From Pit Floorto Dance Floor

From Pit Floor to Dance Floor is our industrial heritage project celebrating the working-class history of Sunderland and the North East. It honours the people, families and communities shaped by industries such as coal mining, shipbuilding, glassmaking and manufacturing.

North East Dance CIC works with schools, young people and community partners to bring this history to life through dance, creative arts, storytelling and oral history. Participants explore old photographs, personal memories, family stories and local history to find out how industrial work shaped daily life, family relationships, community identity and local culture.

The project brings generations together to share their experiences, preserve their memories and build a deeper understanding of the area’s heritage. By pairing historical research with creative expression, participants interpret the past through movement, drama, performance and digital storytelling. Along the way they develop new skills and celebrate the resilience, pride and traditions of their communities.

At its heart, the project exists to make sure the stories of our industrial communities are never lost. By linking past, present and future, we help young people understand where they come from, value the contributions of earlier generations and take pride in the heritage that still shapes the North East today.