One Dance UK’s Healthier Dancer Programme has joined forces with industry body Equity in order to develop the new Fit to Dance Space Charter. The new Charter has been designed to encourage a minimum standard for dance audition and rehearsal spaces across the UK, represented by Equity as the union representing dancers, and One Dance UK as the national body for dance, to promote safe spaces for dance artists.
The Charter is designed to be achievable for all rehearsal venues, celebrating good practice and therefore encouraging better practice. The Fit to Dance Space Charter is a voluntary scheme for venues and studios to sign up to, demonstrating that they are making a positive contribution to dancers’ health, fitness and wellbeing and suitable for dance work. Those who adopt the Charter recognise that adhering to certain standards of safety is vital for the long-term health and safety of dancers.
The Charter was created as a result of the 2015 Equity Conference about encouraging better understanding among dancers about minimum conditions for dance rehearsal spaces. The Charter helps to understand these minimum requirements better, highlighting good and safe practice and encouraging better standards for working conditions. Signing up to the Fit to Dance Space Charter will ultimately inform practitioners about where to find dance spaces that meet their health and safety needs.
It is without a doubt that studio space that supports the creation and development of new dance work and runs regular classes should meet the basic health and safety requirements. Safe and effective dance practice is now high on the agenda for the dance and performing arts industry, so the Charter points to a new standard for dance rehearsal spaces, and is a progressive step forward for the industry.
One Dance UK and Equity are seeking venues to sign up to the Fit to Dance Space Charter which will publicly demonstrate the venues’ professionalism and commitment to dance.
One Dance UK and Equity's Fit to Dance Space Charter
Stacey MacNaught |
One Dance UK’s Healthier Dancer Programme has joined forces with industry body Equity in order to develop the new Fit to Dance Space Charter. The new Charter has been designed to encourage a minimum standard for dance audition and rehearsal spaces across the UK, represented by Equity as the union representing dancers, and One Dance UK as the national body for dance, to promote safe spaces for dance artists.
The Charter is designed to be achievable for all rehearsal venues, celebrating good practice and therefore encouraging better practice. The Fit to Dance Space Charter is a voluntary scheme for venues and studios to sign up to, demonstrating that they are making a positive contribution to dancers’ health, fitness and wellbeing and suitable for dance work. Those who adopt the Charter recognise that adhering to certain standards of safety is vital for the long-term health and safety of dancers.
The Charter was created as a result of the 2015 Equity Conference about encouraging better understanding among dancers about minimum conditions for dance rehearsal spaces. The Charter helps to understand these minimum requirements better, highlighting good and safe practice and encouraging better standards for working conditions. Signing up to the Fit to Dance Space Charter will ultimately inform practitioners about where to find dance spaces that meet their health and safety needs.
It is without a doubt that studio space that supports the creation and development of new dance work and runs regular classes should meet the basic health and safety requirements. Safe and effective dance practice is now high on the agenda for the dance and performing arts industry, so the Charter points to a new standard for dance rehearsal spaces, and is a progressive step forward for the industry.
One Dance UK and Equity are seeking venues to sign up to the Fit to Dance Space Charter which will publicly demonstrate the venues’ professionalism and commitment to dance.