Welcome to our 10th Anniversary Season at Pavilion Dance, Bournemouth.

It’s different from what we had planned but it’s still a special moment to celebrate the quality and range of dance that we’ve brought here.

Live events and classes were planned for 5 September but we have shifted to digital instead for now.

Between 2010-2020 half a million people danced with us and 50,000 children and young people took part in a bespoke activity. That’s no mean feet – I know ‘feat’ – I just couldn’t miss the chance for the pun.

We hope you enjoy sampling some of the moments we’ve made.

Check out our social media and website to hear new podcasts, see images of activity and brochures from the first decade and watch a film giving you a glimpse into our new Covid Secure signage around the building.

There have been tears of joy and relief from dancers and staff as we have unlocked the building for creative use this week.

For the dancers it’s about being able to feel free to dance in a large purpose-built dance space rather than within the confines of their living rooms. For the staff, it’s the emotional impact of what we all lost through Lockdown.

But we’re back. Coast Youth Dance Company auditions even took place in person and we’re looking forward to working with this year’s cohort of young people. Some activity, such as our weekly Parkinsons’ Dance classes, will remain on zoom for now and we’ll work with our different communities to assess when there is the appetite to return to the building and we can provide a safe space to do so. We hope to introduce some live classes again in October.

Details of our Covid Secure processes are on the website here https://www.pdsw.org.uk/news/were-good-to-go/  Do check them out because it reveals the considerable care and thought that has been put into place to keep everyone using the building as safe as possible.  I think it has actually personalised the spaces more and maybe we’ll want to keep some aspects of it into the future!

Closing our building and stopping live activity has prevented us from earning income and we really need your support to ensure we’re around for the next decade and more.

Two ways to support us are by using the donate button on our website or you can sign up to Give As You Live – where every time you shop we’ll receive a donation at no cost to you – virtuous purchasing!