Hometown: Bringing dance to your doorstep

Driven by people’s stories, we are using dance to animate the places communities call home, the places that are familiar to us, and illuminating what is important to each community. Our long term vision for Hometown is to be nationally recognised in empowering communities to become the masters of creative activation.

1. Expanding Hyper-local Access to Dance

Across Southampton and beyond, Hometown delivered a total of 84 creative sessions, including 48 local dance and community sessions, 26 bespoke workshops, and 10 education partnerships. We engaged 496 participants, including 160 students through schools and 86 individuals outside of Southampton. Community partnerships were vital to the success of our Hometown programme and included Blue Apple Theatre, Hampshire Community Heritage, Winchester Hat Fair and Wokingham Borough Council.

Monthly attendance exceeded growth targets, with a 27% overall rise in participation and 70% of refugee participants reporting improved mood and happiness. Through these diverse access points, we brought dance to people’s doorsteps, embedded creativity in local spaces, and empowered individuals of all ages and backgrounds to explore self-expression through movement.

2. Strengthening Community Connections Through Creativity

Through initiatives like The Hub Festival and Live at the Library, Hometown brought together 674 attendees in creative celebration, breaking down social barriers and building trust. The Hub alone drove a 77% increase in participation, with workshops in dance, arts, wellbeing, and storytelling. Holyrood activity and Bespoke Community Projects such as Hat Fair strengthened social connections through storytelling, shared creative experiences, and the visible celebration of local identity.