DanceVote 2010 campaign to get dance recognised

With a general election on the horizon, presenting a potential change of government and a very real threat to arts and dance funding, it is vital that we work together now to raise the profile of dance with MPs and new potential candidates in the run up to the election.

Responding to this pressing concern, Dance UK and a steering group of organisations from a wide range of dance backgrounds have come together and devised a national campaign called DanceVote 2010. The aim of the campaign is to connect every politician from the main parties with at least one local dance activity in their constituency. The organisers want every candidate to understand that dance is important to their local voters. The high profile campaign will include e-cards, letter writing drives, visits by politicians to dance activities and media coverage.

A key tool for the DanceVote 2010 campaign will be a 90 second film showing short clips of as many different types of dance, enjoyed by as many different types of people as possible. The film will be the launch pad for the DanceVote campaign, and will end with a sign-off taking people to the DanceVote 2010 site and an e-card to send to their local politicians, asking them how they will support dance and the arts if they are elected.

Sadlers Wells has kindly agreed to edit the film together for free, but it cannot be done without your help and film of your dance activity.

Please can you send Caroline Miller at Dance UK any film that you are happy to be included. Your film footage needs to be cleared for usage and free of charge for this one-off film (postal address: Dance UK, The Urdang, Old Finsbury Town Hall, Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4QT).

The film will be on the Dance UK website and also posted on YouTube. It will include full credits for everyone who has contributed film, showing your support of Dance and the DanceVote campaign.

If you have any questions, or would like to be involved in DanceVote 2010 campaign please email caroline@danceuk.org or call Caroline on 020 7713 0730.