Red Shoe Appeal

The Red Shoe Appeal is a fundraising campaign which secured the £8.9 million needed to build the Jerwood DanceHouse, at the former Cranfields Mill site on the Ipswich waterfront, the largest urban regeneration project in the East of England.

This new centre for dance is both an architectural and cultural beacon. The state-of-the-art, custom-built facilities will meet the needs of everyone - whether tiny tots taking their first steps or seasoned professionals. In September 2009 the DanceHouse will open its doors to the community, with classes for all ages and abilities, and performances by national and international dance artists.

"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

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.

Supported by Arts Council England East, East of England Development Agency, Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk County Council, The Jerwood Foundation, Wharfside Regeneration, and many other private donors , businesses, trusts and foundations. The DanceHouse is set to become one of the UK's key national dance houses.

For a full list of donors click here.