DanceWest Fest 2023

London’s biggest dance festival sees four new commissions from established choreographers, two emerging artist commissions and large-scale community dance platforms, supporting the creation of new choreography and the development of dance artists at every stage of their career.

Past events: DanceWest Fest Community Platform at the Rose Theatre Kingston

On Saturday 17th June 2023, DanceWest Fest took place at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, where a diverse variety of emerging artists and community dance groups from across the area performed.

As part of DanceWest Fest's dedication to nurturing and developing early year choreographic talent, two new commissions were presented from contemporary dance artist Emma Skyum Poulsen and hip hop dance artist Dani Harris Walters.

These commissions marked the opening and closing performances of the community dance platform at the Rose Theatre on the 17th of June 2023. The community dance platform featured a total of 60 dance groups and schools, showcasing a wide range of performers from different backgrounds, ages, and abilities in a professional theatre setting.

Programme 1: Emma Skylum-Poulsen, DanceWest Emerging artist commission, Studio K, DanceWest Bolder not Older, Urban Interface Lil pack & Wolfpack Collective, Flamenco El Bosque, Basebox, NLPAC, Sage Dance Company, Claygate Dance Club, Dance Six, Tiffin Dance Company. Dani Harris-Walters, DanceWest Emerging artist commission

Programme 2: Emma Skylum-Poulsen, DanceWest Emerging artist commission, Luna Dance Academy, Stop Gap 'SG Troop', Unlimited Dance, Elevate Arts Street Dance Academy, Moving Stories Dance Company, Traceworks Youth Dance, Green Candles spinoff company, Dance N' beats, Dance Stables Youth Company, Vital Signz Dance, Magpie Dance, Hampshire Youth Dance Company, Counterpoint Dance Company, Kristi's Dance Academy, Dani Harris-Walters, DanceWest Emerging artist commission.

Past events: DanceWest Fest Established Artists Platform19-20 May 2023.

DanceWest Fest opened at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith on the 19 May 2023 with an evening of new commissions with work from Lea Anderson MBE, Gerrard Martin, Jamaal Burkmar and James Wilton.

Lea Anderson MBE: Independent dance artist and co-founder of the iconic dance companies The Cholmondeleys and The Featherstonehaughs, Lea Anderson MBE presents a new work that reunites her with two of the original members of The Cholmondeleys. Throughout her forty-year career Lea has created over 100 works and collaborated with a range of designers, filmmakers, and artists - from Academy Award winning designer Sandy Powell to acclaimed director Todd Haynes on Velvet Goldmine - creating pioneering work in nontheatrical spaces.

Jamaal Burkmar: Presenting a piece for three dancers, explores static movement in his latest creation. Upon graduating from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Jamaal received Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Choreography Award and has gone on to create works for companies including Phoenix Dance Theatre, Motionhouse and Verve.

Gerrard Martin: new work looks at the tenderness, intersectionality, and vulnerability of Black men. Having founded Gerrard Martin Dance in 2011 he has become known for creating emotive, socially relevant works that have been presented at The Place, Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery. Gerrard has also worked as assistant choreographer on English National Opera’s Olivier Award winning production Porgy & Bess and One Love: The Bob Marley Musical.

James Wilton Dance: who explore what is left behind when we are gone through folklore, ritual, and tradition. James Wilton Dance has toured extensively in the UK and internationally, winning numerous awards. Alongside works for his own company, James has choreographed for Scottish Dance Theatre, Konzert Theater Bern and a work for 50 dancers performed at the Millennium and Wembley Stadiums.

Past Opportunities

About the festival: West London’s biggest dance festival is back after a brief pause and a rebrand, Ignition Dance Festival, now DanceWest Fest, will re-ignite audiences and return to the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and the Rose Theatre in Kingston in 2023. DanceWest Fest supports the creation of new choreography and the development of artists at every stage of their career.

Established Dance Artists

• £5,000 to create a new work.

• Established dance artists based in the UK.

• How to apply and more information here

• Excel budget template here

• Deadline: Wednesday 15 February 2023.

Emerging Dance Artists

• £1,750 to create a new work to open and or close our Community Dance Platforms.

• Emerging dance artists based in the UK.

• How to apply and more information here

• Deadline: Thursday 16 February 2023

Community Dance Groups

• Four community dance platforms.

• We are seeking an array of dance groups regardless of age, ability and style to take part.

• More information and application form here

• Word copy of the application form available by request: info@dancewest.co.uk.

• Deadline: Friday 24 February 2023.

FAQ - Established Dance Artists and Emerging Dance Artists

1. Can I share my video application via We transfer? Yes but please name the transfer and content by the artist applying.

2. Can I send you private links to YouTube or Vimeo for the application or previous work? Yes but share the password.

3. Will you provide feedback? We will do our very best to provide feedback.

4. Who selects the artists? We have a panel made up of independent producers, funders and supporters of the festival.

5. I have further questions how do I get in touch? info@dancewest.co.uk.