2023). There are huge potential benefits that dance can have on a care-experienced young person whilst they are navigating their complex social and inner worlds, yet the evidence remains sparce. It is also necessary that we understand what pedagogical approaches are required in order to maximise the potential benefits; how do we ensure a safe space for young people who have experienced trauma to thrive at dance.

Using narrative interviews, I will be exploring the lived experience of care-experienced young people who attend a trauma-informed dance community. I will undertake in-depth narrative interviews with care-experienced young people, to further understand their sense of community within the creative space. Collaborating with arts-based creative initiatives focused on dance, will provide opportunities to be immersed in the organisational delivery and experience.

Care experienced young people are individuals who are currently in local authority care or have previously been in care. Sharing stories of those who are often marginalised provides opportunities to explore the transformative power of dance. Immersing one-self in the lived experience of those who engage in dance offers rich insights that can be analysed through an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach.