Who can Dance Professionals Fund help?
The Dance Professionals Fund (DPF) is an award-winning UK dance charity that supports people in the dance industry throughout their careers and in retirement. The charity helps dance professionals performing and teaching across all dance genres (see FAQs). Help is offered in cases of illness or injury, as well as to help with financial or personal difficulties. The charity also offers upskilling grants to boost career prospects.
Things we can help with include:
- Payment of bills e.g: if loss of income is incurred due to illness
- Medical costs e.g: physiotherapy following injury and counselling
- Retraining bursaries e.g: course fees and maintenance costs
To be eligible for funding you will need to meet the following requirements:
- You have trained or worked in the UK within ballet, contemporary, or musical theatre dance (dancer, dance teacher, choreographer). All other dance forms including South Asian, ballroom and street dance will also be considered.
- Be a former or retired dance professional; or in certain circumstances, be a dependent of a dance professional
- Be in receipt of all the state benefits you are entitled to at the time of applying
- Those with savings of under £16,000 (evidence will be required).
- Have no other significant means of support e.g. from a partner or from capital assets.
The Fund cannot provide help towards:
- registered business costs
- business arrears
- debt repayments
- loans
We regret we are unable to fund the following individuals:
- Students who have yet to commence their career in dance
- Those requiring funding for creating artistic work, e.g. rehearsal or production costs
- Those working in therapeutic arts (e.g. dance therapy) or movement teachers in schools.
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for further information about who Dance Professionals Fund can help.
If you do not fulfil our criteria, there may be other charities than can help you.
