Dance Umbrella

Dance Umbrella London's international dance festival, taking place every October across the capital and online ✨ Artistic Director and CEO: Freddie Opoku-Addaie

29/09/2025

🗣️ “As an artist, it's really important to feel supported in your risk-taking.” - Abby Zbikowski, dance artist

We commissioned US dance artist Abby Zbikowski (Artistic Director of Abby Z and the New Utility) way back in 2018, as part of a special commission to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, last year we were finally able to present the European premiere of her work Radioactive Practice at Sadler’s Wells.

And it was worth the wait: The Guardian named it their no.1 dance show of 2024.

As part of our new Shaping the Future of Dance Campaign, we spoke to Abby about why it’s so important to support independent artists in their risk taking.

With your donation, we can continue to bring world-class artists, like Abby, to the UK and support the sector to innovate and commission new artists 💛

- Anyone who donates £50 will receive an exclusive Dance Umbrella tote bag
- Donate £125 and you’ll receive a limited edition festival umbrella ☂️
- Donate £150 or more, and we will send you BOTH

Learn more and donate today: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/2025/09/22/shape-the-future-of-dance-with-us/

Sites of Meaning is a discussion about how culture, memory and migration influence our experience of place in the world....
24/09/2025

Sites of Meaning is a discussion about how culture, memory and migration influence our experience of place in the world.

Taking place at Studio Wayne McGregor this October as part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2025, we’ll be joined by:

🎤 Lisa Anderson (facilitator)
Cultural strategist & former managing director of the Black Cultural Archives

🗣️ Andreas Lang
Course Leader in M-Arch Architecture, Central Saint Martins

🗣️ Mariam Zulfiqar
Director of ARTANGEL and former leader of the National Art Programme and Forestry England

🗣️ Andrea Peña
Choreographer of BOGOTÁ (Sadler's Wells East, 2-3 Oct)

Friday 3 October, 5pm Studio Wayne McGregor | Tickets £5
BSL interpreted by Anna Kitson & Vinessa Bryant

Book now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/sites-of-meaning-culture-and-the-global-city/

22/09/2025

Today, we’re excited to launch our Shaping the Future of Dance campaign ☔️ Here’s our Artistic Director & Co-CEO Freddie Opoku-Addaie to tell you all about it 🗣️

We're asking our community to support us with a donation, so that we can continue to commission new and exciting dance work and provide a platform for emerging talent ✨

To say thank you, we want to give you something in return for your donation:
- Anyone who donates £50 will receive an exclusive Dance Umbrella tote bag
- Donate £125 and you’ll receive a limited edition festival umbrella ☂️
- Donate £150 or more, and we will send you BOTH

Learn more and donate today: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/2025/09/22/shape-the-future-of-dance-with-us/

With your donation, we can continue to bring world-class artists to the UK and support the sector to innovate and commission new artists 💛

18/09/2025

Coming soon... 👀☔️

17/09/2025

Gesualdo Passione is a modern creation inspired by 17th century composer Carlo Gesualdo’s work, which tells the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Blending live a ca****la singing with expressive movement, in this story of suffering and love, the body is central.

A collaboration between Compagnie Amala Dianor & Les Arts Florissants - William Christie

🗓️ 16 Oct
📍 Barbican Centre (UK premiere)
Part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2025

🎟️ Limited no. £10 tickets available via DU Ticket Scheme!

Book now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/amala-dianor-gesualdo-passione/

🗣️ We’re thrilled to announce the panelists for Arts & Class: a discussion about how class shapes opportunity, access an...
16/09/2025

🗣️ We’re thrilled to announce the panelists for Arts & Class: a discussion about how class shapes opportunity, access and visibility in the arts.

We’ll be joined by:

- Brenda Emmanus OBE (Facilitator) - Broadcaster & Journalist
- Laura Griffiths - Senior Lecturer in Dance at Leeds Beckett University
- Neil Griffiths - Co-founder & Chief Executive of Arts Emergency
- Rachel Krische (PhD) - Dance Artist & Academic
- Sahra Warsame - Multidisciplinary Theatre Maker & BAC Next Gen Producer

🗓️ Fri 10 Oct, 6pm
📍 Battersea Arts Centre - BAC
🎟️ Pay What You Can starting at £4

Book now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/arts-class/

This talk will be BSL interpreted.

