Little Lights – Launching This Spring!

We’re excited to introduce Little Lights, a brand-new dance project starting this spring!

This 6-week programme will run from 28th April to 9th June and is designed for children aged 8–10 years. Sessions will be co-led by the Cheshire Dance team, and Spotlight dancers.

Location: New Images Youth Centre, Winsford
Who can join: Anyone aged 8–10 with an interest in dance – all abilities welcome!

What to expect
Each session is fun and engaging, including games, learning choreography, and creating your own dance. It’s all about exploring, building confidence, and enjoying dance in a supportive environment.

Whether your child is new to dance or already loves to move, Little Lights is a fun and supportive space to build confidence, creativity, and skills.

Got questions or want to sign up?
Please contact: lesya@cheshiredance.org

ABOUT SPOTLIGHT

Working in partnership with New Images Youth and Community Centre, Mind Body Balance Academy, Youth Fed and Winsford Care Community, The Spotlight Project is an initiative for young people aged 11-18 in Winsford to get active to improve their mental health and well-being. Placing the Spotlight on what the YOUNG PEOPLE like to do, the initiative encourages this age group to experience new things whilst building their confidence and providing the opportunity to engage with others from the local area.

The project brings young people from different backgrounds together from across Winsford (e.g., mix of ages, those attending different mainstream and specialist/alternative education amongst other demographics) to learn from and support each other. It provides a safe, supportive, youth led space for the young people to explore creatively. Specialist mental health support throughout the programme ensures The Spotlight Project is a space that young people experiencing mental health challenges can attend safely and social prescribers can be confident to refer in to.

The programme facilitators offer sessions to develop technique as well as exploring self-awareness, self-confidence and ways to promote wellbeing through creative activity. The content of the sessions is shaped by the needs and interests of the young people and is adapted as they continue to develop. Alongside regular sessions, visiting artists are commissioned to introduce the young people to new activities. Examples of past activities include: Parkour, Graffiti and Circus Skills.

The Spotlight Project began in late 2019 and formed part of the Cultural Regeneration Programme for Winsford Town Centre. Bringing together teens and pre-teens at New Images Youth Centre, the project saw ages 11+ engage with dance and creative workshops, culminating in a performance at the Winsford Creates Festival.

For this current year, The Spotlight Project is providing movement sessions for all abilities, including complete beginners. The aim of the sessions is to give ages 11-18 years old the opportunity to get moving and active in a friendly, non-judgemental and no-pressure environment, with members of Youth Fed on site at each session to assist with mental well-being when necessary.

Throughout the project, local GPs, school mental health practitioners and the local Police have signposted a number of Young People to the initiative to date.

Alongside regular creative physical activity sessions, for 2025 there is a smaller group of young people working within the group to develop Leadership Skills. Within this Leadership Programme, we offer workshops facilitated by practitioners with different expertise to explore skills and personal leadership journeys and 1:1 mentoring with facilitators to track development and support individual journeys.