Never before has dance raised such interest within the public sphere. Whether as entertainment on prime time television, a fun alternative to the gym or a creative outlet, the benefits of dance are widely recognized. Sadler’s Wells is capitalising on this great appetite for watching and doing dance and has established itself as a leading force in dance education and community work.

Connect’s community and outreach work complement’s Sadler’s Wells artistic programme by providing high quality participatory experiences for a range of users. Initiatives are carefully designed to suit specific needs and interests. We aim to encourage people to engage with the concept of ‘going to the theatre’ through a programme of behind the scenes activities and workshops designed to demystify dance and the theatre. In addition our projects highlight the importance of being active through practical dance experiences – often introducing people to dance for the first time or encouraging experienced dancers to try new dance styles. See Connect archive for case studies of our projects.

Connect’s strategic priorities for 2007/8 – 2010:

• Older people – challenging assumptions of who can dance
• Young people – developing opportunities in formal education and youth dance
• Access – leading the way for access and accessibility in theatre and dance
• Professional development – sharing our knowledge and skills

Current community and outreach activity includes the weekly Lilian Baylis Arts Club for over 60s, Company of Elders, Over 60s outreach ballet classes in Islington, weekly movement play classes for toddlers, annual Deaf Dance Summer School, and an Associates Summer School. See the Connect events page for our current activities.