Minister of Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe, attends the launch of Evolve Dance at the Alhambra Theatre Bradford

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe attends the launch of Evolve Dance at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford. The launch is hosted in conjunction with the DM Academy annual show which is directed by DMA Principal Deana Morgan. Deana becomes one of the directors of Evolve Dance, along with husband Graham Morgan and John Bishop. The 244 DMA performers provide the inspiration for Evolve Dance and prove that there is a dancer in everyone and everyone should be given the chance to perform.

Minister of Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe says:

“The Government is committed to giving the next generation a chance to sample more positive sports and cultural activities.

In terms of the Arts, no other activity has the opportunities for mass participation that dance can offer to young people of all ages and abilities. Dance is only second to football in terms of participation, and the gap is closing.

The media seem to have focused on the Government’s initiative to develop more cultural activities for young people by suggesting this will be achieved by paying for them to attend the theatre.

Today at the Alhambra Theatre Bradford you will see a more accurate interpretation of what the Government wishes to see from its investment.

244 young Bradford pupils will be strutting their stuff on stage while hundreds more will be watching them and becoming inspired to perform on stage themselves in the future. These dancers are performing at the DM Academy annual show but they are also providing the inspiration for Evolve Dance to launch a national programme for schools that aims to allow all pupils to get involved with dance and develop their passion into performances such as is on show today.

This Evolve Dance initiative is a fantastic opportunity for the next generation of pupils to get involved with dance and get into the habit of regular physical activity while having the time of their lives through the opportunity to perform live in front of an audience.”

Gerry Sutcliffe (centre, right) pictured with Evolve staff Elizabeth Neave, John Bishop (centre, left) and Graham Morgan (right), before the show.