MORE THAN
DANCE

Check out our new package for this Jubilee year,

Pilgrims of Hope;

He is our Anchor, He is our Hope.

More details to follow!
  • Pilgrimage to Holy Island
  • Northern Saints performance at Hexham Abbey
  • Dance at Sage Gateshead
  • Holy Communion reflection day

to the website for

More Than Dance.

Welcome

We work with individuals, groups, schools and areas of the wider community.

<More Than Dance

- it’s about so much more…

We have 18 years experience of delivering high quality, creative programmes in both school and community environments. Based in the North East of England, the home of the Northern Saints, we travel around the country, using Dance as the tool to encourage growth and development in areas of self-esteem and personal/growth. We use Dance to explore the Christian faith in new and creative ways. We use a fusion of dance styles to enable and encourage participants to be creative with their body, mind and spirit. We use Dance to introduce new perspectives on living, beyond the security of the familiar - looking at life skills, self-awareness, self-confidence, self expression and group participation.

Our
Work

  • The Beatitudes

  • Oranssi project: roof expansion

    House of Friendship

  • Oranssi project: slat roof

    Easter

  • Oranssi project: wraparound deck

    The Prodigal Son

  • Northern Saints at Hexham Abbey

  • Oranssi project: passive house

    Easter

  • Easter

  • Moving On

What Schools say

  • 'We have worked with the team from 'More than Dance' for numerous years. It is always a wonderful opportunity for the children to use this form of non-verbal worship to praise and honour God. All year groups are included within our annual termly programme which provides the children with an engaging and reverent alternative way to connect with prayer.'

    Leigh-anne Young - St. Bede’s, Denton Burn

  • 'I want to say a huge thank you to you both on behalf of the children and myself, for the wonderful two days you gave us. I had not really prepared the children by telling them anything about the days – certainly didn’t mention the word dance! They have been inspirational an I have to say I am so proud of them all. But it would have been nothing without your wonderful guidance and patience, not to mention your unending enthusiasm and obvious passion for what you do. I hope the Holy Spirit will continue to fire you with his love and dedication because we need people like you who can inspire us all. Many, many thanks'

    Michele - St. Joseph’s Newcastle

Our
Packages

  • Cross

    One Story, One Message

    There is only one story, one message, in all of history that has the ability to change our lives.

    The cross of Christ allows our lives to be open to God’s love, grace and hope.

    This whole school package looks at the themes of Lent and Easter, that can be used in any liturgy, service or assembly.

  • Star

    A Story to Tell

    Christmas is a time for sharing stories, a time to journey, a time to explore and unwrap the priceless gift within each one of us.

    The Christmas Story comes alive and is shared with energy and hope. Dance, music, prayers and symbols are used to create an atmosphere of joy and celebration as we prepare to welcome the Light of the World. This package is available for the whole school.

  • Celtic

    Northern Saints

    An innovative package whole school package looking into the lives of the Northern Saints through dance and activities. Children gain an insight into their journey, their commitment and their relevance to Christian's in today's world. The journey from Ireland, to Iona, on to Bamburgh and Lindisfarne, Whitby, Jarrow and Durham.

    Following the lives of Patrick, Columba, Oswald, Aidan, Cuthbert, Hild and Bede.

  • Poppy

    From War to Peace

    This one-day package for Key Stage 2 honouring those lost in war, who gave their lives as the ultimate price. While remembering the call that God has for each of us to be peacemakers.

    An assembly pack is available so the day can be shared with school or parents later.

  • Christian Virtues

    This whole school package takes a closer look at some of the foundational Christian Virtues encouraging the children to see each virtue as an action not just an idea. Through dance and creative tasks, we look closely at;

    Love

    Kindness and compassion

    Bravery and Self sacrifice

    Mercy and Justice

    Forgiveness

    Wisdom

    Peace

  • House of Friendship

    We look inside God’s house of friendship to find out what makes a good friend and the type of friend he calls us to be. This interactive one-day package for Key Stage 1 uses dance, writing tasks and visual aids to highlight different aspects of what makes a good friend and how we can love our neighbour.

