Look Ahead’s AnyBODY Can Dance project has been shortlisted for a 2025 Housing Heroes Award. The therapeutic dance programme – currently funded by Arts Council England – made the shortlist for the Health and Wellbeing Category at the awards, which are run by Inside Housing. This category celebrates the efforts of housing providers to promote better health outcomes for their residents.
AnyBODY Can Dance has been recognised for its role in providing individuals with learning disabilities and mental health needs receiving support from Look Ahead with opportunities to access arts and culture.
The project offers weekly sessions directly at customers’ homes and services, regular workshops with external dance artists, and co-produced performances that give participants opportunities to express themselves, improve their physical and mental wellbeing, and connect with others.
Find out more about AnyBODY Can Dance here.
Look Ahead’s Chief Executive Chris Hampson said:
It is fantastic to see this unique homegrown project reach the finals of these prestigious awards. AnyBODY Can Dance uses dance to support around 150 customers across a quarter of Look Ahead’s services to improve their mental health, wellbeing and social skills. Congratulations to our brilliant staff and customers who have made such great strides through this now nationally celebrated project.
Georgina Caird, a Look Ahead Dance Movement Psychotherapist and founder of the project said:
I am delighted to see AnyBODY Can Dance be recognised in this way. It is a wonderful tribute to the efforts of all our participants, our team of Dance Movement Psychotherapists and inclusive artists, and the entire team here at Look Ahead. I hope that our nomination will help us to spread the message that access to arts and culture can have a powerful impact in improving many people’s lives, that it is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Highlighting the project’s impact, participants have said:
‘Now I’ve done a few performances I really like being in front of people.’
‘I feel lonely a lot of the time, these groups have given me a chance to feel connected to others.’
‘AnyBODY Can Dance lets me be myself. And no one can take that away from me.’
Results expected next month
Look Ahead will find out if the programme has won the award at the Housing Heroes Awards ceremony on 23 June.
