Citymoves is one of the longest running dance agencies in the North East of Scotland. Established in 1987 when Aberdeen appointed Scotland’s first dance teacher for the disabled and elderly through Aberdeen council’s leisure and recreation department. Citymoves was part of Aberdeen City Council until 2015 when it became a Charitable organisation in its own right.
Citymoves’ purpose is to lead positive impacts through dance providing a supportive, encouraging, and inclusive dance community, with a focus on collaboration and accessibility. To achieve this, the organisation runs a myriad of studio classes, health and wellbeing projects, outreach, and educational programmes, working across Scotland and in partnership with local cultural organisations and businesses.
Hayley Durward CEO of Citymoves Dance Agency says “We strive to support people of all ages and abilities to access dance. Our participants engage for enjoyment or social reasons, to improve physical and emotional wellbeing or to further their career in dance. In Aberdeen, Citymoves and its cultural partners are often the reason participants and audience members journey into the city centre. Cultural activity in our city centers is key to maintaining the ecology of cities. Not only in the buildings we inhabit and open to the public, but in the fabric of the city we walk around.
This is a nostalgic year for Citymoves as they reflect on the last 35 years, celebrating past events, producing DanceLive festivals and looking forward to new collaborations locally in Aberdeen and Nationally through their well-connected networks of organisations and freelance practitioners.
Spectra Festival 2023
Citymoves flagship Youth Dance company “Fusion” perform annually at Spectra Light Festival. This year they are showcasing new work choreographed by Steven Martin at Marischal College Quad on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of February 7pm and 8pm. https://www.spectrafestival.co.uk/artists and https://www.citymoves.org.uk/fusion