Author: Liz Rose

Monday 29 April is International Dance Day, a day to celebrate all things dance. To get in on the action, Leeds Dance Partnership will be taking over Art Council England’s Instagram, so make sure you’re following them for updates on @aceagrams.

The BBC’s #DancePassion was a celebration of the UK’s flourishing dance scene in collaboration with One Dance UK. #DancePassion week ran from 31 March – 6 April with a full day of livestreaming on Friday 5 April from dance hubs around the UK.

Leeds was the only livestream hub in the North of England, hosted by Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Featured videos included Dancing on My Own by Sara Lindstrom, commissioned by Yorkshire Dance, and performances from Leeds artists DAZL, RJC Dance,  Möbius Dance, Akeim Toussaint Buck, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Kenneth Tindall / Northern Ballet, DeNada Dance Theatre and Gracefool Collective were live streamed and can still be viewed on the Dance Passion website.

We are delighted to announce that João Maio is joining our board as an independent representative.

João is an independent dance artist and creative producer based in Leeds. He has worked with companies such as Carlos Pons Guerra’s DeNada Dance Theatre and Rosie Kay Dance Company.

After completing an MA in Dance and Creative Enterprise, and the 2018 UK tour of Rosie Kay Dance Company’s MK Ultra,  João  started working part-time as a Creative Producer for Open Source Arts, a grass-roots community development organisation.

João joins us at the end of the month as we say goodbye to Rachel Fullegar of Gracefool Collective as she comes to the end of her term on the board.

The Independent Board Member place is now a 12 month appointment and we are developing activity to engage with more independent voices.

Leeds Dance Partnership is excited to support Transform festival 19. Transform celebrates the independent and adventurous spirit of Leeds focusing on reimagining what theatre can look like.

This year, the Festival runs from 26 April – 4 May at venues across Leeds. Leeds Dance Partnership are supporting #PUNK by Nora Chipaumire and Daimόn by Luis Gray

Visit the Transform website to find the full programme.