Our History and Mission

Dancers’ Career Development is the only organisation of its kind in the UK to support dancers to successfully transition into alternative careers after retiring from professional performance.

We work to empower dancers in all dance forms, so that in overcoming any insecurities arising at the point they cease to perform, they are able to develop the remaining part of their career, within or outside the dance profession, by building on their distinctive strengths and transferable skills.

Dancers’ Career Development was founded in 1973, (originally founded as ‘The Dancers’ Resettlement Fund’) with the aim of providing career retraining support to the dancers from the then five Arts Council funded dance companies.

The organisation expanded its work in the mid-1980’s to offer career support to all professional dancers in the UK, from all genres of dance and at any point in their career.

The nature of DCD’s support programmes has shifted over time, offering dancers sustainable, long term career development support as well as practical and financial help.

Today, DCD offers a holistic range of support programmes to dancers, from the point of vocational training throughout their performance career and through retirement.