About the course
Our Trauma-Informed Dance Practice CPD is an accredited, fully flexible online course for dance teachers and practitioners working across all dance settings.
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Delivered by Care to Dance - a national charity led by social workers and dance professionals - this training equips you with practical tools to understand behaviour, support wellbeing and create classes built on trust, safety and belonging.
What is trauma-informed dance practice, and why does it matter?
Trauma-informed dance practice recognises that many people carry experiences that affect how safe their bodies feel in learning spaces. Trauma is far more common than we might assume - around one in three children experience trauma, and many adults carry its impact into later life.
What people often don’t realise is that trauma isn't just stored in our minds, it’s stored physiologically in the body. Because of this, it often shows up as behaviour rather than words. In dance spaces, this might look like withdrawal, perfectionism, heightened energy, difficulty focusing or fear of making mistakes. These responses are not deliberate choices, but signs that the nervous system may be under stress.
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Dance environments ask people to be visible, embodied and emotionally present. Without felt safety, these demands can feel overwhelming and can limit engagement and learning. A trauma-informed approach helps teachers understand what may sit beneath behaviour and respond in ways that prioritise dignity, connection and safety.
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When dance is delivered with consistency and care, rhythm, repetition and movement can support regulation, confidence and belonging. This approach benefits all dancers, not just those with known trauma histories, creating more inclusive, sustainable learning environments where dancers feel safe enough to engage, take risks and grow.
Why learn with Care to Dance?
Care to Dance is a national charity with deep, lived expertise in trauma-informed dance practice. Our approach has been developed through years of delivering long-term, relationship-centred dance programmes with care-experienced young people across England, led by qualified social workers and experienced dance practitioners.
​We work with young people whose lives have been shaped by trauma, instability and loss. This has given us a clear understanding of how trauma shows up in dance spaces, and what genuinely supports safety, engagement and learning over time.
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This CPD is not trend-led or theoretical. It translates real-world learning from frontline practice into practical, reflective guidance that dance teachers can apply in everyday studio settings.
What you will learn
Through a blend of accessible theory, real-world examples and reflection, you will:
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Understand trauma and its impact on the body and learning
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Recognise common patterns such as withdrawal, perfectionism or heightened energy
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Respond to behaviour with curiosity and confidence
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Use rhythm, structure and choice to support regulation
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Build trust and relational safety in your classes
Course format and accreditation
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Fully online and self-paced
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Complete within 12 weeks
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Accredited CPD (Crossfields Institute)
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Includes one 30-minute coaching session with the Care to Dance team
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Optional additional 1:1 coaching is available.
Register your interest
You can sign up to the learning platform and enroll onto the course at:
https://learn.caretodance.co.uk/
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To find out more or to discuss organisational bookings, contact:
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We’re happy to answer questions and help you access the training in a way that works for your setting.