  • Treasures of God

    In this exciting one-day package for KS1 the children will delve into God’s treasure chest exploring what’s inside, sometimes finding things we expect in a treasure chest and some surprises along the way. The use of visual aids, dance and creative tasks adds to the sense of discovery and excitement as we look at each of God’s treasures.

  • How much do I love you?

    Through this one-day package for Key Stage 1 we ask the question, how much does God love us? We explore the ways in which God has showed his love for us and therefore the love God wants us to share with one another. Through dance and drama, the children look at different aspects of God’s love from creation to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Looking at what it really means to love your neighbour as yourself.

  • Mindful Movement

    The Road Centre and More Than Dance are proud to present their joint project 'Mindful Movement' . 'Mindful Movement' combines both companies experience of working with children across the north east. The package will be delivered over 4 weeks and is aimed at upper Key Stage 2. Each individual workshop includes movement work with the dancers from More Than Dance, a therapeutic activity with The Road Centre's qualified counsellor and a joint meditation/mindfulness activity as well as things to do in the classroom and at home to embed wellbeing.

  • The Prodigal Son

    A day for Key Stage 2 looking at the popular story of The Prodigal Son through dance and drama. A creative way to explore the concepts of love and forgiveness. During the day the young people will work together on drama and dance activities, they will also look individually at their own experience of ‘saying sorry’, of being forgiven and how that actually can change things.

  • The Beatitudes

    A modern day attitudes for everyday life … an activity based day for Key Stage 2 children looking at positive and negative attitudes which affect the way we live our lives on a daily basis. Young people have the opportunity to explore their own roles/attitudes/responses and responsibilities again using dance/drama/activities/group work and discussion.

  • From Covenant to Christ

    Taking inspiration from passages in The Old Testament, individual year groups will learn dances, read bible stories and participate in activities to learn how the stories of Noah, Moses and more are fulfilled in Jesus. This package takes place over 2 days for the whole school or alternatively 1 day focusing on an individual Key Stage.

  • Moving On

    Through this package children look at the process of transitioning, whether that is though school or for some leaving school. Looking at how God walks with us on our journey no matter where we go, this package offers an opportunity to reflect on our experiences and process our thoughts about moving on.

GET IN TOUCH

Build your own package

We offer the ability for schools to design their own package, if they have an arts week or RE focus we can custom build a package.

More Than Dance

More than Dance CIC Ltd was born and we have gone from strength to strength with Emily joining us in 2007 and Danielle joining as a team member in 2010.  Emily and Danielle, now take the company forward and we meet to plan and discuss our vision on a regular basis.  From early beginnings to now, we still seek to spread the Gospel message via creative means, our work is about so much more…

Kevin is now an ordained Deacon in the Catholic Church and maintains his position as Creative Director.  Oonagh is a full time counsellor and remains involved in the administrative elements of the company as well as developing the vision with the other members of the team. 

In 2024 More Than Dance CIC Ltd is 18 years old!  Our Community Interest Company was developed following a recognition that a lot of the work we were doing was dance related and based in schools.  Prior to this, we were called ‘Dare2Dance’ and before that ‘The Vineyard’.  Kevin and Oonagh, two of the founding directors of More Than Dance CIC Ltd, felt called to full time ministry, to spread the message of the gospel using creative means. 

The Vineyard was set up in St James’ Church, Hebburn after Bishop Ambrose Griffiths agreed to us moving in with our then Parish Priest, Fr Paul Trinder to try something new.  As we developed The Vineyard the creative element of our work grew and grew.  Dance became a consistent part of our work after becoming involved with Beyond the Barricades, an ecumenical Christian dance group.  The Vineyard, developed into Dare2Dance and as this grew around the North East we realised we needed to put things on a more formal footing. 

