About Dance umbrella
Dance Umbrella: Celebrating the Best of 21st Century Choreography
Dance Umbrella is a London-based international dance festival that has been celebrating the best of contemporary choreography for over 40 years. The festival brings together some of the most innovative and exciting dance companies from around the world, showcasing their work across London and beyond.
Founded in 1978 by Val Bourne, Dance Umbrella has become one of the UK's leading contemporary dance festivals. Over the years, it has presented works by some of the most renowned choreographers in the world, including Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe, Akram Khan and Pina Bausch.
The festival takes place annually in October and November and features a diverse range of performances across various venues in London. From large-scale productions to intimate performances in unconventional spaces such as museums or galleries, Dance Umbrella offers something for everyone.
One of Dance Umbrella's key objectives is to promote new talent within contemporary dance. The festival provides a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work alongside established names. This approach ensures that audiences are always exposed to fresh ideas and perspectives on contemporary dance.
In addition to its performance programme, Dance Umbrella also runs an extensive education programme aimed at engaging young people with contemporary dance. This includes workshops led by professional dancers as well as opportunities for young people to attend performances at discounted rates.
Dance Umbrella's commitment to promoting diversity within contemporary dance is reflected in its programming choices. The festival actively seeks out works by artists from diverse backgrounds and cultures, ensuring that its audiences are exposed to a wide range of perspectives on what constitutes 'contemporary' dance.
Over the years, Dance Umbrella has built up an impressive reputation both nationally and internationally. Its commitment to promoting new talent within contemporary dance has helped launch many careers while also providing audiences with access to some truly groundbreaking performances.
If you're looking for an opportunity to experience some of the most exciting and innovative contemporary dance from around the world, then Dance Umbrella is definitely worth checking out. With its diverse programming, commitment to promoting new talent and dedication to engaging young people with contemporary dance, it's no wonder that Dance Umbrella has become one of London's most highly anticipated cultural events.