British Community Dance: Past, Present and Future

An open panel discussion at De Montfort University

Thursday 3 March 2016 15:00-16:30

Clephan Building (Lecture Theatre 3.03)

Free!

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Community and participatory dance has become a key feature of the British dance ecology with values and practices that have gained international recognition. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the foundation of a national organization, now People Dancing, which has championed the sector continuously since 1986.

In celebration of this remarkable achievement three leading figures in participatory and community dance come together to reflect on their experience and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing this vibrant, diverse sector of British dance.

Linda Jasper MBE, is currently Director of Youth Dance England. She has made a significant contribution to the development of community and youth dance in a variety of roles since the 1980s when she was one of the first dance animateurs to be appointed in the UK.

Cecilia Macfarlane is an independent artist based in Oxford, with a national and international reputation for her work in the community. Over the last thirty years she has initiated and led creative projects including Oxford Youth Dance (1986>), DugOut Adult Community Dance (1992>) and Crossover Intergenerational Dance Company (2003>).

Chris Stenton is the Executive Director of People Dancing. He joined the organization in 1992 and has undertaken a number of different roles over the years. In 2012 Chris was Executive Director for Big Dance 2012, a major participatory dance programme allied with the Cultural Olympiad.