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Press Release: Dance Consortium announces appointment of new Board members


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Media release: Tuesday 5 February 2019 

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DANCE CONSORTIUM ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS

 

Dance Consortium is delighted to announce the appointment of its three new independent directors who join the company’s board: Rosie Kay (artistic director, Rosie Kay Dance Company); Sebastian Cheswright Cater (marketing communications consultant); and Andrew Hurst (chief executive of One Dance UK).

 

The new directors will be fully involved in determining the future strategy, direction and success of the Consortium which aims to engage, excite and challenge new and existing audiences about dance. The organisation, which is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, has to date successfully presented 43 tours by 24 international companies over the last nineteen years. Bringing companies from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, France, The Netherlands, Taiwan, Israel and the USA to UK stages, Dance Consortium’s performances and education activities have been experienced by hundreds of thousands of people across all parts of the UK.

 

Founded in 2000, Dance Consortium was established in order to increase the presence of international contemporary dance across the UK’s touring sector. Since its inception, it has grown to encompass a group of 20 large-scale UK and Ireland theatres. It is currently the only group of its kind to promote and present international contemporary dance across the country. Dance Consortium’s latest co-commission sees Mark Morris Dance Group’s Pepperland - inspired by The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album - perform at venues across the UK and Ireland between 20 March and 1 May 2019. 

 

Speaking on her appointment, Rosie Kay (artistic director Rosie Kay Dance Company)said: I am thrilled to be appointed a director of Dance Consortium. As a company director and choreographer, I am keen to make sure UK artists are involved locally in engaging with the touring works and developing new audiences for dance. My life was changed by seeing first-rate, large-scale dance when I was younger and I am delighted to be part of an organisation bringing world-class dance to theatres around the UK today.

 

Sebastian Cheswright Cater (marketing communications consultant) said: “Having worked closely with Dance Consortium at Sadler’s Wells, I have long-admired the quality of their work and their dedication to promoting the art form. I very much look forward to working with Ros Robins and the other Directors in ensuring the organisation continues to succeed in its mission to bring world class dance to audiences across the UK.”

 

Andrew Hurst (chief executive of One Dance UK) commented: “I have really enjoyed working with Dance Consortium on our Dance Ambassadors/Future Leaders partnership and am delighted to be joining the board to contribute to the development of future plans. Now more than ever we need to continue to champion the importance of international cultural exchange to the long-term health and sustainability of artists and audiences, and I am excited to be able to help Dance Consortium showcase the best of international dance to UK audiences.”

 

Ros Robins (chief executive of Dance Consortium) said I am very happy to welcome our new directors, Rosie, Sebastian and Andrew to the Board, to work alongside our existing directors. At this exciting time in the organisations life, the skills that our new directors bring will greatly assist us in driving forward our future strategy and ensuring Dance Consortium maintains its unique place within the UK’s cultural sector.”

 

-ENDS- 

 

Notes: 

 

Rosie Kay

Rosie Kay (BA Hons) FRSA, MCR St Cross College, Oxford, born in Scotland, danced from a very early age, then trained at London Contemporary Dance School, and after performing abroad set up Rosie Kay Dance Company in Birmingham in 2004.

Kay's works include the multi-award-winning work 5 Soldiers- the Body is the Frontline (2010/15) based on intense research with the British Army and screened live online by BBC Arts as part of the programme at Sadlers Wells 2017 and currently touring the UK and internationally, MK Ultra (2017/18) the pop conspiracy work made with BBC film-maker Adam Curtis, and other works such as Motel (2016) a collaboration with visual artists Huntley Muir, Sluts of Possession (2013) created with rare archive material from the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, There is Hope (2012) exploring religion, Double Points: K (2008) a collaboration with Emio Greco| PC and Asylum (2005) based on research with asylum seekers. Kay recently choreographed the live BBC Commonwealth Games Handover Ceremony, watched by over 1 billion people worldwide and has worked in film as the choreographer to the feature film Sunshine on Leith (2013). 

