Charitable Giving
AED creates opportunities and helps makes dreams come true.
Our Commitment
All England Dance is, at its core, a youth-focused performing arts charity. Every decision we make is shaped by our mission to support dancers, teachers, and families who believe in the value of dance education and the performing arts.
- Developing Outstanding Young Talent
- Developing the Next Generation of Dance Talent
- Developing Excellence in Youth Dance
The All England Dance Competition underpins AED’s charitable mission, providing young people with the opportunity to perform in a fully professional environment, in some of the country’s leading theatres, and to receive high-quality, supportive and educational feedback from professional adjudicators.
UK Young Dancer was created in 2023 to mark AED’s centenary and to support dancers who are interested in pursuing a professional career. The programme offers participants the opportunity to work closely with leading choreographers and professional dancers, giving them a realistic insight into the standards, discipline and expectations of working within the professional dance sector.
Each year, AED awards a scholarship to enable talented young people to continue their full-time training and artistic development
The Angela Rippon Dance Challenge
UK Young Dancer
How We Use Our Funds
Any surplus generated from our festivals is reinvested directly into the dance community. These funds enable us to provide annual dance scholarships, award valuable prizes, and offer educational workshops for dancers and teachers. As a performing arts charity, we are committed to widening access to dance education while maintaining transparent and responsible financial practices.
The rising cost of theatre hire and production standards means we must balance ambition with sustainability. We remain focused on offering an exceptional experience while keeping entry fees as affordable as possible for families.
Why We’re Expanding Our Fundraising
To protect the quality of our events and broaden the support we offer, we are increasing our fundraising activity and seeking new sponsorship partnerships. Additional income will help us strengthen opportunities for young performers, expand our educational programmes, and maintain the high production values expected at a national dance competition.
Scholarships
- Ballet & Jazz classes
- Musical Theatre applicants: Prepare a song
- Interview with the AED Board panel
- Initial Application Deadline: 15th May 2026
- Video Submission Deadline: 5th June 2026
- Invitation to Audition Day sent by: 15th June 2026
- Audition & Interview: 24th June 2026 at Performers College, Birmingham
Listen to previous scholarship winners
Ellie Tames
Joseph Barlow
Tara Yasmin
Martha Burton
Supporting Charities & Organisations
We are very proud to work with and support the following:
The TIRED Movement was founded in 2020 as a social enterprise (not for profit) to raise awareness about racial injustice within the industry and the importance of representation in dance education. The movement has gained great momentum and support from the dance community and has made great strides towards implementing change across all sectors.
“The more voices we hear, the louder we become”
