25 September 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich
A Free Large-Scale Ballet Experience for Children and Young People
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Ballet in the Square proved to be a powerful example of community engagement, bringing together children, families, schools, artists, and local partners through a shared experience of dance. Building on this achievement, we are delighted to present the second edition of Ballet in the Square, a large-scale outdoor
dance initiative created to make ballet accessible, inclusive, and community-centred.
We hope you can join us. On Friday 25 September 2026, Artillery Square in Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, will become a vibrant open-air dance space welcoming up to 500 children and young people aged 7–16 from local schools.
Led by professional dancers, community teachers, and student ambassadors, participants will experience a joyful introduction to ballet in an environment that celebrates creativity, participation, and belonging.
At Acosta Dance Foundation and Acosta Dance Centre, we believe every child should have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of dance.
For many young people, ballet can seem inaccessible or out of reach. Ballet in the Square challenges that perception by
bringing dance into a public space and creating an experience where every child is welcomed, regardless of previous experience or background.
The project is part of our ongoing commitment to education, inclusion, and community engagement, creating meaningful opportunities for children and young people to discover movement, creativity, and self-expression.
Participation is completely free, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent children from engaging with the arts.
The event brings together schools, families, teachers, artists, and local organisations in a shared celebration of creativity and
participation.
For some children, this may be their first encounter with ballet. For others, it may
become the beginning of a lifelong connection to dance and the performing arts.
More than a dance event, Ballet in the Square is a celebration of participation, creativity, and belonging. By transforming a public square into a shared performance space, the event encourages young people to experience the joy of movement, collaboration, and artistic expression in an open and supportive environment.
It is part of a growing vision to strengthen connections between education, culture, and community life across Woolwich and the Royal Borough of Greenwich and communities across London.
By bringing hundreds of young people together through movement, the project encourages confidence, wellbeing, collaboration, and creative curiosity.
As the initiative continues to grow, future editions aim to expand opportunities for participation through performances, artist residencies, and partnerships with local cultural organisations.
Set against the historic backdrop of Royal Arsenal, Ballet in the Square transforms a public space into a place of learning, creativity, and collective expression.
The event demonstrates how dance can connect people across generations, cultures, and communities while creating unforgettable experiences for young participants.
Together, we celebrate the idea that dance belongs to everyone.
Help your students discover the joy of movement, creativity, and community through dance.
Register your school’s interest today by contacting Ymá de Almeida, Education and Community Engagement Programmes Manager