Outdoor works include Modern Warrior (2017) based on vintage martial arts films and is touring outdoor festivals, Haining Dreaming (2013) in the Scottish Borders, and The Great Train Dance (2011) on the Severn Valley Railway as part of London 2012. Kay has worked with The Birmingham REP Theatre as Associate Director to the large scale work Woyzeck (2018) with Roxanna Silbert, Birmingham International Dance Festival and Birmingham Royal Ballet. Kay was the first choreographer appointed Leverhulme Artist in Residence at the School of Anthropology, University of Oxford (2013). Awards for her work include Best Independent Company (2015) and nominated for Best Choreography for 5 Soldiers (2015), National Dance Awards and nominated for Best Independent Company 2012 and 2017, a Royal Society for Public Health Award for support to military communities, and the Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award.  Kay has a four-year old son and lives in Birmingham with her film-maker husband.

 

 

Andrew Hurst

Andrew is Chief Executive of One Dance UK. From 2009 to 2016 he was a member of the senior management team at The Royal Ballet. Under the direction of Dame Monica Mason and Kevin O’Hare, he was responsible for the day to day operations of the company. During his tenure with The Royal Ballet Andrew was also responsible for for international activity including touring and wrap-around education and training programmes for the company. Andrew trained at The Royal Ballet School and danced with Basel Ballet, Switzerland; Ballet Gulbenkian, Portugal; Netherlands Dance Theatre II, Holland; Berlin Ballet, Germany; and Rambert Dance Company. While at Rambert he was the Company Deputy for Equity, and began his management career there before taking up the position of General Manager at Phoenix Dance, where he led the Company through a period of change including a large capital project. He has a Masters Degree in Cultural Policy and Management and has undertaken research into how personality factors influence success for professional dancers. Andrew is qualified in the use of psychometrics and coaching for career counselling. He was previously a Trustee of the Dancers' Pensión Scheme and the Dance Education and Training Board, and a Board observer for The Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund. Andrew is proud to be the Chair of Company Chameleon, and is currently Interim Chair of ArtsDepot. He is also Artistic Advisor to SpainNOW!, and a senior Committee member at the Hospital Club, in Covent Garden.

 

Sebastian Cheswright Cater

Sebastian is a freelance consultant, specialising in marketing communications and business development strategy. As Director of Marketing and Sales at Sadler’s Wells, and a member of the senior leadership team, he managed a range of initiatives which increased customer retention, advance bookings, and social media engagement. He updated the company’s membership scheme, which broke all previous subscription records, and which was nominated for a UK Theatre Award. His work on Sadler’s Wells’ new visual identity won a DBA Design Effectiveness Award. With over 18 years’ experience in the commercial and not-for-profit cultural sector, he was previously Head of Marketing at live entertainment media agency Target Live, and has also worked at dewynters, AKA, Society of London Theatre and National Youth Music Theatre. He has a degree in Arts and Education (Drama) from Bretton Hall (University of Leeds). Prior to his arts career he worked at The Body Shop as a retail manager and trainer. He recently became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Sebastian is committed to improving diversity in the arts, having previously worked on Sadler’s Wells’ Diversity Strategy, and is an advocate for improving mental health and wellbeing in business.  

 

Dance Consortium members: Grand Opera House Belfast; Birmingham Hippodrome; Alhambra Theatre Bradford; Brighton Dome; Marlowe Theatre Canterbury; Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff; Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; Festival Theatre Edinburgh; Curve Theatre Leicester; The Peacock, London; Sadler’s Wells London; Milton Keynes Theatre; Theatre Royal Newcastle; Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall Nottingham with Dance 4; Theatre Royal Plymouth; The Lowry Salford; The Mayflower, Southampton; New Victoria Theatre, Woking; Hull, New Theatre; Norwich Theatre Royal.

 

www.danceconsortium.com // Twitter @DanceConsortium//www.facebook.com/danceconsortium

 

Dance Consortium’s 44th presentation is Mark Morris Dance Group’s ‘Pepperland’ UK and Ireland Tour 20 March – 1 May 2019 https://www.danceconsortium.com/touring/mark-morris-pepperland

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