A DANCE student from Renfrewshire will be leading workshops at a Scottish Ballet conference next week.

Andi Brogan, who is from Paisley and studying at the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in Dundee, is part of the youth advisory panel at the Moving Minds conference in Glasgow.

The conference has been organised by Scottish Ballet in partnership with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and will examine how therapeutic dance can help young people look after their wellbeing in the face of a growing mental health crisis.

The waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is one of the reasons why other interventions for young people experiencing mental health challenges are being explored. 

Andi will be leading a round table discussion on mental health and dance, and a practical workshop on how movement can be used by young people to communicate how they are feeling. 

The aim of these sessions is to improve communication between young people and healthcare, arts and other professionals.

Andi told The Gazette: "I have been dancing since I was four years old. I studied art history, before I decided to do a degree in dance and pursue dance as a career. 

"I have seen the benefits of dance in helping me cope with stress during my first degree. 

"When I was stressed, I would search for a local dance class and as soon as I danced, I felt much better and more able to cope. 

"It's important for young people to find a dance or other arts programme that they like and that helps them."

The Moving Minds conference is being held in person at the Tramway in Glasgow on Wednesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 5, as well as online on Friday, May 6.

For more information about the conference or to book a place, visit https://www.scottishballet.co.uk/moving-minds.