Dance Umbrella

Name: Dance Umbrella
Address: Somerset House, West Wing, Strand, London, WC2R1LA, GB
Telephone: +442072579380
Price range: $

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Dance Umbrella

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

27/08/2026

🗣️ We’re so excited to reveal the panelists for our Curating in Context discussion!

When dance travels across borders, it is shaped not only by artists but also by the frameworks through which it is presented, contextualised and understood.

Curating in Context explores how dance is programmed across different geographies, and whose perspectives inform those choices.

Facilitated by Isabel Moura Mendes, Senior Relationship Manager for Theatre and Dance at the British Council, the panel will be comprised of:

- Senegalese cultural administrator Ndèye Mané TOURE
- Dutch-Ghanaian artist and curator Richard Kofi
- Mozambican curator, artistic director and cultural producer Quito Abrão Tembe
- Creative Practitioner, Curator & Producer Anthea Lewis

🗓️ Wed 7 Oct
📍 Somerset House
🎟️ Tickets £8
✨ Part of Dance Umbrella Festival
🤝 Supported by British Council

The full recording will be available to watch online with a Digital Pass!

Book now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/panel-discussion-curating-in-context/

25/08/2026

What does it really mean to belong? Here’s our Artistic Director & Co-CEO Freddie Opoku-Addaie to tell you about A Place to Dance: a captivating new show shaped by rhythm, dialogue and an innate desire to celebrate our shared experiences.

Brazilian choreographer Poliana Lima and British flamenco dance artist Yinka Esi Graves join forces to create an encounter that places the body at the centre of a force capable of transforming space, connection and community.

🗓️ 13-14 Oct
📍 The Place
🎟️ Tickets £10-£22
✨ Part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2026

Sign up to our £10 ticket scheme: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/ticket-scheme/
Book your tickets: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/poliana-lima-yinka-esi-graves-a-place-to-dance/

20/08/2026

🔥 The line-up is here for Touch The Floor: a day-long event exploring the evolution of Black British social dancing and music.

Zine making, panels, talks, DJ sets, dancing, food, archiving and more, there is SO much to look forward to and take part in.

Specially curated by Dance Umbrella Festival 2026 Guest Curator Anthea Lewis

The line-up:
Amarnah Ufuoma Cleopatra
Benji Reid
Cyndi Handson
Dean Bryce
Dr Aleema Gray
Dwayne Church-Simms
Gary Nurse
Lisa Anderson
Natifah White
Paradigmz
Spider J
Stuart Thomas

🗓️ Sat 24 Oct, 1pm til late
📍 Rich Mix London
🎟️ Tickets on sale now £0-£15

🔗 Explore the full programme: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/anthea-lewis-blulili-projects-touch-the-floor/

19/08/2026

Want to take part in Dance Umbrella Festival 2026? ✨ We’re recruiting for volunteers to work at various dance shows and events, taking place 7-27 Oct across London!

As a Dance Umbrella volunteer you will get:

🎟️ Free ticket for the festival show/event you are working
🚂 Travel costs covered (up to £15 per day)
🌐 Digital Pass to experience the 2026 digital programme
👕 DU26 t-shirt & tote bag

⏰ Deadline Monday 7 September

Apply now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/about-us/work-with-us/

29/07/2026

🎥 A landmark film from a landmark dance company.

Playful, inventive and quietly revolutionary, Outside In (1994) from Candoco Dance Company challenged perceptions of dance and disability at a time when inclusive performance was rarely seen on mainstream screen.

The film uses the camera as a creative partner, transforming movement into something intimate, cinematic and unexpected.

Watch the film exclusively on danceumbrella.co.uk 7 Oct - 30 Nov with a Digital Pass, which gives you access to Dance Umbrella Festival’s ENTIRE 2026 digital programme.

Get yours now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/digital-pass/

Director - Margaret Williams�Choreographer - Victoria Marks
Dancers - Helen Baggett, Celeste Dandeker, Jon French, Kuldip Singh-Barmi, Sue Smith, David Toole

22/07/2026

🇮🇹 We had the pleasure of attending La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, so here’s what we got up to 🤩

We’re so excited to welcome Mamela Nyamza & Omar Rajeh - Maqamat to London this October, as they bring their unique choreographic voices to Dance Umbrella Festival ❤️

Keep an eye out for their interviews… 🎥👀

1. Mamela Nyamza receiving her Silver Lion award 🏆
2. Our Co-CEOs Freddie Opoku-Addaie & Tania Wilmer with Studio Wayne McGregor and Maqamat 🫶
3 & 4. Filming an interview with Mamela 🎥
5 & 6. Watching the European premiere of THE HERD/LESS, coming to Sadler's Wells East this October 👏
7 & 8. Chatting to Omar about his work across stage and screen - you can catch Omar's work at Barbican Centre and online later this year 🎥
9 & 10. Exploring the streets of Venice 🛶
11. Watching the World Cup final 🇪🇸🇦🇷

09/07/2026

Deadline to apply for our Guest Curator & Curatorial Fellow roles is Monday 13 July, 10.00 ⏰

08/07/2026

Our Artistic Director & Co-CEO Freddie Opoku-Addaie recently spoke to Dance art journal about our Diversifying Curatorial Stewardship project, what curation means and how the UK dance ecosystem connects to the rest of the world.

🗞️ Give the interview a read: https://danceartjournal.com/2026/07/07/curation-is-about-how-you-take-care-of-it-dance-umbrella-on-the-diversifying-curatorial-stewardship-programme/

⏰ Deadline for the Guest Curator & Curatorial Fellow roles is 13 July | Apply now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/about-us/work-with-us/

02/07/2026

This October in London, we'll be joined by one of the most influential dance artists of his generation, Akram Khan, as he offers a rare glimpse into his artistic practice ✨

This landmark event will offer a unique window into the inner workings of Khan’s artistic process. Through conversation, reflection and live discussion with collaborators, he will explore how storytelling, personal history and intention underpin every stage in developing his internationally acclaimed productions.

12 Oct, 7pm
The Bhavan, London
Part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2026
Tickets £10 | On sale now: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/akram-khan-company-artist-encounters-anatomy-of-a-story/

And for those of you who can't make it in-person, fear not! We'll be recording the full talk, which audiences around the world will be able to watch until 30 Nov with a Digital Pass: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/digital-pass/

📸 Camilla Greenwell

30/06/2026

At Dance Umbrella, we believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to experiencing world class art 🌍

That’s why, for the second year running, we have a limited number of £10 tickets available for EVERY performance at Dance Umbrella festival, taking place 7–27 October 2026 across the capital.

This scheme makes it easier than ever to explore bold, exciting dance from around the world, whether you’re discovering Dance Umbrella for the first time or coming back for more.

🎟️ Open to everyone | Sign up now for £10 tickets: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/ticket-scheme/

🤝 The £10 ticket scheme is generously supported by ARC Ratings

Photo credit: THE HERD/LESS by Mamela Nyamza (8-10 Oct, Sadler's Wells East), credit Kim Stevens

Address

Somerset House, West Wing, Strand
London
WC2R1LA

Telephone

+442072579380

Website

http://www.danceumbrella.co.uk/

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