Royal visit to the Jerwood DanceHouse

DanceEast had its first Royal visit to the new Jerwood DanceHouse on the Ipswich waterfront this week, when the Countess of Wessex enjoyed a visit as part of a whistle stop tour of Suffolk.

The Countess of Wessex was given a tour the building and met students and teachers from Holywells High School who have been taking part in Dance Dynamic - a project with the Royal Opera House. She also met with students taking BA (Hons) Dance in the Community* at University Campus Suffolk, and youngsters from Halifax Primary School who are involved with The Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts.

The Countess of Wessex also met with members of the DanceEast board, staff and donors before unveiling a plaque to commemorate her visit.  

Artistic Director and Chief Executive Assis Carreiro said: 'It was wonderful that she was able to spend some time with us, we were absolutely thrilled.'


*This pioneering course has evolved from a strong partnership between University Campus Suffolk, DanceEast and Arts Council England. The course is at the forefront of community dance development in the East. Utilising exciting new facilities on the Ipswich waterfront that support the cultural, social, artistic and academic development of dance and its place in the community.

Editor's Notes

DanceEast
Based in the East of England, DanceEast is one of the nation's leading dance organisations.  From classes for people with physical and learning disabilities, through to professional master classes, DanceEast aims to bring opportunities to dance to everyone across East Anglia and to promote dance as a pastime for fun and fitness for everyone.  Working in partnership with theatres across the region, DanceEast brings world-class dance performances to the East of England, and supports Bonachela Dance Company and Wayne McGregor | Random Dance as Associate Dance Companies, along with Isobel Cohen and Heather Eddington as Associate Artists.

Photo credit: Mike Kwasniak