Dance Umbrella

Ignite your dance skills and be part of Dance, Camera, Action: a brand-new dance film project for the Autumn term with Hip Hop Theatre and Street Dance company Impact Dance 🎥🍂

🗓️ Taster workshops 8 & 22 August

Learn how to get involved: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/dancecameraaction/

We are looking for participants who:

- Live or go to school in Westminster or neighbouring boroughs
- Aged 9+
- Have a membership with St Andrew’s Youth Club (new members are welcome to join!)

✨ No previous dance or film experience necessary ✨

We've curated another selection of free online dance performances & films to get you feeling inspired this July ✨

Featuring Via Katlehong, Jules Cunningham, Oona Doherty with Mark Leckey, Victor Bastidas, T**e Broni Strandby and Erin S. Murray 🎥

Watch now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/2024/07/15/what-to-watch-in-july-free-dance-online/

Win tickets to the opening night performance of Dance Umbrella Festival 2024 or a Digital Pass 🎟️

Ahead of the Festival, we're trying to find out a bit more about our audiences so that we can make sure you have the best experience 🤗

For your chance to win tickets to see HATCHED ENSEMBLE by Mamela Nyamza at the Barbican or get a free Digital Pass this October, all you need to do is complete this short survey: https://www.surveyhero.com/c/jeau4mmp

📸 Mark Wessels

We're hiring 🌟

We're looking for a new Assistant Producer to work across London's international festival of dance! This is a great opportunity to develop experience in contemporary performance production.

Deadline 15 July | Learn more & apply now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/about-us/work-with-us/

Introducing the dance artists and companies part of this year's Dance Umbrella Festival 🤗

They will be coming to you this October in venues across London and online via our Digital Pass ✨

Explore the programme in full: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/festival/

In memory of Emma ❤️

"We dedicate Dance Umbrella Festival 2024 in memory of Emma Gladstone OBE, Dance Umbrella’s Artistic Director and CEO 2014-20. Emma’s creative brilliance and ethical compass were always pioneering, whilst being aligned with a rapidly changing world."

Freddie Opoku-Addaie
Artistic Director and Co-CEO, Dance Umbrella

📷 Portrait of Emma Gladstone by Hugo Glendinning

The countdown to Dance Umbrella Festival 2024 is on...

Sign-up up to be the first to know 🛎️ https://danceumbrella.co.uk/subscribe/

We've curated another selection of free dance films & videos to get you feeling inspired this June ✨

Featuring Waacking to Little Simz, a dance film inspired by Celine Song's Past Lives, DV8, Gregory Maqoma, Aditi Mangaldas and Alleyne Dance 🎥

Watch now:

What to watch in June: Free dance online A curated selection of free dance films and videos available to watch online

Guess what? London Battle is BACK 💥

Returning for a second triumphant year, the epic hip hop battle curated by Jade Hackett will takeover Somerset House's iconic outdoor courtyard this summer ☀️

Expect breaking showcases, workshops, live DJs and a BIG outdoor party, all culminating in a head-to-head dance battle between the four corners of London. Teams to be announced 👀

Sat 17 Aug | Learn more: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/london-battle-2024/

Yesterday our leadership duo Freddie Opoku-Addaie (Artistic Director & Co-CEO) and Tania Wilmer (Co-CEO) attended the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Creative Industries 🤩👑

We're so excited to announce a full weekend of family fun, created specially for Dance Umbrella Festival 2024 🥳

🎭 Performances from de Stilte & Hackney Showroom
💥 Workshops
🎨 Arts & crafts

26-27 Oct Unicorn Theatre & Potters Fields Park | Learn more: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/dance-umbrella-family-weekend-2024/

🤝 In partnership with Unicorn Theatre & Team London Bridge

Portuguese dance artist Marco da Silva Ferreira has been shortlisted for the first ever Rose International Dance Prize (think the Turner or Booker Prize, but for dance!) 🌹

We're so excited to be presenting his work CARCAÇA in London, February 2025, with Sadler's Wells & Big Pulse Dance 🎆

The piece explores tools of cultural construction through the encounter of Portuguese folk dances and contemporary street/clubbing dances.

Parabéns Marco 💜

Tickets on sale 10 May | Learn more about the show and the prize: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/2024/04/29/dance-umbrella-announces-new-show-carcaca-by-marco-da-silva-ferreira-shortlisted-for-rose-international-dance-prize/

Big news... Dance Umbrella Festival 2024 returns this October and we are so excited to reveal the first show in our programme of boundary pushing international dance 💥

US dance company Abby Z and the New Utility are coming to Sadler's Wells for the European premiere of their physically explosive, genre-bending new work Radioactive Practice ☢️

On sale 25 March | Learn more: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/abby-z-and-the-new-utility-radioactive-practice

Inspiration can come from anywhere 💡

Greek dance artist Ioanna Paraskevopoulou discusses the world of film and how it inspired her live show MOS (which stands for "Mute Out Sound")

Recorded live at Barbican Centre for Dance Umbrella Festival 2023, watch now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/2024/03/04/watch-ioanna-paraskevopoulou-on-mos-post-show-talk-at-barbican/

"She was kind and curious, genuine and generous, ready to take risks and quick to laugh with an infectious, mischievous cackle."

Lyndsey Winship remembers the life and career of Emma Gladstone OBE, our beloved former Artistic Director & Chief Executive ❤️

Emma Gladstone obituary Dancer and artistic director of the Dance Umbrella festival known for being an innovative force in the industry

One week left to apply for our Head of Marketing role ✍️

This individual will be responsible for planning and delivering marketing, media and communication strategies for London's international dance festival

Deadline 12 Feb | Apply now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/about-us/work-with-us/

It is with great sadness that we are announcing the death of Emma Gladstone OBE. A pioneering and highly respected leader in the dance world across the globe, Emma was Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella from 2013 to 2021. Emma died on Monday 22 January, after a short illness, at home and surrounded by her loving family.

As well as being internationally celebrated for her exquisite taste and incisive acumen, Emma was a joyful collaborator who was loved by artists, colleagues and audiences alike. Her infectious laugh, delicious wit and kindness made her a cherished friend and mentor to more people than we can count; and her dedicated encouragement, care and companionship made her an extraordinary mother, stepmother and wife. ❤️

Read full statement:

Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning

New freelance job opportunity at Dance Umbrella ✨

We're hiring for a Head of Marketing, responsible for planning and delivering marketing, media and communication strategies for London's international dance festival.

Deadline 12 Feb | Learn more & apply now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/about-us/work-with-us/

📸 One Drop by Sonya Lindfors at Battersea Arts Centre, part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2023. Credit Tuukka Ervasti.

We're back for the new year and what a way to kick things off with the news that our former Artistic Director Betsy Gregory has been awarded an OBE for her Services to Dance!

Congratulations Betsy 🥳

📸 Hugo Glendinning

Thank you for all the support you've shown DU this year, and we can't wait for what the new year brings...

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing festive break 🎄

Big love,
The DU Team ❤️