Recent weeks have seen several very important events which could, and should, improve the status of dance within the community. A private bill was brought in to the House of Commons by Meg Hillier (Hackney, South and Shoreditch, Lab/Co-op) seeking “provision for the regulation of the teaching of dance and for connected purposes”. The bill recognises the work that has already been done by the major dance accrediting bodies, Dance UK, and the Recognised School status introduced by the Council for Dance Education last year, but stresses the lack of a requirement for a single recognised teaching qualification for dance teachers. It describes dance as the second most popular activity in schools, with its popularity rising faster than any other art form, and estimates that some 4.8 million people participate in community dance and “hundreds of thousands more dance in private dance schools, leisure centres and school clubs”. Yet Youth Dance England receives £100,000 a year compared with £10 million a year to Youth Music. The bill was read the first time (and can be found in Hansard, February 20, 2007) and ordered to be read a second time on Friday, October 19. Meanwhile, the Health and Culture Ministers, Caroline Flint and David Lammy, attended, on March 20, the launch of new research, published by Laban in partnership with Hampshire Dance, which provides the first scientific evidence proving creative dance improves children’s physical and psychological fitness. This report was launched alongside Arts Council of England’s Dance and Health folder. Visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/publications /publication_detail.php?sid=7&id=545 to download. The Council for Dance and Education (see page 80) has booked a one day workshop, June 4, for principals of pre-vocational (i.e. under 16 years of age) schools wishing to learn more about its Recognised School status, which has the whole-hearted support of this magazine and also of The Stage newspaper. Places have been booked for an attendance of 50 persons and the outcome of the workshop will reflect how widespread is the desire for proper safeguarding of young people in dance training. We can not expect changes overnight but at least, and until there is a national standard, parents can be assured that the CDET “RS” mark is a guarantee of safety.