🎥 For anyone who can’t be there in person, we will be recording the full discussion, which will be available to watch online via Dance Umbrella’s 2025 Digital Pass until the end of November!

📝 Applications for The Emma Gladstone Award are now open! This is a new award enabling dance producers to expand their h...
08/09/2025

📝 Applications for The Emma Gladstone Award are now open! This is a new award enabling dance producers to expand their horizons, in recognition of the late Emma Gladstone OBE (1960-2024).

The Award will be made to one recipient per year, providing £7,000 to support international travel, in the interest of forming new perspectives, gaining fresh understanding and developing novel connections.

We are delighted to announce that the panel for the first ever Emma Gladstone Award is: Cathy Levy (Chair and EGA board member), Farooq Chaudhry OBE, Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu, Gregory Maqoma and Stine Nilsen.

🗓️ 30 Oct - Applications close
📣 Feb 2026 - First recipient announced

All candidates must submit:
📄 CV
📝 Letter of support
💻 Project outline (incl. timeline and budget) via a form

Learn more & apply now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/2025/06/25/emma-gladstone-award-announced/

📸 Hugo Glendinning

London calling 🗣️ We're bringing international dance all across the capital this October for Dance Umbrella Festival 202...
01/09/2025

London calling 🗣️ We're bringing international dance all across the capital this October for Dance Umbrella Festival 2025:

Sadler's Wells East
Studio Wayne McGregor
Brixton House
Barbican Centre (Hall, The Pit and Cinema!)
Battersea Arts Centre - BAC
Shakespeare's Globe (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse)
Porchester Hall
The Place
Shoreditch Town Hall

Can't make it to London? We have a WHOLE digital programme running 2 October until 30 November, so that you can experience the festival from wherever you are 🤗

Where will you be joining us? Explore the programme now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/festival/

31/08/2025

💃 Stripped back to voice and movement, this take on flamenco pulses with improvisation, irreverence and unexpected humour. Dancer La Chachi and singer Lola Dolores create a strikingly intimate yet playful reimagining of tradition, where dance and song intertwine in unpredictable ways ❤️‍🔥

Watch Random Taranto as part of Change Tempo: a double bill that introduces London audiences to two distinctive artists set to make their mark, while challenging expectations of dance.

🗓️ 8-9 October
📍 Barbican Centre
🎟️ Limited £10 tickets available via our DU ticket scheme

Book now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/lilian-steiner-la-chachi-change-tempo/

Part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2025, 2-31 October | Across London & online

Here is your first look at Gesualdo Passione by Compagnie Amala Dianor & Les Arts Florissants - William Christie, which ...
27/08/2025

Here is your first look at Gesualdo Passione by Compagnie Amala Dianor & Les Arts Florissants - William Christie, which is heading to the Barbican Centre this October for its UK premiere 👀

In this story of suffering and love, the body is central. Blending live a ca****la singing with expressive movement, Gesualdo Passione is a modern creation inspired by 17th century composer Carlo Gesualdo’s work.

🗓️ 16 Oct
📍 Barbican Centre
🎟️ Tickets £15-£55 | Limited no. £10 tickets availble (once they’re gone, they’re gone!)

Book now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/amala-dianor-gesualdo-passione/

📸 Vincent Pontet

Dancers: Damiano Bigi, Dexter Bravo, Clément Nikiema, Elena Thomas
Singers: Hannah Morrison, Miriam Allan, Melodie Ruvio, Sean Clayton, Edward Grint

24/08/2025

🧜‍♀️ A siren beckons – her invitation laced with both desire and deception. Siren Dance by Lilian Steiner is a mesmerising exploration of power, transformation and the fine line between authenticity and disguise.

Lilian is a Stockholm-based Australian artist, currently a dancer with Cullberg 🩰

Watch as part of Change Tempo: a double bill that introduces London audiences to two distinctive artists set to make their mark, while challenging expectations of dance.

🗓️ 8-9 October
📍 Barbican Centre
🎟️ Limited £10 tickets available via our DU ticket scheme

Book now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/lilian-steiner-la-chachi-change-tempo/

Part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2025, 2-31 October | Across London & online

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Somerset House, West Wing, Strand
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WC2R1LA

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+442072579380

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