Dance is used to help people with learning difficulties

Anjali Dance Company in Oxfordshire, plans to use a �1,500 grant from West Oxfordshire District council to develop a tailor-made programme for schools.

Anjali uses contemporary dance to reach the disaffected and those who find it difficult to communicate verbally.

All of the Banbury-based company's members have a learning disability.

'Group participation'

The money will also be used to continue to run dance sessions for youngsters with special educational needs in Chipping Norton.

Nicky Everett is the educational administrator for Anjali, founded in 1993 at the Mills Arts Centre.

She said: "It is fantastic news which means we can develop our work.

"This includes developing a programme for teachers to use dance as an educational tool and a way of reaching people who have difficulty in expressing their creativity.

"Dance is an amazing way to encouraging communication and group participation."

Anjali means joining hands in the Indian language Sanskrit.

The organisation also runs an accredited learning programme with professional choreographers for both the young and old who are interested in dance.