Dance Active is a four day training course delivered by PAN West Midlands on behalf of The Department of Health and DanceXchange in partnership with Youth Dance England. The course is aimed at providing professional dance artists and commissioning health professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively work together to deliver specific health outcomes through the use of dance.

The course will cover national and regional strategic health priorities, consider best practice through the use of case studies and develop a clear understanding of the commissioning process from both dance artist and health professional perspectives. The programme will also include a practical day where dance artists will consolidate their knowledge and develop creative tools and dance workshop plans that are appropriate to creatively delivering specific health outcomes. Dance artists will also be given support in developing their CVs to include a targeted portfolio for dance and health work.

The programme will include a half day, specifically for commissioning health professionals to debate and discuss the use of dance in delivering health outcomes, understand how to select the most appropriate dance artist for their projects and how to work in partnership when developing a project brief.

The training course will end with a networking day for the dance artists and health professionals at Birmingham Hippodrome, during which new and future potential dance and health projects will be brokered.

Aims of the programme:
To deliver a training programme that will provide dance artists with the knowledge, skills and competencies to deliver specific health outcomes through the use of dance and up skill PCT staff in how to effectively commission dance programmes for health and well being.

The 4 day programme will incorporate:
• Artists being trained in the aims, objectives and priorities of the health sector.
• Case studies outlining successful Dance & Health projects.
• A practical session in the studio, involving artists developing creative content around key themes addressing obesity, physical fitness, self-esteem, mental well-being and motivation.
• Development of targeted CVs towards dance & health projects
• A half day session for health professionals, to address key questions around working with and commissioning artists.
• A networking event for dance artists and health professionals.
• Brokering of future projects for the dance artists and health professionals on the networking day

The 4 day programme takes place 5/12/19/26 March 2010 at Birmingham Hippodrome. Cost of training, including refreshments and lunch, is £30

Health professionals are invited to join dance artists in a half day of training followed by a networking session on Friday 26 March 2010 at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Applications for this event have now closed. If you require any further information please contact Toby Norman-Wright on 0121 689 3167