The Deaf Dance Summer School is an annual event run by Sadler's Wells in collaboration with Green Candle Dance Company and The National Deaf Children's Society. It provides a rare opportunity for young deaf dancers to participate in an intensive, all inclusive dance programme and has engaged over 180 participants since 1999.

The Deaf Dance Summer School is fun, informal and creative, drawing on a wide variety of dance styles, accompanied throughout by live music. Stimulating and inspiring themes provide the basis for the course. In 2007 the theme was Dance & Drum. The week focused on the links between rhythms, movement and expression, while exploring contemporary, African, Spanish and street dance styles. Each year participants also attend a performance at Sadler's Wells. Past shows have included Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man, Brasil Brasileiro and Paco Peña’s flamenco show A Compás! To the Rhythm.

The summer school is designed for young people aged 6 to 19 years, with or without previous experience of dance. It is accessible to young people will all degrees of hearing loss, using all communication methods, along with their hearing siblings and friends. Tuition and support are provided by professional sign language interpreters, as well as volunteer communicators and workshop assistants, to ensure an appropriate level of support is provided for all young people.