Colours of Dance Radiates
Colours of Dance Radiates is a creative dance programme offered through primary schools, to all children, but which is particularly beneficial for those who experience bigger challenges in their daily lives. This might include, but is not limited, to children with neurodiversities, disease, disabilities or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) such as family adjustments.
Project Overview
Radiates classes are delivered as part of the weekly school timetable for a whole year, and they provide the opportunity for a child to use movement to develop their imagination and creativity, to connect with their senses and their peers and explore their own feelings about the world and their place in it. The benefits of creative dance as part of a holistic approach to education are well known - aiding theachievement of good outcomes not only in the area of physical development, butalso positively impacting cognitive, social and emotional skill development.
Aims are for children to:
• learn the concepts of Creative Dance.
• enjoy the self-expression of creative dance
• take part in non-competitive form of exercise
• Children to connect their emotions with expression
• develop a child’s non-verbal communication through body language and self-expression
• relax and escape from the day
• thrive in an environment where there is no wrong orright in their dance
• feel a valued and respected member of the community
• have the freedom to express their creativity and imagination
• connect with their bodies & their senses
What are the first changes we would see?
Participants see an improvement in:
· Physical exploration
· Creativity
· Communication (new ways of expressing feelingsand ideas)
· Recognising themselves as a valued and respected part of the community
· Autonomy
· Coordination and control of their body
· Positive interactions with peers
· Posture, balance and coordination, through core muscle strengthening
Participants will have the experience of:
· Feeling respected
· Feeling included
· Practicing self regulation
· Making decisions
· Understanding consequences of decisions
· Feeling listened to on their own terms
· Participating in lesson directions and planning(e.g. expressing enjoyment of a music
· track, talking about what they liked best in the class etc.)
What are the longer term impacts we would want to see?
· A holistic (cognitive, social and emotional)positive outcome in the child - which includes:
· Physical and emotional resilience
· Responsible decision making
· Social and self awareness
· Relationship skills
· Increased self esteem
· Positive body image
· Better access to dance and creative movement across the city
· Better participation of excluded communities inartistic opportunities in the city
Why are we crowdfunding?
Radiates would like to pilot a dance programme weekly from Sept 2025- July 2026 for the first time with a state primary school during the school day, which is crucial for children that might be prevented from accessing activities out of school hours through restricted finances or family logistics. Within a carefully thought out framework, we are child-centred in all things, encouraging our students to bring their own creativity to class where there is a positive mood increasing resilience for a children’s mental health.
Check out the live projects we're supporting
NS10 Community Program
Niall Stringer Foundation’s sole mission is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and wellbeing and give sports clubs, at all levels, across the UK the tools to allow them to contribute positively in the prevention of suicide in young people
Scarletts Smiles
Spotlight UK supports children affected by domestic abuse, children in care, children affected by loss, children with terminal illness or physical disability or who have a family member with terminal illness or long-term physical disability or mental health issues. We cannot take away the past but aim to create positive new memories and to help improve mental health through fun activities and days out and special experiences
Inclusive dance for happiness and health
Flamingo Chicks is a multi-award-winning charity and inclusive community that gives disabled children and children with long-term health conditions like cancer the chance to explore movement through dance. What started as a small community group in 2013 has grown into a national movement championing inclusion. So far, 47,778 children have danced with us!
