Who We Are

Exim Dance is a Plymouth based, award winning CIC known for our vibrant approach to making dance accessible to all. Exim works predominantly in Plymouth’s deprived communities, focusing on providing high quality dance wellbeing opportunities.

Our mission is to improve people’s lives through dance. What we deliver is diverse and accessible. Our vision is to help create a world where underrepresented groups no longer exist and are seen as equal and integral to their community! We are passionate about using dance, and breaking down the ideological barriers surrounding it, in order to support vulnerable people. Our services promote improved mental and physical health and a reduction in loneliness, particularly within marginalised groups.

Our premises provide our service users with a safe non-judgemental environment to express themselves in, where they can develop their skills and confidence. Somewhere the community can come together and create!

Our work centres around our core value that anyone who wants to do something can do it. No matter their background or whether they are disabled. We support those on low income by offering our services for free. We seek to unite communities without barriers.

Exim plays a vital role in supporting Plymouth’s cultural and community scene. We do this through our own work and through working in cross-sector partnerships with others at a local, regional and national level.

We champion community cohesion. The company works both as a youth referral & social prescribing service.

Services and Community Offers

  • Dance wellbeing services
  • Mental/physical health provision
  • Education/employability skills & development training 
  • Professional artist training sessions 
  • Mentoring services 
  • Produce professional events as well as running local artist space schemes 
  • Arts Awards Centre and providing qualifications 
  • Placements, internships and paid job opportunities for those who wish to work in the arts – creating local opportunities for the community
  • Community Hub – Oxford House Creative Hub, Stonehouse, Plymouth
  • Offer studio/multipurpose room hires at our premises

Achievements 

2022

Exim Dance is one of ten organisations selected to be a part of the 2022/2023 cohort for The Rank Foundation, RISE Trade Up programme.

The company was shortlisted among the top four UK businesses in The Great British Business Awards under the category Outstanding Contribution to the Community and awarded as Highly Commended in the UK Youth Parliament Community Champion awards. 

Our Artistic Director was selected as one of ten South West business entrepreneurs to be supported through the school of social entrepreneurs business leader 2022 programme and was selected as one of nine community leaders to be showcased through Action Funder as part of International Women’s Day 2022.

2021

Exim Dance Company was awarded the Sport and Recreation Alliance ‘2021 Mental Health and Wellbeing Award’ sponsored by Active IQ.

Exim has been shortlisted in One Dance UK awards under the categories Inspirational work in the Community and Inspirational work in Education and Covid Community Champion through South West Business and Community Awards throughout 2021/2020.

2019

Exim was selected to be apart of Active Devon ‘This Girl Can’ national campaign and Artistic Director, Laura Nightingale was selected as a Devon Girls Can ambassador & received professional business development training through Women’s Resource Centre London and was chosen for the 2019 cohort and presented at The House of Lords March 2019.