Popular searches
February 09, 2026
Confidance is an inclusive dance organisation based in East Kent that has been creating high‑quality dance experiences with and for people with learning disabilities for more than 15 years. Their work spans education, community outreach and professional development, with a mission to make dance accessible and lifelong. The project provides vital opportunities for young people who often face barriers to mainstream arts, offering a space to move, express themselves and build confidence.
Kent Community Foundation provided funding towards staffing costs, enabling Confidance to deliver 30 weeks of inclusive youth dance classes in Ashford for young people aged 13–15 with learning disabilities.
Folkestone & Hythe
from The Brook Trust Fund for Kent and Holiday Extras Community Fund
Through our partnership, Confidance created a safe, joyful and empowering space where 12 young people could develop their dance technique, communication and independence. Regular classes helped participants build friendships, improve confidence and take pride in their achievements.
The year culminated in public performances at the Folkestone Living Advent Calendar and GenFest in Canterbury, where the group showcased their talents to more than 200 local residents. These performances also raised awareness of inclusive arts across East Kent and demonstrated the creativity, ability and commitment of young learning‑disabled dancers.
Parents and carers reported noticeable improvements in confidence, social skills and independence. For many, the programme provided a clear progression route from SEN school engagement into structured dance training - and for some, an aspiration to join the organisation’s professional company.
One young participant joined the programme with limited verbal communication and struggled to interact confidently with others. Confidance embedded duet and group tasks into weekly sessions, using accessible communication resources to help dancers express their ideas, listen to peers and explore how they communicate through movement.
Over the year, this participant’s confidence flourished. Their dance vocabulary expanded, and they began choosing to use verbal language more often - sharing creative ideas in longer sentences with growing enthusiasm. Their carer shared that this transformation was highly unusual and a sign of how safe and supported they felt in the group.
They performed in front of more than 200 people at the Living Advent event and later volunteered to speak on camera at GenFest, proudly explaining what they had enjoyed about the festival. This moment reflected just how far they had come in communication, confidence and self belief - empowered to fully participate in a youth arts festival alongside their peers.
