Dance Manifesto launched

Posted on February 24, 2015

MPs danced lindy hop with Robin Windsor and Jenny Thomas for the launch of Dance UK’s Dance Manifesto 2015. This was the first time a social dance class had been held in the Houses of Parliament, hosted by the all-party parliamentary dance group.

The Dance Manifesto urges politicians to recognise and act to harness the benefits of dance in education, for health and as a British success story. [https://www.danceuk.org/campaigning/dance-manifesto-2015/]. Gerald Kaufman, chair of the all-party parliamentary dance group, said: “Dance is marvellous educationally, emotionally and for health and wellbeing. We are here to celebrate and promote the true essence of dance.”

The politicians who joined the dance class included Ed Vaizey, the minister for culture, Peter Aldous, David Amess, Andrew Bingham, Tessa Blackstone, David Burrows, Frank Doran, Richard Harrington, Chris Heaton-Harris, Gloria Hooper, Liz McInnes, Eric Pickles, Andy Slaughter and Angela Watkinson.

After the class, Strictly Come Dancing professional Robin Windsor said: “See – you’ve all been smiling ear to ear for 45 minutes. Dance is the perfect way to inject some real positive energy into all of our lives. I fully support getting everyone dancing, including politicians!”

Caroline Miller, director of Dance UK, said: “It was really great to see so many politicians expressing an interest in dance and recognising its benefits for the whole UK. I sincerely hope that with the launch of the Dance Manifesto 2015, others will join them and find out more about dance in their local area.”

Pictured, left to right: Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Liz McInnes MP, Rt Hon Sir Gerald Kaufman MP (chair of the all-party parliamentary dance group), Ed Vaizey MP (Culture Secretary), Baroness Gloria Hooper, dancer Robin Windsor, Frank Doran MP, teacher and choreographer Jenny Thomas, Angela Watkinson MP and Caroline Miller, director of Dance UK. Photograph: Jim Fletcher

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.