A new study from world‑leading research group Born in Bradford has found that embedding dance in the primary school curriculum can significantly improve children’s wellbeing. The research was conducted in the run‑up to and during Bradford City of Culture 2025.
Working with more than 250 students from a diverse range of schools across Bradford, the study evaluated the impact of our free arts education programme, Create and Dance – part of an ongoing four-year intervention to enrich Bradford’s cultural offering surrounding their year as City of Culture.
The findings were highly positive, reporting improvements in self‑esteem, teamwork, creative expression and social skills, as well as fostering inclusion, connection and empathy in the classroom.
Claire McGuigan, one of the teachers, said: ‘Through Create and Dance in education, I have seen my pupils grow not just in skill but in character. They have become more persistent when things feel more tricky, more imaginative in their expression, and more collaborative in how they learn and create together.’
So come and join us at West Wimbledon Dance Academy to see how our students thrive. You can see our mini-shows at St Matthew’s Church, West Wimbledon on 6 June 2026 and St Matthew’s Primary School, West Wimbledon on 20 June 2026. And you can request a trial for your child by clicking the link on our Home Page.
