Place2Be partners with Dame Darcey’s DDMIX

16 June 2026

Place2Be is delighted to be welcoming Dame Darcey Bussell DBE to their roster of charity Ambassadors and to be partnering with Darcey’s DDMIX (Diverse Dance Mix), providing schools and community groups with free and inclusive dance fitness resources to boost physical and mental health.

As part of this partnership, Place2Be’s website will become the new home of all DDMIX for Schools resources - the comprehensive and accessible DDMIX lessons and support materials that make movement enjoyable for all.

As a Place2Be Ambassador, Darcey will continue to promote the DDMIX for Schools programme and advocate for the importance of building healthy habits in childhood; helping to ensure that young people are better equipped to cope with challenge in adulthood and recognise physical activity as a key protective factor in maintaining their mental health.

“In order for our society to have good physical and mental health, our children need to have a really positive attitude to being active from their very earliest years, this attitude can then stay with them for life.” Dame Darcey Bussell DBE

The DDMIX programme provides educators with free and instant access to ready‑to‑use lesson plans, videos, audio tracks and print‑outs to assist them in getting every child moving, building confidence and self-belief, whilst fostering connection and cultural empathy. All of this provides a great boost for children’s physical and mental wellbeing.

According to the Sport England 2023-2024 Active Lives Children Survey, less than half (47.8%) of children aged 5–16 in England meet the recommended guidelines of at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily and boys are noticeably more active than girls. Given how much movement improves both physical and mental health, Darcey believes it is vital to make the range of activities available in schools as inclusive as possible, so that every child can participate.

“Movement increases the heart rate, mobilises all the joints, develops sensory awareness and raises mood levels. It improves coordination, balance, reaction time and physical strength. The aim of DDMIX is to get people moving without being intimidated by the word ‘dance’… to give a full body workout that is such fun, you don’t even notice that you are exercising.” Dame Darcey Bussell DBE

DDMIX for Schools: The Five Steps to Wellbeing

Featuring a rich mix of musical genres and styles, children are learning about different cultures through dance and embracing physical activity in a wholly inclusive, non-competitive way. Embodied within the lesson aims are the ‘Five Steps to Wellbeing’ which comprise:

Connect

Pupils working together building relationships and improving social interaction.

Be Active

Children need to be aware that to be mentally well you also need to be physically active.

Take Notice

Dancing leads to an increase in attention and focus whilst developing creativity.

Keep Learning

Encompassing it all with varied movements helps creative thinking and solving problems.

Give

Be Kind. Teach each other. Dance enables children to recognise their different emotional states and the ways their bodies can move.

These Schemes of Work – each tailored to The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Key Stage 1 (KS1), and Key Stage 2 (KS2) – enable every teacher to feel confident delivering straightforward, fun and active lessons.

Housing the DDMIX resources amongst their other free resources for schools, Place2Be hope to provide even greater access to this suite of lesson plans to support more teachers in delivering dance and movement activities that boost wellbeing.

Ark Tindal pupils recently enjoyed taking part in DDMIX, with one noting,

“Participating in the DDMIX programme has been amazing. I've never really danced before, but I have learnt so many new dance moves, and it's helped me feel more confident. It's also a great way to stay active and have fun with my friends.”

Headteacher Hayley Francis said,

“We have really enjoyed using the DDMIX schools programme, and we are thrilled to see how it has positively impacted our pupils at Tindal. The programme has significantly benefitted the pupils' mental and physical health, providing a safe space for them to express themselves through music and dance. It's been wonderful to witness their growth and enthusiasm.”

Talking about the partnership, Place2Be’s Chief Executive, Catherine Roche, said: “The creative arts play such an important part in promoting and supporting good mental health and wellbeing. Research shows that dance enables space for creative expression, builds self-confidence and a sense of community. We see this in Place2Be partner schools where dance, music and artistic expression are central to a rich and inclusive curriculum. That's why we are so pleased to support DDMIX and the programme nationally.”

“By enabling teachers and their pupils to engage with the DDMIX programme, schools will be boosting wellbeing of their whole school community, which is very much aligned to Place2Be’s ‘whole-school approach.” CEO of Place2Be, Catherine Roche

About Dame Darcey Bussell DBE

Darcey Bussell was a Principal dancer at The Royal Ballet for almost 20 years and remains the most famous British ballet dancer of her generation.

Darcey performing as Princess Aurora in The Royal Ballet’s 2007 production Sleeping Beauty

Darcey is President of the Royal Academy of Dance, Chair of the Theatre Royal Plymouth and the overseas Patron of the Sydney Dance Company amongst her many patronages.

Darcey coaches at The Royal Ballet and presents The Royal Ballet’s cinema relays and various documentaries. In addition to establishing DDMIX, Darcey also founded ‘Move-Assure’, which is a movement based social prescription to aid mental health.

Darcey Bussell was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours for her services to dance, having previously been appointed CBE in 2006 and OBE in 1995.