alison Posted June 16, 2022 Share Posted June 16, 2022 "I am writing to you, with great regret, to inform you of the imminent closure of Dance Books. Trading conditions during the pandemic have been very difficult and in addition to this we have recently been hit by two bombshells: earlier this year our book trade distributors, Vine House, went into liquidation, meaning that we have lost the ability to sell our publications to bookshops, and a month ago the company that hosts our web site announced that they too are closing, which means we shall shortly have no web site and thus no opportunity to sell our books to private customers. In these conditions our only option is to close down while we are still solvent. I have of course tried to find a company willing to take us over, but to no avail. I'd like to thank all the many people who have supported us over the more than fifty years I've been running the company: our friends and customers and my fellow staff members, particularly my partner Richard Holland, our brilliant editor/designers Liz Morrell and Sanjoy Roy, and my co-editors of 'Dance Now', Ann Nugent, Sanjoy Roy, and Allen Robertson. Our web site will remain active until mid-July, so if you'd like to order any of our wonderful books please do so soon: after that date they will no longer be available. Very best wishes, David Leonard Managing Director, Dance Books Ltd. As usual, you'll find full details and ordering facilities on our web site: www.dancebooks.co.uk " 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 16, 2022 Author Share Posted June 16, 2022 😢 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 That's so sad. I still miss Dance Books every time I go to Cecil Court. Thanks to David Leonard and his colleagues for running this special company for so many years. 14 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaddieRose Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 I applaud and thank them wholeheartedly for providing such a useful range of books for so long, especially in regards to reprinting out of print works. There's probably a whole shelf on my bookcase of books I got from there. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 This surely marks the end of a truly extraordinary era for which those privileged to have experienced it are both hugely enriched and rightly grateful. 12 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 This is such sad news. When the shop was in Cecil Court my feet just took me there to browse and buy. Many thanks and very best wishes to David Leonard and all his colleagues. 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 I still have one of these beautiful plastic bags from the store with the etching from La Sylphide, and everytime I need a tote to bring something for somebody, I think: Oh no, not this one, such dear memories. So I guess it will be a museum piece some day. What a pity! Thank you, David Leonard. I also really miss Dance Now and cherish my collection. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swan Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 I remember excitedly rushing to Cecil Court in my lunch breaks to buy the latest copy of Dancing Times. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannette Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 This really saddens me. I remember trips to London with my grandma & mom in the ‘80s & ‘90s…Cecil Court and Dance Books at the top of my must-do list…lugging heavy suitcases back to San Juan, Puerto Rico. After the physical shop closed, at least we had the opportunity to order by post. Now that’s ending. Farewell and Thank You, Dance Books. 🥲 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 All those happy memories! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Such sad news. So many happy memories of visits to the shop in Cecil Court and finding such gorgeous books. Thank you David Leonard. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 I used to love the shop when it was there and couldn’t walk past it without going in. A sort of hallowed place back then. Thankyou to Dance Books for giving such long and loving service. Very sad news. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaM Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 😔 thanks for the super memories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkgal Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 Echoed! I still have a box full of rehearsal pictures from the 80s and 90s most of the signed - what a sad day 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanartus Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 End of an era…. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 On 17/06/2022 at 07:30, bridiem said: That's so sad. I still miss Dance Books every time I go to Cecil Court. Thanks to David Leonard and his colleagues for running this special company for so many years. Oh yes I so agree! A trip to town without a browse in Dance Books was never the same after the shop closed. ☹ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 There was also Watkins Books next to The Ballet Book Shop ( as then called) which was also a fascinating shop to browse around alas also gone!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 On 17/06/2022 at 05:30, bridiem said: That's so sad. I still miss Dance Books every time I go to Cecil Court. Thanks to David Leonard and his colleagues for running this special company for so many years. It wasn't a successful/happy trip to London unless I visited this shop. On one occasion i as so skint I could only afford to buy a couple of old copies of The House from the 60's, which I still have. I remember marvelling at the photos of all the glamorous ballerinas....Happy days. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 I suppose my most treasured possession for a very long time from the shop was a photograph of the very young Wayne Eagling which he later signed! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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