Press Release: Dance Umbrella appoints Tania Wilmer as new Executive Director

[Jan McNulty]

PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday 7 April 2020

 

 

DANCE UMBRELLA APPOINTS TANIA WILMER AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

 

Dance Umbrella, London’s leading festival of international dance, has today announced that Tania Wilmer has been appointed as Executive Director.

 

An experienced leader in the cultural sector, Tania was most recently CEO of Stratford Circus Arts Centre where she has programmed ambitious and imaginative work by leading artists and companies such as Punchdrunk, Inua Ellams, Fevered Sleep and Akram Khan’s first works for young audiences. Under Tania’s realm the organisation has built a reputation for its inclusive and participatory ethos and commitment to supporting emerging talent. She has previouslyworked for Arts Council England, Sadler’s Wells and the British Council.

 

Tania will work closely with Dance Umbrella Artistic Director and Chief Executive Emma Gladstone to bring the very best choreography from around the world to London every October for Dance Umbrella’s international festival. She will also support Dance Umbrella’s year-round digital projects, creative learning schemes and professional development programmes.

 

Tania Wilmer said: ‘I am thrilled to be joining the Dance Umbrella team. I have long admired Emma’s artistic vision for the festival. Her commitment to diversity and her drive to make dance an art form that is widely experienced and enjoyed resonates deeply with my values.’

 

Emma Gladstone said: ‘In such changing and challenging times it is great to know Tania will be joining our team. She brings with her wisdom, knowledge and experience of the arts both on the ground reaching local audiences, and on the level of strategy and wider organisational governance alongside much more. I am truly delighted to welcome her to Dance Umbrella.’

-ENDS-
 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

DANCE UMBRELLA

Dance Umbrella is London’s international Dance festival. We shine a light on new choreography every October, sharing memorable shows from around the world with audiences across the capital.

 

We are committed to taking dance out and bringing audiences in by touring in inner and outer London, broadening definitions of contemporary dance, and developing partnerships with non-dance venues and organisations such as The Big Draw, National Theatre, Battersea Power Station and local councils.

 

Founded in 1978, Dance Umbrella has reached audiences of well over a million people. Pioneering commissions by world class choreographers have been presented at sites ranging from the Royal Albert Hall and inner city rooftops, to Tate Modern and outer London parks.  EmmaGladstone was appointed Artistic Director & Chief Executive in 2013, and in addition to the festival, Dance Umbrella now runs digital projects, creative learning schemes and professional development programmes throughout the year.

danceumbrella.co.uk