As a freshness fills the air and the leaves begin to turn golden, autumn doesn’t feel too far away now. Why not come and watch a performance here at DanceEast to keep you inspired and entertained? Or join a dance class to keep energised, active and creative during the shorter days? We have so much incredible arts and culture right here on our doorstep. We’ve rounded up what’s coming up this season for you to discover below…
After a sell-out run of ALiCE in January earlier this year, we are delighted to welcome back Jasmin Vardimon Company to DanceEast, with their latest show NOW. Jasmin uses her distinctive creative approach to celebrate imagination in a gripping new production. Expect plenty of joyful dance in this celebration which marks 25 years of the Jasmin Vardimon Company. We are also pleased to offer an Over 50’s workshop with the Jasmin Vardimon Company, don’t miss this unique opportunity to work with a professional dancer from the company, who will use their first-hand experience of Jasmin’s work to lead a creative movement workshop.
Join us for a captivating evening of dance on film by acclaimed choreographer and filmmaker Rosemary Lee and a discussion around the art of making dance with non-professional/cross generational performers. Moving Worlds is a fantastic opportunity to see this selection of ground-breaking, internationally renowned films altogether.
Schecter II return with From England with Love, an ode to this intricate and beautiful country. Through Shechter’s choreography, the performance explores the multi-layered complexity of England and the paradox at the heart of this open, generous, and soul-searching place, conflicted by its dark history and powerful attachment to old traditions. Set to a rich score that clashes the breath-taking sounds of English composers with raging rock music alongside echoes of choir and electronics, this is set to be an electrifying evening out!
We are also excited to welcome back Stopgap Dance Company to DanceEast, who are pioneers of developing inclusive dance and championing disability access in dance. They bring their new performance Lived Fiction to the DanceHouse this autumn, which celebrates Stopgap’s 20 year history, so you can expect masterful performances from Deaf, Disabled, neurodivergent, and non-disabled creatives.
This autumn, we are looking forward to introducing some new artists into our programme with our Triple Bill. This is your chance to see three short works from exciting artists including Chandenie Gobardhan, Brooke Milliner and Ekleido. Each piece is a variety of different styles, including contemporary, Hip Hop, South Asian dance, voguing and ballroom. This is the perfect chance to experience live dance for the first time, so grab some friends and come along together for a memorable evening out together.
We also have plenty happening for families and young people, including DeNada Dance Theatre’s show The Bull and the Moon, an endearing family-friendly production that celebrates anyone who dances to their own tune. Blending contemporary, flamenco and physical theatre, this is a heart-warming story about the importance of finding oneself and the beauty of gender diversity.
Our festive show this year is one for everyone to enjoy. Protein Dance’s The Little Prince originally premiered here back in 2018 and is back for 2024. Don’t miss this enchanting production for both children and adults, based on the namesake book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The Little Prince is brought to life using Protein’s critically acclaimed mix of dance, humour, and spoken word. With an original score by Frank Moon, Protein’s show invites us to look at the world through one’s heart and to reconnect with our inner child.
The school year may only have just started, but it’s not too early to think ahead to Half Term. We have a range of one-off workshops for children and young people to try out dance and develop new skills. We are partnering with the Royal Academy of Dance to deliver Project B, a day of creative day for boys to experience dance, led by experienced male teachers and live musical accompaniment. New this season is a Move and Code workshop for ages 11 – 16, a workshop day to get you moving, coding, and creating an interactive performance. We are also excited to bring back Once Upon a Dance, a day of moving, music-making, songwriting and creativity, delivered in partnership with Britten Pears Arts.
Plus, back by popular demand Baby Loves to Boogie, Careers in Dance online panel discussion and YouthFest are back this autumn.
As always, DanceEast offers weekly dance classes for children, young people, and adults to come along and try out different styles of dance in an inclusive and nurturing environment. We offer classes for all abilities, so if you’ve never done a dance class before, don’t worry! Or perhaps you danced in the past and would like to start up again. Either way, our classes give you the space and support to do so. Discover our full class programme here.
