Welcome to our first newsletter of 2025

There has already been much to celebrate in the dance sector this year. In January One Dance UK hosted their annual awards, shining a light on the incredible achievements in our sector. This year we were particularly delighted to see DCD supported dancers Avatâra Ayuso and Paul Bayes Kitcher being recognised. Avatâra, whose Angel VR we presented at DCD’s Inspiration Day in November, won The Bob Lockyer Award for Digital Innovation. Paul and his company Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, both of whom featured in our recent 50^th Anniversary film here, were awarded the Community Champion Award and The Dance Changemaker Award.

In February Sadler’s Wells East opened in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, kicking of its first season with Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s Our Mighty Groove, which included young dancers from east London in the performance. This much anticipated new dance venue has already been named as #1 Best New Thing To Do In The UK For 2025 by Time Out and later this year will welcome it first cohort of students to Academy Breakin’ Convention.

DCD has also been busy, hosting a fascinating panel discussion with former dancers The Baroness Bull CBE (Crossbench Peer, Deputy Speaker House of Lords), Iain Mackay (Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet School) and two of our brilliant Trustees; Ingrid Mackinnon (Choreographer and Intimacy Director), and Jean-Marc Puissant (Stage and Costume Designer). Attendees spoke about their career journeys, dancers’ extensive skills and qualities that can be applied to a wide variety of professions, and artists’ value to society.

Next month we will be hosting two events for dancers: a career development workshop in London and the first of several regional advice sessions in Manchester, delivered in partnership with One Dance UK. Please help us spread the word about these free events to support dancers’ professional development - more information below.

Finally, if you are planning to review or make a will this year, please consider leaving a gift to Dancers’ Career Development. Leaving a legacy is one of the most enduring and impactful forms of philanthropy. Many former dancers have had the opportunity to retrain at the end of their performance careers due to the generosity of prior legacy donors. You can find information about how to provide a legacy on our website (link below), or explore the option via a confidential conversation with myself. 

With warm regards

Vanessa Lefrancois, Executive Director

We are excited to announce that we are recruiting a Head of Individual Giving. This new fundraising role will be instrumental in expanding our supporter base and increasing DCD’s philanthropic income. 

We are looking for an experienced self-starter, who is highly motivated, results orientated and capable of working independently and within a small and ambitious team. Our ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills and a proven track record of cultivating and stewarding individual donors.

If you are excited by this opportunity, resonate with DCD’s values and are passionate about making a positive difference to dancers’ lives, please get in touch; we would love to hear from you.                  

The act of leaving a legacy is one of the most enduring and impactful forms of philanthropy. Legacy gifts to DCD enable current and future generations of dancers to successfully retrain in new professions, following their retirement from the stage. Every gift matters.

“I know from personal experience that the advice, encouragement, and financial support that DCD offers dance artists can literally make all the difference in the world: my life after my performance career would have been very different without it. I am deeply grateful to the organisation for what it offers dance artists at a point in their careers when they are often most anxious and vulnerable.

Long may you flourish, for we dancers need you.”

Nelson Fernandez OBE, International Arts Producer (DCD legacy pledger)

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DCD is ambitious for dancers' futures.