Yorkshire Dance

Yorkshire Dance is a registered charity established in 1982, based in St Peter's Buildings in Leeds' Cultural Quarter. The organisation works through dance to create happiness, health, connection and change, serving communities and artists across the region.

The studio offers an extensive timetable of weekly classes across multiple styles and ability levels. For children and young people, Saturday Superstars runs classes for ages 0–16, including Parents & Tots (ages 0–4), Ballet for ages 3–4, 5–7, and 8–11, Creative Tap (ages 4–8), Creative Pop (ages 5–7), Street Styles (ages 5–7 and 8–11), and TEMPO Street Crew (ages 12–16). Weekday and evening classes for adults cover Ballet (Beginner through Advanced/Professional levels), Contemporary Dance (Open Level and Advanced/Professional), Flamenco (Beginner through Intermediate), Argentine Tango and Milonga (Beginner through Intermediate), Cuban Salsa (Beginner and Intermediate), Commercial Dance, Jazz, Ballroom and Latin, Kathak Dance, Bulgarian Dance Rhythms, Hula Hoop Dance, Community Roller Dance, Zumba, High Heels, and Indian Bollywood & Contemporary Dance. Classes are taught by experienced independent tutors and Yorkshire Dance staff, with instructors including Louise McDowall, Cassie Wheelwright, Hannah Durkan, Michelle Higgins, Patricia Tapia, Chloe Mangham, Martin Henson, Valentina Ferrotti, and many others.

The building houses three studios on the third floor, all with step-free access. Studio 1 (165 square metres) features a maple-wood sprung dance floor, natural daylight, original wooden beams, good acoustics, up-to-date sound system, and air conditioning, with seating for up to 70 people. Studio 2 (88 square metres) is bright and airy with excellent acoustics, sound system, air conditioning, and seating for up to 50. Studio 3 (192 square metres), the largest, offers raked retractable seating for 80 people, full blackout capability, lighting rig, and sound system, used regularly as a performance venue. Studios are available to hire, with bookings currently taken from mid-September 2026 onwards following summer refurbishment.

Yorkshire Dance runs regular events including Roadhouse performances (£7.00–£12.00 entry) and the No Dress Code Scratch Night. The organisation also offers studio hire, artist co-working space, meeting room hire, party hire, and office space rental. Term dates run Autumn (w/c 21 September–w/c 14 December) and other terms throughout the year; Parents & Tots can be booked week by week or for the full term, and other classes by term.

The studio is committed to accessibility and inclusion, operating as a 'braver space' where all are welcomed and treated with respect. The building has step-free access with lifts to all floors, automatic doors with bells at different heights, accessible toilets on every floor (no code required), gender-neutral toilets, baby-changing facilities, and a quiet prayer space available on request. A wellbeing space is available on the second floor. One carer ticket is provided free with performances. First Aid and a defibrillator are on site; assistance dogs are welcome. Paid parking bays sit 10 metres from the door, with free parking for blue-badge holders in these spaces. The studio is two minutes' walk from Leeds city bus station and 15 minutes from the train station, opposite the BBC building and Leeds Conservatoire.

This is a dance development organisation rather than a single-style school, so the first question is which programme fits rather than which class. Weekly courses run in terms alongside the school year, and there are separate strands for young children, ages 11-19, adults, dancers 55 and over, and people with additional needs. Performances at the on-site Studio Theatre are ticketed separately, typically GBP 7 to GBP 12. Studio and meeting room hire is available to companies and independent artists.

Yorkshire Dance is run by Yorkshire Dance Centre Trust, a registered charity (no. 701624). Its programme is delivered by a team of class leaders and visiting artists across the strands rather than by a fixed faculty.

Many classes are explicitly labelled as Beginner, and the studio emphasises a friendly, safe, and fun environment for all ages and abilities.