Stephanie Baird of Move Orkney has been nominated for a top national award for her outstanding contribution to health and wellbeing through dance.

One Dance UK, is ‘the national support organisation working tirelessly to ensure a brighter future for dance.’

The One Dance UK Awards are an annual celebration for people from across the dance sector to unite, celebrate, acknowledge and reward the people who have made an impact on the vibrant UK dance landscape! Championing the excellent work of dance artists, teachers, practitioners, educators, schools, choreographers, companies, venues, scientists, and writers.

At Move Orkney Stephanie provides dance classes to the islands of Orkney which aim to be inclusive. Stephanie is passionate about the holistic approach to dance which the workshops and projects Move Orkney has been involved with take. Individuals of all ages learn how to be creative through dance with inclusive neurological programmes and focussing on accessibility for all regardless of income, ability or location.

In the last two years alone Stephanie has delivered two excellent projects in collaboration with Orkney Islands Council: Movements of Orkney, and Project Hop.

Movements of Orkney was a 5 week project with live music and creative dance practice. It included creative dance games inclusive to all participants regardless of disability or learning requirements, working with musician Dylan Pepper to create their own music and sound, and art sessions with large scale pens and paper to produce a visual map of Orkney.

Project Hop delivered creative dance and hip-hop classes to 11 islands Stronsay, Sanday, Eday, Hoy, Flotta, Westray, Papay, Shapinsay, Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre. Aimed at ages 3-18 years the classes were free.

During the height of the Covid pandemic she also produced an online series of free dance workshops supporting people with MS.

The One Dance UK Awards take place on Saturday 10th Feb 2024 at The Box, FarGo Village, Coventry. The Awards champion the excellent work of dance artists, teachers, practitioners, educators, schools, choreographers, companies, venues, scientists, and writers.

“Our Awards celebrate all those who make our dance ecology thrive.”

Fiona Grahame

See also: