Birmingham International Dance Festival

Birmingham International Dance Festival returns to the city from 1 – 24 June, showcasing choreography in theatres and a takeover of Birmingham’s streets and squares, championing the best of current choreography and putting local talent on an international stage. In the UK’s leading city for dance, BIDF celebrates the city exploring themes of imagination, digital art and the diversity of dancer’s bodies. Continue reading Birmingham International Dance Festival

Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams

Following a smash hit run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017, and as seen on ITV’s Royal Variety Performance, Circus Abyssinia makes its London premiere at Underbelly Festival for six weeks only. As circus marks its 250th anniversary this year, Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams is a jubilant celebration of circus for audiences of all ages, entertaining them through the infectious energy and spirit of its cast. Continue reading Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams

Gandini Juggling and Alexander Whitley – a collaboration

Gandini Juggling and choreographer Alexander Whitley are set for an adventurous and kaleidoscopic cross art-form collaboration at artsdepot, as part of CircusFest, on 12 April. Gandini Juggling’s director Sean Gandini and choreographer Alexander Whitley have joined forces to create Spring, an eclectic enquiry into the nature of colour and how we perceive it. Spring will also tour to Pontio, Bangor; and Oxford Playhouse. Continue reading Gandini Juggling and Alexander Whitley – a collaboration

Southbank Centre’s 2018/19 performance and dance programme

Southbank Centre has announced its new associate companies, UK premieres, and international work as part of 2018/19 performance and dance programme. It also celebrates the reopening of its restored and redesigned cultural venues, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room, and welcomes new and returning companies to its stages. Continue reading Southbank Centre’s 2018/19 performance and dance programme

English National Ballet’s Voices of America

From 12-21 April, English National Ballet will present the world premiere of a new work by one of the most revered choreographers working today, William Forsythe. It will be his first creation for a UK ballet company in over 20 years. Forsythe’s new work will be presented at Sadler’s Wells as part of Voices of America, a new mixed bill dedicated to neo-classical ballet with an American accent, featuring works with audacious attitude from three generations of choreographers. Continue reading English National Ballet’s Voices of America

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s David Bintley to step down

David Bintley CBE has announced he will step down as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet at the end of the 2018/19 season, on 31 July 2019, after 24 years. After such a long tenure David plans to pursue increasing international requests to choreograph new works and to stage his ballets. He has just returned from working with Sarasota Ballet in the USA who recently premiered his ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café, meaning his new work would simply be an extension of this.

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Breakin’ Convention 2018

Breakin’ Convention, the renowned Sadler’s Wells project, celebrates a landmark 15 years this May Bank Holiday. To honour this anniversary Breakin’ Convention’s Artistic Director, UK hip hop theatre pioneer Jonzi D, has created an extended programme reflecting on the festival’s achievements, as well as looking forward to the future and possibilities of hip hop dance and culture. Continue reading Breakin’ Convention 2018

East London Dance’s National Talent House

Dance development organisation and creative producer East London Dance, and music talent development organisation, talent incubator and educator Urban Development, announced today that they have secured a joint funding bid from the Mayor of London’s Greater London Authority Good Growth Fund for £1 million, to create the UK’s first National Talent House for urban culture in Stratford, east London.

The funding will match £1 million (£500,000 per organisation) already secured from the Arts Council England Small Capital Grants programme in 2017, and will enable the fit-out of a 1,000+ square metre historic warehouse and modern extension as part of the Sugar House Island Development (formerly Strand East) adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Inspired by the need to ensure that diverse and disadvantaged young people from east London benefit from the legacy of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the centre will offer an aspirational space to unlock the potential of musicians, singer songwriters, composers, dancers, choreographers and producers and enable progression to further/higher education, employment and enterprise. It will also be an incubation hub with strong industry links for innovation in the creative industries, launching new projects, products and careers.

East London Dance and Urban Development are leaders in urban culture and drive the vital diversification of the dance and music sectors, through investment in nurturing and championing new authentic voices and providing platforms to gain recognition. Building on nearly two decades of collaboration, both organisations will share the building that will become their new permanent home – enabling the growth and sustainability of their vital work, engaging and developing diverse young talent aged 14–30 years.

This building will not only provide a new home for East London Dance and Urban Development but will be an authentic space that listens and responds to artists, young people and the local community. It will help produce a vibrant new creative hub and create a home and meeting point for the urban arts community. The new building will make the organisations fit-for-purpose, allow accessibility to talent, encourage diversity and connect London’s sub-cultures to new audiences, markets and opportunities.

Continue reading East London Dance’s National Talent House