Campaign
DanceEast is one of the UK's leading national dance organisations, showcasing the universal appeal of dance to people of all ages and abilities across the East of England.
We've done well since our inception 25 years ago, but are now at the crossroads of our greatest challenge yet. And we need your help.
Plans are well under way on the East of England's largest urban regeneration project. The Cranfield's Mill site in Ipswich has been earmarked for an exciting redevelopment scheme. At the cultural cornerstone of this new, dynamic waterfront hub will be our very own, purpose-built £8.6 million DanceHouse.
The timing couldn't be better. We've outgrown our current base at Northgate Arts Centre, and have been in temporary offices for 7 years. We are primed and ready for a new home with much needed custom-built facilities and we are on schedule to open our doors in Autumn, 2009.
Already, on the back of our international reputation and significant achievements, a stream of key public bodies, including: East of England Development Agency, Arts Council England Capital Lottery Fund, Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council and the developer Wharfside Regeneration, have donated nearly £6 million to partner us in this vision. An additional £1 million has already been raised by the private sector. As impressive as this is, it's not quite enough.
| "It's important that Ipswich and Suffolk have somewhere like this - where people can see top-quality dance performed, and participate. This is an asset for the town and county." |
| Ruthie Henshall, Performer |
We'd like you to join them and us to help make up the remaining £700,000 needed to secure this inspirational new centre of excellence for Suffolk. Something really special is being built on the waterfront in Ipswich and the new DanceHouse will play a unique role in amplifying its impact on the region and beyond.
The DanceHouse is good for the arts because our new home will allow us to continue encouraging the region's next generation of brilliant dance artists and attract some of the world's greatest dance companies to the area.
It's good for business because enterprise thrives in a commercial atmosphere rich in culture and the arts.
And it's good for the community because people who have access to creative expression have much more self confidence, energy and goodwill to give back into society.
Join Us. Let's make it happen.
Put on your red shoes and dance!