5 February 2026
Let’s Dance is a day dedicated to getting the nation moving. Sunday 8 March is for dance studios and organisations across the country to encourage and welcome new faces into the studio, giving people the opportunity to discover the joy of dance and experience what a brilliant form of exercise it is for the health and wellbeing of both mind and body. With Angela Rippon leading the campaign, momentum building, we’re delighted to share what’s happening in the run‑up to the day.
Launch Event at The Old Bailey
On Saturday 7 February, a closed launch event will be held in the Great Hall of The Old Bailey in central London. The event will feature 100 dancers from ten different dance organisations, including Silver Swans, Black in the Ballroom, Parkinson’s UK, and The Big Movement Collective (men moving for mental health). Groups will represent dancers ranging in age from 14 to 80. The evening before, on Friday 6 February, Angela Rippon will appear on BBC One’s The One Show to talk about this year’s campaign.
The launch event will be filmed, and a copy of the video will be made available for studios to support their own promotion of Let’s Dance activities planned for March 8.
Additional projects underway
Dame Arlene Phillips has choreographed a special routine for people with Parkinson’s, which will be premiered at the launch event. Following this, it will be made available to Parkinson’s dance groups across the country. It is hoped that through social prescribing, more people living with Parkinson’s will be able to benefit from dance, particularly in improving balance, core strength and coordination.
Angela Rippon will be visiting a teaching hospital in North London to explore the possibility of getting a dance teacher, on staff within the hospital. To work with patients and staff in every section of the hospital alongside the physiotherapy team. It could open possibilities for newly qualified teachers to explore a whole new career path with dance within the NHS.
In celebration of Let's Dance and International Women’s Day, an Instagram Live conversation will take place focusing on women working in the dance sector. Ran by Lucy McCrudden (@dancemamaofficial) and Avatâra Ayuso (@awadance_charity) the live stream will take place on Monday 2 March at 12pm. This is a free live conversation, open to all. Simply follow the accounts and tune in on the day. Questions can be submitted in advance via direct message.
