Magpie Dance is the UK’s leading dance charity for people with learning disabilities. We believe that a learning disability should not be a barrier to personal and artistic success. Through dance, our participants gain life, social, and communication skills, along with health and wellbeing benefits.
We run inclusive dance sessions for children and adults with learning disabilities. Our collaborations with exciting artists and live musicians enrich this experience. We deliver professional training for education, dance, health and business clients nationally.
At its heart, Magpie Dance supports people with learning disabilities to gain significant life, social, and communication skills with measurable health and wellbeing benefits and to take part in the life of the community through dance.
People
Our people come first
We work together. We listen, share and encourage ideas, support and respect individuals. We focus on ability, not disability.
Excellence
We strive for excellence
We create high quality artistic experiences and professional practice.
Access
Our priority is accessibility and increased participation
We strive to ensure safe, physical access to activities and venues. Our commitment is to increase participation of people with learning disabilities within the cultural sector.
Challenge
We challenge perceptions
We change perceptions of what people with learning disabilities can achieve. We challenge participants to fulfil their potential and we challenge those they interact with to believe in their ability.
Avril’s unwavering dedication to Magpie Dance and to the continued development of inclusive dance, the community and dance industry was recognised through several awards; Avril was awarded with a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2017 New Year Honours List. Avril was shortlisted for a Lifetime Achievers Awards with One Dance UK and won the prestigious Lifetime Achievers award at the National Diversity Awards 2017.
Avril remains committed to Magpie Dance as an honorary patron since her retirement in 2017.
After graduating and working for 10 years teaching ballet, modern and tap, Avril was looking for a new challenge in her work. After experiencing a session and some mentoring from Wolfgang Stange, founder of AMICI, Avril began working with different groups of people with learning disabilities in social service centres, community venues and special schools. She originally set up a group of 10 adult dancers at Astley Centre in Bromley. Avril began delivering creative dance sessions for adults with learning disabilities who were all new to dance at the Astley Day Centre in Bromley for just 45 minutes each week. She worked pretty much alone for the first seven years with two very good volunteers, exploring movement concepts and encouraging people to express themselves creatively.
You can read Magpie Dance’s latest Annual Review for April 2024 – March 2025.
Please email Laura Graham, Magpie Dance’s Executive Director, if you would like a copy of Magpie Dance’s Annual Accounts or our Policies and Procedures.
Communication, confidence, health and wellbeing, positive social interactions, confidence and gaining skills.
Don’t just take it from us, here’s what our dancers say:
90%
could communicate better with people
90%
had increased confidence
91%
had developed new skills
90%
were less isolated/lonely
86%
were healthier
92%
said that Magpie Dance was most important to them
50%
have attended for more than 10 years
90%
of new participants completed termly sessions
For an inside look into the peer mentoring programme:
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We are very grateful to all our volunteers who have supported and continue to support Magpie Dance participants on classes, projects, performances, and everything in between.
