Laura Nicholson appointed Director of Dance Education at new National Centre for Arts Education

Head of Children and Young People’s Dance and Interim Chief Executive to leave One Dance UK in January 2027 to lead dance at the newly founded National Centre for Arts Education 

One Dance UK has today announced that Laura Nicholson, Head of Children and Young People's Dance and currently Interim Chief Executive, will leave the organisation in January 2027 to become Director of Dance Education at the newly formed National Centre for Arts Education. Her appointment gives dance a dedicated, specialist voice at the centre of national arts education, at a time when the National Curriculum in England is being revised.      

At One Dance UK, Laura has led the organisation’s strategic work across children and young people’s dance, shaping its education priorities, influencing national policy and curriculum development and building partnerships across government, education and the cultural sector. She has worked with Arts Council England as an expert adviser, contributed specialist advice to the Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and supported the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dance. Her leadership has brought the expertise of dance educators and the experiences of young people into national discussions about education, access and opportunity. She is currently contributing specialist dance expertise to the development of the revised PE curriculum in England, championing the vital importance of access to a high-quality, well-rounded dance education for all young people.  

Alongside this policy and advocacy work, Laura has drawn on her background as a teacher and performer to lead teacher support and professional development, strengthen partnerships and progression opportunities, and develop One Dance UK’s popular U.Danceframework into a UK-wide programme through collaboration across all four nations. Most recently, Laura has led the organisation as Interim Chief Executive, following the departure of Andrew Hurst MBE, supporting the team and bringing colleagues together during a period of change.

Speaking about her appointment, Laura said: 

“I am honoured to have been asked to join the National Centre for Arts Education as Director of Dance Education. It has been a privilege to lead such a dedicated team at One Dance UK and leaving has been a difficult decision. The chance to help shape the new Centre at such an important moment for dance education was an opportunity I felt compelled to take. Dance changed my life. The Centre represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the place of dance in schools and bring together expertise from across education and the arts. I am excited to work with teachers and partners to ensure every young person can experience an ambitious and inspiring dance education, whatever their background or circumstances, and that teachers have the support, professional learning and recognition to make that possible. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together at One Dance UK. This feels like a natural progression, bringing together my experience in school leadership, national policy and dance education to help establish a Centre with the potential to make a lasting difference.”

Former Chief Executive Andrew Hurst MBE said of the news: 

“Laura has been at the heart of One Dance UK’s work with children and young people since 2018, making sure the voices of young people and dance educators are heard and valued in the rooms where decisions are made, alongside building high-quality programmes that enable young people to access and participate in dance. We are delighted that the National Centre has appointed a dance education specialist of her calibre as part of their work - it’s great news for dance, for schools and, above all, for young people. Everyone at One Dance UK wishes her every success and looks forward to seeing the positive impact she will no doubt continue to have on dance education moving forwards.” 

Laura will continue to lead One Dance UK as Interim Chief Executive ahead of taking up her new role in January. Recruitment for the organisation’s next Chief Executive has now commenced, with an appointment expected to be announced before the end of the year.