DARE DANCE has been working in partnership with Barrow Borough Council for six years to demonstrate the relevance, accessibility and vitality of Dance in people’s lives by working in a range of different contexts through a variety of forms.  DARE works with partners in Barrow to offer a progression route of access to dance in Barrow from Parent & Toddlers to Further Education.  There is something for everyone!!

Community Dance Classes for Parents & Toddlers, Infants, Juniors and Youth at Forum twenty-eight every Monday - a great chance to meet new friends, have fun, learn new skills and get fit.

DARE 2 Youth Dance Company  - a new initiative funded by Arts Council: NW and Aim Higher which challenges and supports gifted and talented young dancers in Barrow and explores progression routes for dance.   Fifty young people auditioned to be part of the company.  Thirteen were selected.  They will have weekly classes, intensives and workshops with professional dancers and dance companies, perform across the region and visit Universities to take dance workshops and find out about student life.

Urban Moves Youth Dance group will be holding weekly practices led by local break-dancers and master classes  with UK Champions.  This group were awarded funding from Cumbria Youth Opportunities Fund for this programme. 

DARE has continued to work at Furness College developing and delivering the dance curriculum alongside the performing arts team at the college. 

DARE has worked with local primary schools in Barrow, Dalton & Ulverston for six years offering dance residencies.  In March the schools have the chance to participate in the Cumbria ACE Schools Dance Festival at Forum twenty-eight in Barrow.  A project developed in partnership with Cumbria Sport.

DARE continues Dance Bites, a series of taster sessions in various dance styles for local schools and community groups.

The team celebrated its work in June with the Barrow Community Dance Show. Over 70 young people took part in this event which was held at Forum twenty-eight the local Theatre.  Members of the infant & junior community dance classes, Furness College and the DARE Youth Dance groups performed in the event.

Our Adult Dance Intensives continue to be very popular and the Adult Performance Group has performed new work devised by Fran Leaver.

Amanda J. Mortlock is continuing work with early years, infants and families developing her practice of Body-Mind-Centering (BMC).

DARE co-ordinates and facilitates the Cumbria Dance Artists Forum. 

DARE organises an annual professional training event, which is held in Barrow.  The event aims to share practice and see the work of leading dance artists and choreographers; previously known as International Choreographic lab this years event was developed into a 3 day intensive (16-18 Feb. 2007) bringing together 6 leading Artists and Academics: Angus Balburnie, Florence Peake, Katy Dymoke, K.J. Holmes, Thomas Kampe, Tony Thatcher.  DARE is working in partnership with Independent Dance (London) to bring international artists to Cumbria.