This is my second year leading Dance Varsity, and my main aim this year is to continue developing an established, fun, and vibrant Term 2 event. The event brings together student communities from both performing arts and dance backgrounds, giving them the opportunity to express themselves and showcase their talents in a way they might not otherwise be able to.
I have been working closely with Cardiff Students’ Union to develop Dance Varsity further, allowing for increased collaboration across societies, with this year’s event taking place on the 21st of March. Dance was previously involved in Varsity over 10 years ago, but this stopped in 2015.
My long-term goal is to gradually increase the involvement of societies in Welsh Varsity and to highlight the wide range of talent across the university in the lead-up to Varsity.
Planned Actions:
- Create an inclusive, energetic atmosphere for all students and dancers ensuring every participant feels supported, confident and valued throughout the experience
- Strengthen collaboration between societies and varsity, giving them the same opportunity as sports clubs
- Focus on strong event production and social media promotion, including launching the dance societies involved and judges through engaging posts, videos and teasers to build exciting and attract student attention.
- Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity, including clear information about participation requirements, accessible venue and support for students who may be new to performing
- Continue to collaborate with both SU and CU events and media team to deliver a professional-standard show, including lighting, tech, staging, photography and videography
- Celebrate all participants after the event, through certificates, social media recognition and trophies
Progress so Far:
- Reached out to relevant societies and confirmed their involvement in Dance Varsity
- Planned and organised a dedicated social media content day, ready for Cardiff students to travel to Swansea, in preparation for ticket sales launching at the beginning of February
- Secured and booked the venue, and finalised the event infrastructure and logistical setup for the day
- Held regular planning meetings with Eve to organise schedules, coordinate responsibilities, and manage behind-the-scenes planning and delivery
Measures of Success:
- High participation rate, with representation from a wide range of student groups and the wider student and family community
- Strong audience turnout, aiming for a sold-out or near-capacity venue
- High online engagement, measured through social media likes, shares, comments, video views and interaction with promotional posts.
- Smooth event operations on the day, with minimal technical or scheduling issues
- Clear communication of participation requirements and accessibility information ahead of the event
- Participation from dancers with varying levels of experience and backgrounds