What a year 2025 has been!
DanceEast has hosted packed classes and standout performances, welcomed new team members, new collaborations, and celebrated milestones for our organisation. Here are a few of our highlights from a movement-filled year…
Anthony, Chief Executive & Creative Director
“The large windows of our office overlook the entrance of our beautiful building, I have to close my blinds occasionally so as not to be distracted by people walking down the street.
A huge highlight for me was sitting at my desk last week, watching coach-loads of school children from across East Anglia arrive for our festive shows. It was a humbling experience to see such excitement, jostling, and smiles on the many, many faces as they came in, and to see bigger smiles, and wild animated gestures as they left.
It reminded me of the impact that dance had on me when I encountered it for the first time – for me not as a show, but being forced to do a class at school (against my will!).
Opportunities aren’t evenly spread in this world, and to provide opportunities like these is something to fight for and protect, to preserve space for moments to be transported to another world, sit in wonder, and to create the conditions for the profound impact dance can have.”
Natalie, Development Manager
Jihae, Interim Programme Coordinator
“The End of Sharing Week for the autumn classes has been my winter sparkle.The Dance for Parkinson’s volunteers often make name tags for me (because they always convince me to join them on the dance floor instead of working in the office!) On Sharing Day, I wore my name tag on my heart while watching their group performance in the Wellbeing Studio, which was a beautiful masterpiece.
The Hip Hop Dance (8–11s) class sharing was BANGING!!! Our kids confidently showed their moves to holly jolly Christmas remix songs, and it inspired me to register for Hip Hop Dance class next spring. It’s been a month since joining the DanceEast team, and building on last autumn, I can’t wait to blossom into new experiences with our team, tutors, artists, and participants this spring.”
Katie, Programme Coordinator
“My highlight of 2025 has got to be U.Dance East Fringe Festival. It was a brand-new event I co-produced, aiming to increase opportunities for Youth Groups across the East of England to connect and inspire each other through technical and creative dance workshops and a performance sharing. The day was vibrant and inspiring – it was amazing to welcome so many passionate youth dancers as part of the event who otherwise lack the opportunity to engage with other young dancers and perform outside of their group.”
Bryony, Head of Communications & Development
“My highlight was the CAT end of year performance, after 6 months of campaigning and advocacy nationally to continue the programme (which resulted in success with funding confirmed for 2025/26) it was a brilliant reminder of why the CAT is so important – children and young people from all backgrounds and across East Anglia, with incredible talent, work ethic and dedication performing at an incredible standard, working with the UK’s best companies. I cried several times. It’s so important we can create these opportunities for our young people.”
Isabella, Sales & Admin Assistant
Hayley, Interim Programme Manager
“Working with Daisy to relaunch our class programme this summer was a real highlight. Bringing fresh energy and creativity back into our classes, alongside both new and returning tutors, has been really lovely. It’s been wonderful to welcome so many new participants through our doors, especially the large number of young people attending our new Hip Hop classes. Our new partnership with Elementz has gone from strength to strength, and we’re really excited about what the next year of classes will bring.”
Lily, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
“First Light Festival at Lowestoft in the summer was my favourite moment of the year. I’d only started a few months prior, so I was really excited to go behind the scenes and get involved. It was such a joy to be in the MoonDance tent, enjoying the sun on a lovely beach surrounded by great vibes and people moving together. My favourite moment was Line Dancing with Richard Pye, and dancing with people who otherwise wouldn’t think of themselves as “good dancers” – me included! The whole event just made me appreciate the power of dance, and it was such great fun.
A close second favourite was watching National Youth Dance Company perform Gravity in the summer. I took my parents, and we were all in awe of their sheer talent and energy. They were so in-sync with their movement, it was hypnotising to watch. It was my first proper show I’d ever watched at DanceEast – and I remember thinking “how is anyone going to top this?!” It was so moving to see that many young people just oozing skill and having so much fun on stage. I may have got a bit teary!”
Sophie, Producer for Creative Health & Communities
“2025 has been an incredible year for so many reasons, but one of things I feel most proud of is seeing the growth of our dementia programme, Care to Dance. At the beginning of the year, we were delivering sessions in the same four venues that we have been for many years now, with just one community dance artist at the helm. And we are ending the year with 3 brand new venues in Mid Suffolk now experiencing the joy of Care to Dance, bringing our total venues to 7, and an incredible new team of lead artists and support artists who have just completed their CPD and even have brand new, named Care to Dance t-shirts to head into the New Year with!
We have been on Suffolk Sound radio to talk about the programme, we have featured in Mid Suffolk District Council’s campaign for their Culture Fund, and we’ve formed a great relationship with the local and regional Alzheimer’s Society team, attending their Dementia Roadshows throughout the year. Care to Dance is a programme I have always felt proud of, but this year it feels like we have breathed new life into it and I’m so excited to see where 2026 takes us!”
Marni, Sales & Admin Assistant and YouthFest 2025 Young Producer
“Dance for Parkinson’s has been my favourite part of my year. It’s the most fruitful, fabulous class ever. All the people involved are such vibrant individuals, even though some of them tell me “they aren’t a dancer”, yet they still enjoy the class! The class has such a strong support network and community.
Youthfest was also really fun – it felt like a real celebration of dance and creative arts this year, especially since we brought in so many different disciplines and artists of all backgrounds and styles. It was lovely to work with the other Young Producers too – it feels like we made a strong connection with eachother, workshop leaders and those who came. I’m excited to see how it will look next year!”
Thank you for a fantastic year!
See you in 2026 for another vibrant year of movement and joy.
