THE first county-wide youth dance company for gifted and talented young people with disabilities has been launched by Gloucestershire Dance.

Members of the company, named Company INC, will develop their social skills and build confidence in a safe environment. They will develop technique, contribute to creating dance pieces for performance and work towards an award in dance leadership.

Fortnightly sessions run from now until July at Milestone School in Gloucester thanks to funding from Gloucestershire County Council’s Inclusion Grant.

Talented young participants were selected through the BBC Children in Need-funded strand of Glopucestershisre Dance's extensive education and outreach programme GD:Velcro.

This programme, for people of all ages, is driven by the belief that people with disabilities have the same rights as non-disabled people to access high quality dance activities.

Company INC will be led by experienced dance artist Rachael Ankers from the GD: Velcro team and supported by trainee dance leader Grant Harman. Further funding is currently being sought to extend this project into a sustainable dance company for young people with a broad range of disabilities.

For further information on Company INC, or if you wish to make a donation to support the GD:Velcro disability programme, please contact Inclusion Manager, Louise Portlock on 01452-550 431 / louise@gloucestershiredance.org.uk