History

Originally called the ‘Jewel of Yorkshire’ Festival, Dance JoY is built on a legacy of love and passion for Oriental Dance in all its forms, from traditional Egyptian and Turkish styles to fusion and tribal. It began with an idea from one of our co-organisers, Amanda Teasdale, a local to Saltaire, who had fallen in love with bellydance and wanted to create something in the North. Having had the idea and booked the venue, Amanda teamed up with another local teacher Chris Ogden to help run the festival., Held for the first time in 2004 in the magnificent Victoria Hall Saltaire near Bradford. It quickly became a must-attend calendar event for dancers across the UK and beyond, with a constant stream of international teachers along with local practitioners along with shows and shopping a dancer’s dream break in this special place.

So here we are in 2024 with a new cohort of organizers who, along with Amanda, are looking to the future of sharing a variety of styles and more with a broader audience while keeping the ethos of affordable, accessible classes as part of our crucial ethos.

We look forward to welcoming friends old and new to this celebratory event marking the evolution of Dance JoY in all its glorious forms

Amanda
Eleanor
Tracey