Listening to Young Voices: Our First Dance Giants Speaker Meeting

At the heart of our Dance Giants programme is a simple but powerful belief: young people should shape the programmes created for them.

As part of our commitment to co-creation, we’ve launched regular meet-ups designed to hear directly from young people about what they want, need, and value within Dance Giants. This month, we held our first Dance Giants Speaker Meeting, bringing everyone together for open discussion, shared ideas, and honest reflection.

What Is a Dance Giants Speaker Meeting?

The Speaker Meetings are safe, welcoming spaces where young people can:

• Share what they enjoy about the Dance Giants programme

• Tell us what they’d like to add, change, or keep

• Offer ideas for new activities, styles, or opportunities

• Have a real say in how the programme develops

Rather than making assumptions, we asked the young people directly:
What’s working? What’s missing? What could be better?

What We Learned

The session was full of thoughtful, creative contributions. Young people spoke with confidence about their experiences and showed how invested they are in the programme. Their feedback will directly inform how Dance Giants grows — from session structure and content to the kinds of opportunities we offer in the future.

Most importantly, the meeting reinforced how powerful it is when young people feel heard, respected, and involved in decision-making.

What’s Next?

This first Speaker Meeting marks the beginning of an ongoing process. These regular meet-ups will continue throughout the year, ensuring that Dance Giants remains responsive, inclusive, and shaped by the voices of the young people who take part.

We’re incredibly proud of everyone who contributed to this first meeting and grateful for their honesty, ideas, and enthusiasm. Dance Giants is stronger because of you!

We are proud to be supported by: The Big Lottery, The Mayor of London and Horizons