Our

Team

Kevin Atkinson

Director

My creativity has, I believe, been a grace and a gift from God, for which I am forever thankful.

It has long been a part of my life and everything I have been involved with; as a husband and father and in many areas of my work as a social worker, carer, chaplain, dance lecturer and community outreach worker, dance practitioner and in my vocation as a Permanent Deacon.

It has always permeated my faith practice and I have been hugely blessed to have been supported by many wonderful faith filled people.  These people have supported and encouraged me to develop and practice the creative gifts that I have been blessed with.

More Than Dance has been a wonderful, creative and amazing experience for me, allowing me to develop my ability as choreographer, teacher, director and dance practitioner.

It is one of the greatest blessings of my life to have been a small part of seeing hundreds and hundreds of young people and adults grow and flourish through the gift which is More Than Dance.

Oonagh Atkinson

Director

What a journey we’ve been on since the first years of moving into St James’ Presbytery many years ago.  Trusting and developing our ministry from the early days to developing a CIC and putting More Than Dance on the map.  The work of the company has been varied and has taken us as far north as St Andrew’s and as far south as Portsmouth and to so many places in-between. 

I loved working in schools, working with CJM on ‘Big Sing’ projects, developing our Northern Saints packages and performances, it’s been a great joy to be a part of all of this.  I developed my confidence in this role. 

I had a couple of part time jobs too, one of these was as an administrator with a counselling company called The Road Centre.  It wasn’t long before I started to train as a counsellor.   Whilst doing my training and working part time, I continued to work with More than Dance and to travel around the country when I was available.  Once qualified as a counsellor, I have become a Director of The Road Centre which now takes most of my time.

 I maintain my interest in the company, doing the accounts, the administrative tasks and checking in with Danielle and Emily on a regular basis, which is a lovely mix for me.  I remain passionate about dance and movement enhancing liturgy and spreading the gospel message to children/young people and adults using different creative ways.  Each year, I blend my counselling and creativity into a service during Mental Health Awareness Week which gives us a space for reflection and creative expression.

Danielle Walker

Dance Practitioner

I began dancing for the Christian dance group Beyond the Barricades, which presented itself as a springboard into the world of dance. Through meeting Kevin and Oonagh and being involved in various projects the shape of my life vastly changed.

I took what I thought would be a gap year to complete an apprenticeship with Springs Dance Company in London and after a lot of prayer and prompting went on to train in Laban, one of the world’s finest centres of professional contemporary dance, completing a BA(hons) in Dance Theatre.

After returning to More Than Dance in 2010 I had the opportunity to receive further training from Kevin and Oonagh about all things Community Dance related, they couldn’t have been more patient or generous with their knowledge.

With a wide experience of dance styles and choreography I can draw on all aspects of my training while teaching in schools. I find it is always good to have a great enthusiasm for dance when working with young people and that enthusiasm encourages them to try new things whether that is dance or something else, a boundless amount of energy comes in handy as well. The curious creative mind that I have been gifted with makes life fun, if not slightly mad at times.

Being able to not only share my love of dance with the people we work with but the wonderful message of God’s love for us, his love that meets us exactly where we are is a true privilege.

Emily McGinley

Dance Practitioner

More Than Dance is an important part of my life and has been for over fifteen years. Being asked to be a part of More Than Dance came at a time when I was struggling, Kevin, Oonagh and Danielle offered me a safe space to explore my love of dance and helped to build belief in myself.

Dance and creativity are great ways for us to grow not only in Faith but also in recognising the person we are meant to be. What I love about working in schools is when I recognise my younger self in some of the children and then being able to work with them to help build their confidence and self-belief.

Having the opportunity to meet and work with young people and sharing the message of God’s love for us is a privilege. we also have the pleasure of returning year after year to a few schools and watching children grow in Faith from Reception to Year 6 is so lovely.

When I’m not working I love spending time with family and friends, I like to read, go for walks and enjoy holidaying in Scotland and Ireland.