DanceEast at the Jerwood DanceHouse, Ipswich waterfront

Founded in 1983 and gaining National Dance Agency status in 1994, DanceEast has grown from strength to strength, maintaining its commitment to the rural communities of East Anglia whilst developing national and international programmes.

DanceEast brings world class dance to the East of England, presenting a diverse programme of performances to widen audience experience. As well working with established choreographers/companies, DanceEast encourages emerging artists by providing training, support and performance opportunities.

Dance east!

DanceEast runs a variety of dance classes at the Jerwood DanceHouse on the Ipswich waterfront, and in Suffolk. The programme includes Egyptian Belly Dancing; Hip Hop; Ballet; Jazz; Pilates and Yoga. From classes for people with additional needs through to professional masterclasses, DanceEast promotes dance as a pastime for fun and fitness for everybody.

DanceEast coordinates a range of performance groups in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, bringing dancers professional choreographers and expert tuition, as well as opportunities to perform at national and regional platforms.

Work with schools DanceEast offers a variety of activities to widen the extended schools agenda. Resources are provided to develop the teaching of dance as part of the national curriculum; including the Soil Dances for Key Stage 2 DVD.

DanceEast in the community
Lucy Blazheva, DanceEast's Community Dance Artist has a busy schedule delivering outreach sessions in Suffolk. She also runs classes at the DanceHouse and is the tutor for Suffolk Youth Dance Company, a DanceEast Performance Group.

Find out more about what DanceEast's Community Dance Artist is up to across Suffolk.

The DanceEast Academy is one of nine National Dance Centres for Advanced Training aimed at young people aged 10 - 18 with exceptional potential in dance, funded by the Department for Education. As it is the most intensive and committed of DanceEast's youth activities, training is suited to those who want to become a professional dancer.
In April 2011 DanceEast took over the delivery of East Youth Dance in partnership with Youth Dance England. East Youth Dance promotes youth dance opportunities for children and young people across the East of England.

Dance on an international level

DanceEast aims to share experience across communities, countries and cultures. A range of partners include:

• Arthur Pita;
• Rafael Bonachela (Sydney Dance Company);
• Mark Morris Dance Group;
• Aracaladanza;
• TPO Company.

DanceEast produces the internationally recognised Rural Retreats, think-tanks looking at the future of the art form with existing and future leaders in the world of dance and ballet. Previous Retreats have brought together guest speakers from the worlds of business and sport to share experiences with dance leaders.

DanceEast at the Jerwood DanceHouse
The Jerwood DanceHouse is one of a growing number of centres for dance that have been created to reach out to communities and act as magnets for national and international dance artists. This £8.9 million development is the cultural hub of the regenerated Ipswich waterfront, and a hothouse for the development and presentation of new dance talent.
National Dance Network With representatives from all over the UK, the National Dance Network (NDN) is a meeting point for organisations whose main role is the presentation, programming and commissioning of dance. The NDN also manages the artistic direction and financial development of the annual British Dance Edition (BDE).
European Dancehouse Network In 2011 DanceEast became a member of the European Dancehouse Network (EDN). The network aims to promote and support the professional development of dance artists as well as dance as an art form, by using the experience and strengths of each network partner.

Image credits: Margaret Ferreira; Rachel Cherry; Mike Kwasniak