What Is The Yorkshire Dance Family Festival Happening In Leeds This October?

Finding something to do that the whole family enjoys can be a bit of a puzzle. You want something fun for the little ones, engaging for the older kids, and, let's be honest, not a total snooze-fest for the grown-ups. Well, this October, there’s an event that might just tick all the boxes. On Saturday, 18 October, Yorkshire Dance is opening its doors in Leeds for a one-day festival designed for children and their grown-ups. The theme is all about connecting with the world around us, inviting families to fall in love with the planet through a day packed with imaginative performances and playful workshops. It's a chance for families of all shapes and sizes to move, play, and discover together.

A festival with a big heart for the planet

So, what’s the big idea? This isn't just about watching some cool dance moves. The entire festival is themed around our amazing planet. The whole day is a brilliant way to get children thinking about the world, from the soil beneath their feet to the stuff they use every day. It's about sparking a bit of love and curiosity for nature, all through the power of dance and play. The team at Yorkshire Dance has curated a whole day of events that invite families to get involved. This is their fourth festival for children and their grown-ups, so they know a thing or two about putting on a great show for all ages.

Hannah Robertshaw, the Creative Director of Yorkshire Dance, puts it perfectly:

‘This is our fourth festival for children and their grown-ups. This year we’re inviting families across Leeds to fall in love with the planet. We aim to programme performances which are entertaining for people of all ages. This year’s line up is perfect for energetic little explorers covering everything from growing flowers, embracing the seasons to discovering soil animals and exploring plastics. We invite families of all ages to come along, play and move together.’

The best part? Every event is pay-what-you-can, making this amazing day of culture and fun accessible for all families.

Laugh-out-loud fun in a garden shed

For the youngest members of the family (we're talking ages 2 and up), there’s a show that sounds brilliantly bonkers. aKa Dance Theatre, who are experts in creating "seriously silly" performances, are bringing their latest creation, shed-ache. Imagine this: two friends are just trying to hang out in their shed, but suddenly they’re dealing with everything from massive downpours to floors turning into lava. Oh, and socks start falling out of the sky. It sounds like the kind of chaos that toddlers dream of. It’s an interactive performance that promises a ‘100% chance of laughter’, which is exactly what you want from a family day out. It's a playful introduction to the world of live performance for very young children.

Thinking about plastic, through dance

What about the older kids? There’s something for them, too. A performance called Plastic Drastic Fantastic asks a really big question: is plastic a friend or an enemy? Created by a company called Akademi, this show is a really clever mix of art and science. They actually worked with material scientists to develop the performance, which is pretty cool. The show uses beautiful Indian classical dance forms, like Bharatanatyam and Kathak, to explore what plastic is and the problems it can cause when it's misused. It's a thought-provoking piece that gets children thinking about a massive environmental issue without being preachy. It just shows how different art forms can be used to tell important stories and share vital information.

Celebrating the tiny creatures under our feet

The festival also gives a stage to amazing local artists. A show by Leeds-based artist Izzy Brittain, called The Smalls, invites everyone to explore the magical world of soil animals. You know, all those tiny creatures that are smaller than worms but are super important for the food we eat. The performance is a playful celebration of these unsung heroes of the planet. It’s designed to get everyone to become ‘soil supporters’ and ‘dirt defenders’. It’s a wonderful way to get children to fall in love with a part of nature they probably never even think about, proving that important stories can be found in the smallest of places. The drive behind these creative works is clear: to connect us all back to the planet.

Get involved with playful workshops

The Children & Their Grown Ups festival isn't just about sitting and watching; it’s about getting stuck in. Throughout the day, Yorkshire Dance will invite families to join a series of workshops. There's a real variety of different dance and movement forms on offer.

• Through the Season with the Mountain Witch: A playful session with Speedwell Dance.
• Plastic Drastic Fantastic Workshop: A chance to move with the artists from Akademi.
• Plants & Pots: Parent and Tots: A creative workshop for the little ones and their grown-ups.

And that’s not all. There are also drop-in activities running all day. Kids can get creative in a scrap play area, and there will be pop-up performances happening when you least expect them. There’s even a DJ set by Azizi Cole, who will be playing ambient chill-out music… for plants. Yep, you read that right. It’s all part of the playful, imaginative atmosphere that makes this festival so special. You can practically download the fun and joyful energy. The whole event is a must-see this October.