Festivals
NSSW 2026 - Summer of Sport
TeamMCR partners with Royal Ballet & Opera to champion children’s rights through dance
TeamMCR is delighted to partner with the Royal Ballet & Opera to bring Dance for Rights to Manchester. This exciting event celebrates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, using dance and creative movement to explore identity, belonging, inclusion and friendship.
Manchester has been selected as a Hero Venue, meaning pupils attending will join a live national broadcast led by Royal Ballet artists and may feature in the two-way live feed with the Royal Opera House. Schools can also take part virtually from their own classrooms and halls, alongside thousands of children across the UK.
This initiative is proudly funded by Child Friendly Manchester, whose support enables schools to explore children's rights through accessible, curriculum-linked dance. Together, we are celebrating every child's right to participate fully in school life and access creative opportunities.
Event Schedule
Arrival: 8:30am (latest arrival 8:40am)
Please ensure all pupils and staff have arrived by 8:40am and are seated in the event space ready for the live broadcast. The live feed preparations begin at 9:10am, and we have been advised that no entry to the room will be permitted once the live feed has started.
Session 1: 9:15am – 10:15am
Break: 10:15am – 10:30am
Session 2: 10:30am – 11:30am
Child Friendly Manchester Session: 11:30am – 12:00pm
What Pupils Should Bring
- A water bottle (no fizzy drinks please)
- Comfortable clothing suitable for movement and dance activities
- Suitable footwear for practical participation
Teacher Preparation Resources
To help teachers feel fully prepared, the Royal Ballet and Opera Schools team has produced an online introduction session explaining the preparatory lessons and overall approach:
Introduction Session:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNizPX2pmB4
Dance for Rights Preparation Lessons:
https://www.rbo.org.uk/schools/resource/dance-for-rights-lesson-prep
These resources will support classroom delivery and help pupils gain the most from the experience.
We look forward to welcoming schools from across Manchester for this exciting celebration of creativity, inclusion and children's rights.
Important: As this is a live streamed event, schools must ensure that all attending children have a media/photo consent in place prior the event.
TeamMcr Risk Assessment 25/26
