Swan Lake Take Flight
Overview
In 2024–25, New Adventures toured its pioneering production of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. To mark its 30th anniversary, New Adventures developed Swan Lake Take Flight, an ambitious dance project aiming to reach over 2,500 young people across the UK.
Inspired by Swan Lake, the project combined regional dance-artist training and employment, community movement workshops and in-theatre experience days, engaging young people with or without previous dance experience. Activities explored how connecting, creating and moving together can improve wellbeing. Through a pioneering research partnership with The Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse at Brunel University London, New Adventures is also identifying the conditions and mechanisms through which Swan Lake Take Flight achieves its wellbeing outcomes.
Delivered with New Adventures’ Placemaking partners, including Mayflower Theatre and MAST Mayflower Studios, Norwich Theatre, The Alhambra Bradford, Theatre Royal Plymouth, The Marlowe Canterbury, Theatre Royal Newcastle and Farnham Maltings, the project builds on deep, whole-organisation relationships with venues across the UK. These partnerships enable bespoke activity that responds to local communities and venue priorities, supports sustainable audience development and creates lasting impact beyond the tour. By working closely across management, production and participation teams, New Adventures and its partners can strengthen strategic aims and maximise the impact of this work year-on-year.
“Now, more than ever, young people need dance and dance needs young people! Just as our production of Swan Lake embraces the next generation, Swan Lake Take Flight will get today’s generation of children and young people moving and excited about dance and validate the impact of dance on wellbeing to support the future of our industry and generations to come. I could not be prouder of this pioneering programme and look forward to working with our venue partners throughout the UK to make it a success.”
Etta Murfitt, Associate Artistic Director of New Adventures
Swan Lake Take Flight was supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation. We'd also like to offer our thanks to our philanthropy circle, 'The Flock' for their support of this programme.
The Work Continues
This approach has continued through In Our Shoes, delivered alongside The Red Shoes, and will next inform Moving Through Time, a new participatory project accompanying Cinderella. Together, these projects build on the learning from Swan Lake Take Flight, using New Adventures’ productions to create opportunities for connection, creativity and wellbeing, while strengthening local partnerships and leaving a lasting legacy beyond each tour.
Watch our Swan Lake Take Flight film
Evaluation
We are delighted to partner with The Centre for Health and Wellbeing at Brunel University London to develop a programme theory of wellbeing for Swan Lake Take Flight.
The research identifies the conditions and mechanisms through which community dance achieves wellbeing outcomes, while evidencing the impact of an extensive movement and dance programme delivered across diverse places and participants in the UK. The PhD supports an evidence-led framework reflecting New Adventures’ commitment to widening access: enabling people to watch adventurous performances, take part in creative movement projects, and join the New Adventures family of performers, practitioners, and participants.
We define wellbeing as feeling happier and healthier through creativity, connection, joy, and wonder. Swan Lake Take Flight brings young people together, helping them feel inspired and enriched through movement. By valuing their creativity and enabling them to flourish, we aim to improve every participant’s wellbeing across the UK.
Hannah Filer, Dance, Communities and Wellbeing Doctoral Researcher, is undertaking this PhD. Her work designs and delivers workshop activities to co-produce a programme theory of wellbeing for community dance. We are also working closely with her supervisor, Louise Mansfield, Professor of Sport, Health and Social Sciences and Research Lead for Welfare, Health and Wellbeing in the Institute of Environment, Health and Societies.
Download the evaluation reports:
Take Flight Dance Ambassador Training Report
Case Study Report - Regional Dance Ambassadors in the Swan Lake Take Flight Programme
The Swan Lake Take Flight Community Dance Programme - A Report on Young People, Dance Movement, and Wellbeing in England
A Report on Stakeholder Perspectives in the Swan Lake Take Flight Community Dance Programme.pdf
If you would like these reports in a different format, please get in touch via email to office@new-adventures.net
About the Theory of Change
The Theory of Change provides an evidence-led and coproduced visual summary of how the Swan Lake Take Flight Programme creates meaningful opportunities for young people to engage in creative dance movement across the UK. Developed with participants, dance ambassadors and artists, local venue partners and communities, it reflects the programme’s commitment to equity, inclusion, diversity and participant-centred practice.
At the heart of the programme are skilled local Dance Ambassadors who work within community and theatre settings to create welcoming, accessible and inspiring spaces for participation. Through high-quality creative dance experiences, young people are empowered to explore movement, express themselves, build confidence and develop a sense of joy and belonging.
The programme recognises that wellbeing is strengthened when young people feel seen, valued and connected. By removing barriers to participation and ensuring activities respond to local needs and lived experiences, the Swan Lake Take Flight Programme enables a wide range of young people to access the social, emotional and creative benefits of dance.
Place and partnership are central to our Theory of Change. By working closely with our partner theatre venues, we draw on their local knowledge, trusted relationships and community connections to create relevant and accessible opportunities to engage with dance. These partnerships bring together shared knowledge, resources and expertise, strengthening local infrastructure and creating pathways for continued participation, creative development and opportunity beyond individual programmes. In this way, the work is rooted in, and contributes to the cultural life of the places in which we tour
Through sustained engagement, participants develop positive relationships, increased self-confidence, enhanced emotional wellbeing and stronger connections to their communities. In turn, local partnerships, youth voice and community capacity are strengthened, creating lasting opportunities for participation in the creative arts.
This Theory of Change demonstrates how New Adventures’ outstanding community dance programme supports healthier, more connected and more resilient young people through the transformative power of creative movement.
Download the Theory of Change:
Meet Hannah Filer, Communities and Wellbeing Doctoral Researcher at Brunel University.
Meet Louise Mansfield, Professor of Sport, Health and Social Sciences at Brunel University.
Meet the Dance Ambassadors
Meet our Regional Dance Ambassador for Bradford, Elliot Augustine.
Meet our Regional Dance Ambassador for Canterbury, Jodie Cole.
Meet our Regional Dance Ambassador for Newcastle, Alyssa Lisle.
Meet our Regional Dance Ambassador for Norwich, Sophie Utting.
Meet our Regional Dance Ambassador for Plymouth, Sapphire Sumpter.
Meet our Regional Dance Ambassador for Southampton, Charlotte Fernandes.