Your Students Deserve a Seat at the Table — And Now They Can Have One

We’ve all had that moment in class. A student makes an offhand comment, about how a competition rule feels unfair, or how they wish the music choices were different, or how they’d love to see more representation at events — and you think: someone should be listening to this.

Well, now someone will be.

The BDSA Youth Advisory Group (BDSAYAG) has just launched, and we think it’s one of the most genuinely exciting things to happen in dance sport governance in a long time. As a Teach.Dance sponsor initiative, we wanted to make sure every dance teacher in our community knows about it — because this is something worth talking about in your studio, at your next class, and to the young dancers who trust you to point them towards opportunities that matter.

What It Actually Is (And Why It’s Different)

The British DanceSport Association is recruiting eight young people aged 16 to 24 to sit on a new Youth Advisory Group. These aren’t token seats. This isn’t a box-ticking exercise. Youth Advisors will work directly with the BDSA to shape real policies, influence real decisions, and contribute to the long-term strategy of how dance sport is governed across the UK.

We’re talking about young people who will help guide:

• How safeguarding is built and communicated
• How competitions are structured and experienced
• How inclusivity and access are handled across the sport
• How the rules and environments young dancers compete in actually feel from the inside

That last one matters. Because as teachers, we know the difference between a policy written in a boardroom and one that was shaped by someone who’s actually stood on that competition floor, felt those nerves, and lived that experience.

Who Should You Be Thinking Of Right Now?

The role is open to anyone aged 16–24, based in the UK, who’s involved in dance in any capacity. Competitors, performers, choreographers, costume designers, organisers, teachers-in-training — even those who simply love to dance. No formal qualifications needed. No previous experience on committees or panels required.

What the BDSA is looking for is enthusiasm, honesty, and lived experience. Sound like anyone in your studio?

Think about the student who always has an opinion after competitions. The one who quietly notices when something isn’t fair. The young dancer who lights up when you ask what they think should change. This opportunity was made for them.

Why We’re Encouraging You to Champion This

As dance teachers, we hold a lot of influence — probably more than we realise sometimes. When we say “this matters,” our students listen. When we share an opportunity, they take it seriously in a way they might not if it landed in their inbox from an organisation they don’t know yet.

That’s exactly why the BDSA needs us to help spread the word.

This initiative is also a real statement about the kind of sport we’re all trying to build together — one where young people are active participants in shaping their own experience, not just recipients of decisions made without them. Inclusive, forward-thinking, and genuinely listening. That’s the dance community we want our students to grow up in.

The Practical Stuff

Here’s what the role looks like day-to-day, so you can answer questions when your students ask:

• Two-year term, around five hours per month, designed to work around education, competitions, and work commitments
• A mix of online and in-person meetings
• Support from the BDSA Youth Engagement and Participation Team throughout
• Travel and expenses covered, so accessibility isn’t a barrier
• A DBS check required for those aged 16+ (standard safeguarding procedure)

Applications are open now, with online interviews taking place 23–29 March 2026 and successful applicants notified by 30 March.

👉 Apply or find out more here, or request an application pack by emailing maria@bdsassociation.com

What You Can Do This Week

You don’t need to do anything complicated. Just:

1. Think of one or two students who’d be brilliant at this and mention it to them directly
2. Share this post in your studio’s parent group or student WhatsApp
3. Encourage the ones who might not put themselves forward — often the most thoughtful voices are the quietest ones

The deadline isn’t far away. If there’s a young person in your world who deserves to be heard at this level, let’s make sure they know the door is open.