It is how stories are told, how communities connect, how people find joy, expression and belonging.

It is also work. It is skill. It is culture. And it deserves care.

In recent years, however, something has shifted. Opportunities have reduced. Visibility has declined. Support structures have thinned.

A significant moment in this story was the closure of the city’s long-standing dance development agency, Merseyside Dance Initiative (latterly known as Together). For many working in the sector, this marked not just the loss of an organisation, but the loss of leadership, coordination and advocacy for dance in Liverpool.

That moment was the catalyst for Liverpool Dances.

It became increasingly clear that something needed to be done to help support the dance sector at a time of real fragility. Through my own lived and professional experience, relationships and understanding of the cultural ecology, I felt I could, and should, help by listening carefully, gathering evidence and creating space for voices to be heard.

Liverpool Dances was initiated as an independent research project with a clear purpose: to gather evidence and insight into the current dance ecology, and to use that evidence to identify clear ways forward and make practical recommendations that could help drive meaningful change.

While it was not possible to reach every individual, organisation or group, the research was designed to capture a broad snapshot of the dance ecology. It brought together voices from audiences, artists, practitioners, organisations and groups through a combination of face-to-face conversations and digital questionnaires.

What respondents shared was sometimes challenging and deeply honest, reflecting real frustration and fatigue. Yet running through the responses was a strong sense of optimism.

Despite the difficulties, many people expressed a belief in the potential of dance in Liverpool and a desire to see it thrive again. For me, the evidence gathered through this work clearly demonstrates that there is not only need, but genuine opportunity for positive change.

This work was not about nostalgia, blame or quick fixes. It was about evidence, perspective and creating a shared starting point for more informed, constructive conversation about the future of dance in Liverpool.

I am acutely aware that many people in the sector are exhausted, facing financial pressure and working with very limited time and capacity as they try to sustain their own livelihoods, creative work and organisations. Many have been asked to contribute to consultations before, often without seeing meaningful change, and some feel let down by the lack of long-term shift. For people to still give their time, insight and honesty to support this work is something I am genuinely grateful for.

This website offers a public-facing snapshot of the findings from the Liverpool Dances research. It highlights where experiences and concerns overlap, where challenges are shared, and where there is clear alignment on what needs attention.

Across the different voices engaged, common themes emerge. While there is no single or simple solution, the evidence consistently points to the need for a joined-up, strategic approach to supporting dance in Liverpool. There is a clear need for dedicated coordination and capacity, most effectively delivered through a lead dance development organisation. Liverpool has previously had such an organisation, and while no model is without its challenges, the principle of dedicated dance development is well established across most major towns and cities in the UK because it provides sustained coordination, advocacy and capacity that cannot be carried by individual artists or organisations alone. Any future organisation would need to operate differently of course, with a more sustainable model, improved transparency and an inclusive approach at its core.

The recommendations set out for each research strand focus on where action could have the greatest impact. Taken together, they have informed the identification of three overarching priority actions, which distil the strand-level recommendations into a clearer strategic framework to support more coordinated and impactful change.

Looking ahead, the next phase of this work is about moving from evidence to action. That begins with sharing the detailed findings, recommendations and priorities with local and national bodies who have the ability to support, invest in and help realise meaningful change. Words of support alone will not be enough. Progress will require resource and commitment if the priorities identified here are to move beyond aspiration and into delivery.

I will continue to do what I can to push this work forward alongside my day-to-day commitments, maintaining momentum where possible and keeping the focus on what this research makes clear is needed. To support openness and accountability, I will share updates through the Progress Journal on this website, documenting conversations, developments and next steps as they happen.

My hope is that Liverpool Dances helps to rebuild trust and acts as a catalyst for change, identifying realistic and sustainable ways to build a more inclusive, connected and ambitious future for dance in Liverpool.

David Watson

Explore the findings