More people across Scotland participate in dance activities than play football, according to a new report published by the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST).

The Dance In Scotland study found that nearly a fifth (19 per cent) of the country's adult population - nearly one million people - took part in dance during the past year. It has also been revealed that Scottish dance companies generated more than £3m in income and contributed more than £5m to other parts of the national economy.

FST has also set out a number of key recommendations in Dance In Scotland, which are designed to improve health, happiness and skills through the use of dance. Recommendations include giving everyone in Scotland access to local dance activities, while sustaining investment in professional dance to build new audiences.

Children should have access to high quality dance teaching in schools and opportunities for specialist training should be expanded, according to the FST. FST director Jon Morgan said: "Scotland is a nation of dancers in all its forms, but there is so much more we can do to get more people into dance and maximise dance's contribution to Scotland's cultural and community life.

"We will need the investment of ideas, resources and partnership working and this report sets out the steps to move us in the right direction." Details: Dance In Scotland report (PDF)

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