Dance That Makes a Difference: Shift Dance at Bourne Academy

At #Willdoes, we’re passionate about supporting initiatives that make a real difference in young people’s lives. That’s why we were proud to donate to Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW) to help deliver their inspiring Shift Dance & Wellbeing programme at Bourne Academy during the 2024/25 academic year.

PDSW is a registered charity based in Bournemouth that uses dance to uplift and connect communities across the UK. With mental health referrals for children and young people rising by over 50% between 2020/21 and 2022/23¹, the need for creative, supportive spaces has never been greater. Shift Dance offers exactly that—a place where young people can move freely, build confidence, and feel a true sense of belonging.

What is Shift Dance?

Organised and delivered by PDSW, Shift Dance is an 8-week in-school programme that combines movement and wellbeing activities to support 11–14-year-olds. It uses the power of dance to help young people feel more connected, resilient and self-assured.

The sessions are led by a dedicated team:

  • Emily Thompson Smith, dance artist with a focus on wellbeing and community

  • Natalie Cresswell, youth worker experienced in yoga and mindfulness

  • Zoe Murphy, pastoral lead at Bourne Academy, who supports student referrals and attends sessions

Together, they provide a safe, encouraging space for students to explore themes such as:

  • Trust & Support

  • Joy & Freedom

  • Identity & Empowerment

Each programme adapts to the group’s needs, encouraging student input and creative ownership.

Progress So Far

So far, 17 out of 24 planned sessions have taken place, with 16 students regularly attending and over 100 attendances recorded. Young people have joined for many reasons—from social struggles and bereavement to a simple love of dance.

To track the impact, mood scores are taken before and after each session. The results are powerful:

  • 77% of participants reported an improvement in mood

  • Average mood score increased from 3.8 (pre-session) to 4.5 (post-session)

Students frequently describe feeling “happy”, “peaceful”, “relaxed”, and “joyful” after taking part.

Stories That Stay With Us

These positive changes come to life in the individual stories we’ve heard.

Sarah, 13, has attended since the first session in Autumn 2024. Living with dyspraxia and Developmental Language Disorder, she joined because she enjoys dancing but finds social situations challenging. Since joining, her confidence has grown—both in herself and with her peers. She’s even invited her family to the upcoming celebration session.

Jennie, 14, took part in the first term. Outwardly confident, her mood scores revealed underlying low moods. For her, Shift Dance became a weekly escape—a chance to relax, express herself, and enjoy the moment.

Why It Matters

In a world full of online noise and constant pressure, Shift Dance creates something rare and essential—a space for young people to feel safe, express themselves, and connect in real life.

We’re honoured to have donated to PDSW so they could make this programme a reality at Bourne Academy. It’s a beautiful example of creativity, care and community coming together—and we can’t wait to see how the rest of the year unfolds.

Kristal Bowdler