Thank you, Shirley Ballas (What good is the sparkle of Strictly if young people in Britain aren’t getting the chance to dance?, 8 February). As a retired teacher of dance in schools, I have watched my beloved subject being left off a curriculum that prioritises Stem subjects in so many secondary schools. Dance is a physical means of expression that is unique. While some headteachers continue to include it, for many young people in state schools, experience of the arts is minimal.
To create a dance alone gives young people the chance to explore their emotions and ideas creatively. To create a dance with others allows them to work together to find solutions to problems, to listen, to discover each other, to compromise.
