for children in Cambridgeshire who experience bigger challenges in their daily lives than most. 

Take a look at what we do…

What is Radiates?

Colours of Dance Radiates is a dance programme designed for schools to embed into their weekly curriculum, and which is particularly beneficial for children have bigger challenges in their lives. This might include children with neuro-diversities, disease, disabilities, or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE). 

We are currently running two classes a week at Castle School, led by our highly experienced team of teachers. Within a carefully thought out framework, we are child-centred in all things, encouraging our students to develop and bring their own creativity to class every week.

Our Mission

Dance connects mind to body, feelings to experience and people to communities in powerful ways. We are committed to giving all children, no matter their personal challenges, the opportunity to benefit from dance supported by trained and experienced professionals.

We believe that dance enriches all our lives and all children benefit when dance is part of their weekly education.  Radiates is a programme that makes a space for all.  We know that children who face physical, social or educational challenges can be at a higher risk of poor health outcomes, and face multiple barriers to participation in artistic and physical activities.  Creative dance is an activity which makes it possible for everyone to participate together, whatever their intrinsic physicality, learning style or additional need.

Barriers are myriad, and can include financial and logistical limitations, as well as ‘self-editing’ (I can’t dance’).    This is why we have created Radiates to be delivered within a school curriculum, bringing experts into schools, to support and benefit the teachers, as well as the pupils, and at no extra cost to the school.

We are committed to removing as many barriers as we can to participation in dance, and in order to do this, we provide expert-led classes which include our core values of collaboration, listening and inclusivity. 

Our aim is for students to see an expansion in their confidence, physical exploration, communication, creativity, coordination and autonomy, and to recognise themselves as a valued and respected part of their class community. 

Our curriculum structure and teacher training is carefully tailored to meet these needs, and we also engage in a process of continuous feedback and evaluation, where at the end of every class, teachers reassess each group’s responses as part of planning the next one. 

Our classes cover techniques of creative movement, using a range of sensory props and music suggestions directly from the children. We prioritise social and emotional learning, which includes working with others, leading, problem solving, decision making, community building, relaxation and evaluation.