A MORAY DANCE group has stepped up to receive a major national lottery funding award to provide weekly youth classes in Elgin.
Bodysurf Scotland will be provided £8750 in Awards for All funding from the Big Lottery in support of its contemporary youth dancing programme.
The organisation, which provides participatory dance opportunities and performances, says the funding will allow them to continue running its weekly youth dance classes in Elgin, in addition to establishing new groups in other rural areas and towns.
The fund will also support the continuation of Bodysurf Scotland’s annual Bodysurf Youth Dance Summer School, alongside a Christmas community dance showcase.
Bodysurf Scotland’s Dance Development Officer, Ellen Shaw, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding from Awards For All to continue offering dance opportunities to young people across Moray.
“Over the last year, we have been running a pilot youth dance programme in Elgin, which has proved extremely popular, and are now keen to expand this provision to other areas, to ensure everybody has access.”
Bodysurf Youth Dance forms part of the organisation’s Community Dance Programme, which has been running for two years. Dance Development Officer Ellen Shaw has worked with nearly 2000 participants since launching the programme in August 2015.
These range from pre and primary school aged children to young people, older people and people with additional support needs.
Currently, Bodysurf Youth Dance welcomes thirteen participants aged 11-14 to take part in dance classes and performances during term time.
Picture: Bodysurf Youth Dance participants Back row, left to right: Grace Caudel, Ellie Carmichael, Emma Nairn, Wiktoria Parol and Front row, left to right: Leah Hobson, Caitlin Moir, Isla Collie