This Conference marks a very exciting time for YDE, and our partners, as we launch the first National Strategy for Children and Young People’s Dance 2010-2020. The Conference offers you a platform to share and discuss the strategy and its delivery in aiming to deliver a world class dance experience for all children and young people. We work in a fast changing and challenging environment that drives us to communicate clearly what we do, the values we uphold and the partners we engage with to make a cohesive dance offer to children and young people across the country. To get a perspective on progress made in England we will also be joined by colleagues from other countries who will discuss their developments in creating dance opportunities for children and young people. The Conference programme has been created in association with our National Youth Dance Network and key partners that promote dance in and out of school settings, and features presentations, debates, seminars, information exchanges and dance performances. The main theme we will be focusing on is putting strategy into practice through: improving cross sector working, implementing workforce development, ensuring conditions are in place for inclusive engagement, stimulating wider participation through dance in schools and wider community, creating progression routes and ensuring maximum value is made from investment through joining up programmes and networks. We are delighted to welcome special guests from the dance, arts, education, school sports and health sectors, alongside government and Arts Council England representatives speaking about the huge and far-reaching impact of dance on the lives of children and young people.