About us
We exist to make dance part of everyday life in the Tees Valley.
TeesDance is a place-based dance charity working across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington and Hartlepool — communities that have historically had the least access to dance and culture.
We believe dance is a right, not a privilege. Where someone lives should never decide whether they can take part.
“Whether it’s a child finding their confidence, or a whole community reclaiming joy and connection — dance becomes the spark for something much bigger.” — Trustee
Why TeesDance exists.
The Tees Valley has brilliant dance artists, schools, communities and cultural ambition. It also experiences some of the highest levels of health inequality, social isolation and economic disadvantage in the country — and dance can speak to all three, building wellbeing, belonging and confidence.
Yet locally, dance has too often been fragmented, short-term and rarely designed with the people it’s meant to reach. The result is an unfairness we exist to undo: the people who would benefit most are the least likely to take part.
TeesDance brings this work together — creating routes into dance, supporting local artists, strengthening partnerships and making sure dance has a visible place in the region’s cultural future.
Our vision.
A Tees Valley where everyone can connect, belong and thrive through dance.
Our mission.
To make high-quality dance accessible across the Tees Valley — through care-led, community-driven work that builds connection, improves wellbeing and creates opportunities to experience, create and progress in dance, particularly for people with the fewest opportunities, and strengthens the visibility and sustainability of the local dance sector.
Our model.
Our model shows how the work fits together — and the long-term change we’re building towards.
At its heart are four outcomes — Access, Connection, Wellbeing and Progression — the change our work creates, particularly for people with the fewest opportunities.
Everything TeesDance does connects back to these.
How we work.
Local people and local artists help lead.
We shape programmes with participants and partners, not for them.
We work through trusted places.
Schools, community spaces, youth organisations, care settings, festivals and health partners.
Care always comes first.
People feeling safe, welcome and heard matters as much as what’s created at the end.
We build things that last
Investing in artists, community confidence, progression routes and partnerships that outlive a single project.
Our values.
Care-led
People come first. We centre wellbeing, dignity and belonging in how we design, deliver and lead our work.
Equity
We remove barriers, recognise different starting points and work towards equity of access and opportunity.
Co-creation
We value shared ownership and meaningful partnership — shaping work with communities, not for them.
Challenge
We question norms, embrace curiosity and use challenge as a force for growth.
Who we work with.
Our programmes and work reach people across the Tees Valley who face the greatest barriers to accessing dance and culture — from young people in underserved communities to older adults experiencing isolation, and from local artists seeking development to children who need a creative outlet.
Children & young people
Accessible pathways from first experiences through to progression, supporting creativity, confidence, wellbeing and sense of possibility — particularly for young people with the fewest opportunities.
Underserved communities
High-quality dance in trusted local settings — inclusive spaces where people can connect, belong, improve wellbeing and access cultural experiences close to home.
Older adults
Welcoming dance activity supporting older adults to stay active, socially connected and creatively engaged — improving wellbeing and reducing isolation.
Local artists
Paid work, development opportunities, networks and platforms that invest in local artists and help dance become more visible and sustainable in the Tees Valley.
Working in partnership.
We do not work alone. Across the five boroughs we collaborate with local authorities, schools, family hubs, festivals, health and wellbeing organisations, youth and care charities, community centres and freelance artists.
We also connect Tees Valley people and artists to regional and national dance opportunities — helping the whole local dance ecology grow stronger.
We measure ourselves by the change we create.
Every year we ask: are we reaching people facing the greatest barriers? Are we improving wellbeing and belonging? Is the work genuinely high quality? Are communities helping shape it? Can young people and artists progress?
"In a region like ours, where arts access isn't always guaranteed, TeesDance is opening doors and keeping them open."
— Participant