Dance4Life UK
2008 marks the third year of Dance4Life in the United Kingdom.
 What has happened so far?
In 2006, our team visited 22 schools in England and Wales to deliver the workshop and to teach the drill to a total of 4,240 students.
The workshop uses music, dance, and video to engage and inform young people about HIV and AIDS in a way that is inspiring, engaging and fun.
We participated in the global ‘link-up’ with the other countries in the world during the Big Event on the Saturday before World AIDS day, the 25th November. The UK participants gathered at the CC Club in Central London to Dance4Life. The satellite link-up allowed those in the UK to view students in South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, Germany, the Netherlands, and Russia all going through the drill at the same time. The energy generated was dynamic and everyone left with a feeling of hope and empowerment.
In 2007 we expanded the amount of schools that we visited arounded the UK reaching over 5,000 young people. The tour team was composed of a purely international team with members from Zambia, Uganda, Nigeria/ UK, France, Jamaica and Serbia giving young people the chance to exand on their global understanding of the pandemic. The tour left in its wake energised and motivated young people with a vision to lend their voices to the many voiceless young people around the world who face issues surrounding HIV and AIDS. Many activities were organised around the schools such as raising awareness of HIV and AIDS during assembly, campaigning against stigma and discrimantion, sponsored silences and many more. To find out more about the activities go to the schools page.
Since then, young people have continued to be active, taking part in Global Education workshops run by SPW and continuing to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. In the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham, 6 of the schools we visited on the tour received additional workshops run by the local sexual health youth teams Options and SHiNE.
In 2008 we hope to expand the number of schools and colleges arond the UK but especially in London. 2008 is particularly exciting with the Dance4Life Live event on the 29th November that marks the finale to the tour.
The Dance4Life UK Vision:
Our primary target groups are young people aged 16 and over.
By 2010, Dance4Life UK will:
• Reach every 6th form and colleges in the UK. Through a national multimedia campaign enabling them to join the global Dance4Life movement.
• Directly reach 30,000 young people with a dynamic Dance4Life workshop.
• Inform and inspire 20,000 young people to become Agents of Change.
• Involve 13,000 young people in unifying events where young people can celebrate their achievements. 3,000 at regional events to mark World AIDS day in 2007 and hopefully 10,000 at an international event in 2008 that will be linked via live satellite to all other Dance4Life events in 20 countries around the globe.
“The feedback that I received from all the teachers and pupils involved was so positive! People went out of their way, just to let me know what a great time they had and how much they were inspired by the team. The team showed such energy and passion for their work and this has definitely rubbed off onto our school.”
Rebecca Pollard, chair of school committee, Northwood School
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