Our Story
Telling the real story
How Project RED‑D Came to Be
Over coffee and conversation, Project RED‑D was born sparked by a shared concern between two leaders in athlete and dancer care: Pippa Woolven (founder of Project REDs) and Karen Sheriff, former Head of Healthcare at The Royal Ballet School.
Karen saw the same risks that athletes face showing up in dancers but without the same recognition, infrastructure, or support, and she knew something had to change.
With a background in elite dancer health and a drive for cultural change, Karen launched Project RED‑D, a movement created for dancers, with dancers, and led by a coalition of experts who believe dancers deserve more.
Watch our story
Our Aim
RED‑D is often invisible, masked by performance, costumes, busy schedules and culture. It thrives in silence.
By educating dancers, parents, teachers, coaches, and healthcare teams, we help the dance world recognise the signs, ask better questions, and shift the narrative toward health over appearance.
Our Strategy
Knowledge is power but only if it reaches the right people.
We equip dancers, families, educators, and institutions with the tools to spot early warning signs and respond with care.
Through accessible education and community storytelling, we promote body literacy, challenge harmful norms, and encourage environments where dancers are fuelled, not just physically but emotionally and artistically.