Hampshire Dance offers a range of training and networking opportunities for youth dance professionals across the south east region and signposts practitioners to high quality training offered by other organisations.

CONNECT is the annual opportunity for youth dance providers from across the south east to get together to discuss the latest developments in youth dance. It takes the form of a one-day conference with keynote speakers, case studies and break-out sessions.

CONNECT will took place on Friday 4 March at the H.G.Wells Conference Centre, Woking, Surrey, in partnership with Woking Dance Festival. This allowed us to provide opportunities for delegates to attend a morning Hip Hop class before CONNECT 2011 and catch performances in Woking Dance Festival’s “Spring Shorts” programme.

Artswork Chief Executive, Jane Bryant provided our keynote presentation, giving a context for the development of new and engaging practice within the current uncertain funding situation for the arts. Jane’s wealth of previous experience has seen her take on roles as Programme Director for the government-led arts and culture programme, Find Your Talent, Head of Development for Arts Council England – South East and Music Co-ordinator with Scottish Arts Council. Her breadth of experience in all of these roles will make her presentation essential listening for anyone working in the arts and culture industry.

Phil Harding from JumpStartMove led an energising "dynamic discussion", while Case Studies of SEYDN Hub Funding projects gave insights into practical work that had taken place around the region.

Over 50 dance practitioners attended CONNECT, we also offered a limited number of free places for freelance dance artists.

Listen to Jane Bryant's Keynote speech (MP3 31mins 19.0mb)

Dance Training & Accreditation Partnership (DTAP) is a major, dance sector-led strategic initiative, and brings together a consortium of national organisations.

DTAP began in 2006 as a response to concern about the lack of recognised professional standards and qualifications at an appropriate level that equip dance professionals / artists for the nature and range of work that they are undertaking with children and young people.

DTAP has recently developed a new qualification, The Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning (Children and Young People). The new qualification has successfully gained accreditation from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and is now available to the dance sector through the international examinations board Trinity College London.

The diploma is the first of its kind: 

• Designed for practitioners working outside of formal education with children and young people
• Developed at the request of the major national dance organisations and led by Youth Dance England on behalf of DTAP
• Providing evidence to employers and parents / carers that a dance practitioner has the expertise to teach children and young people
• Relevant and accessible as part of continuing professional development
• Providing  90 credits at Level 6 of the national Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)
• Available through independent study, professional guidance or taught courses.

You can find out more by visiting the DTAP website: www.dtap.org.uk