The growing popularity of dance as a form of exercise has caused the enrollment in Dance Leadership courses to rise by 25 per cent in the last year, according to Sports Leaders UK - the national sports leadership awarding body.

Dance has become an effective means of engaging girls under 14 years old in physical activity, who otherwise showed a high drop out rate of mainstream sports. The leadership course, which is accredited by the National Qualifications Framework, provides trained volunteers to assist in dance delivery initiatives and can be used as a gateway to more formal dance qualifications. Michaela Hutchings, head of operations at Sports Leaders UK, said: " We expect to register 10,000 dance leaders in the coming year, which has grown from zero in just four years. Every leader has to completed a period of volunteering in dance training, which is helping to meet the growing demand for dance in schools and community organisations."