Welcome to our Autumn 2025 season. By the time you read this, I will have stepped down from my role at DanceEast. I hope you will give a warm welcome to my successor Anthony Missen, who will start in October.
In the meantime, we have an exciting offer, whether you want to move in one of our dance classes or workshops, or be moved by a performance. We have relaunched our class programme and there are some great new opportunities for young people, so do check out the timetable.
Regarding young people, we are excited to be premiering a wonderful new production by Protein Dance this Festive Season, their reimagining of The Magic Flute
But we genuinely have got something for everyone, whatever your age, so read on!
One last thank you from me particularly to those who have supported DanceEast over the years. I will see you in the foyer as I start my journey as a new DanceEast customer.
Brendan Keaney OBE Artistic Director & Chief Executive
WHAT’S ON THEATRE
SEPTEMBER
LOST DOG
Juliet & Romeo Fri 26, 7.30pm £18/14* Page 25
OCTOBER
ACE DANCE AND MUSIC
TWAWSI – The World As We See It Fri 10, 7.30pm £18/14* Page 24
The Magic Flute - Schools Tues 9, 1.30pm Wed 10, 10.30am and 1.30pm Thurs 11, 10.30am £8 per student One teacher free for every TEN students booked Page 19
PROTEIN DANCE
The Magic Flute - Public Fri 12, 7.30, Sat 13, 11.00am and 3.00pm Sun 14, 2.30pm £18/14* Page 19 *Full price tickets start from £18 and concessions from £14
Juliet & Romeo
CLEVER • FUNNY • POIGNANT
FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER, 7.30PM
TICKETS FROM £18, CONCESSIONS FROM £14
Juliet & Romeo is a heartfelt, funny and moving duet from Lost Dog, blending dance, theatre and comedy. Directed by award-winning Ben Duke, it reimagines Shakespeare’s lovers 20 years on; older, wiser and in therapy. A playful and honest look at love, identity and growing older.
BOOK NOW
“It’s not often you’re doubled over with laughter and wiping away tears of sadness during the same show.”
The Scotsman
DON’T MISS Over 50s Workshop by Lost Dog Dance. Wednesday 24 September, 4.00pm-6.00pm
BOOK NOW
Suitable for ages 12+ Content guidance is available on our website or by contacting our Box Office.
Co-commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre and The Place. Funded by Arts Council England.
Photo:
Paul Blakemore
ACE DANCE AND MUSIC
TWAWSI – The World
As We See It...
FEARLESS • EXHILARATING • BEAUTIFUL
FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER, 7.30PM
TICKETS FROM £18, CONCESSIONS FROM £14
TWAWSI is a powerful double bill from ACE Dance and Music, blending African and contemporary dance to explore today’s world with courage and compassion. From conflict and chaos to harmony and hope, acclaimed choreographers Serge Aimé Coulibaly and Vincent Mantsoe and seven extraordinary dancers re-write the rules and embody unity in a divided world.
BOOK NOW
DON’T MISS ACE Dance and Music’s Afro-fusion masterclass on Friday 10 October for ages 18-25.
BOOK NOW
Photo: Graeme Braidwood
Platforma COUNTERPOINT ARTS
VIBRANT • COURAGEOUS • UPLIFTING
Platforma festival takes place in a different English region every two years, produced by Counterpoint Arts in collaboration with local partners to showcase work made by and with refugee and migrant artists. This October, the 8th Platforma festival is coming to the East of England for the first time, with a month-long calendar of events, performances, exhibitions, and workshops.
COMMUNITY TAKEOVER AT THE JERWOOD
DANCEHOUSE, SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER FROM MIDDAY | FREE DanceEast’s Community Takeover will be a day of sharing and celebration, giving space to artists and arts made by and with local migrant and refugee communities to tell stories and highlight the important role of the arts and the fantastic work that takes place across Ipswich. The Jerwood DanceHouse will come alive with performances, artwork, films, poetry, spoken word and much more. An enriching day of arts and culture not to be missed! Full programme coming soon on the DanceEast website.
Photo from Aakash Odedra Company's Little Murmur.
Photo: Pamela Raith Photography.
TJIMUR DANCE THEATRE
bulabulay mun?
IMMERSIVE • EMOTIVE • MESMERISING
FRIDAY 24 OCTOBER, 7.30PM
TICKETS FROM £18, CONCESSIONS FROM £14
Experience Taiwan’s Tjimur Dance Theatre in bulabulay mun? / how are you?
Choreographed by Baru Madiljin, this visually stunning and deeply moving dance explores the indigenous Paiwan people’s identity. Inspired by the 1874 Mudan shipwreck, a traumatic chapter in Taiwanese history, it blends traditional songs with contemporary movement to reflect on history, resilience and our deep connection to nature. BOOK
Photo: Ba Sa-xi
YOUTHFEST 2025
A dance and arts festival for young people, by young people!
SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER | FREE
SUITABLE FOR AGES 16-25
Join us on Saturday 1 November for YouthFest 2025. A free one-day festival celebrating dance, created by Young Producers at DanceEast. Whether you're a dancer, artist, musician, or simply love to create, there's something for you. Experience live performances, workshops and the joy of movement. Connect with fellow creatives at the vibrant Jerwood DanceHouse.
“It was really fun, and I loved the new experience. I haven’t done dance before and I wasn’t sure if it was for me, but I love it.”
YouthFest Participant 2024
DanceEast website.
Photo: Malachy Luckie
NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY WALES
Surge | Gwefr
MYSTICAL•FANTASTICAL•SOULFUL
FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER–SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER, 7.30PM
TICKETS FROM £18, CONCESSIONS FROM £14
National Dance Company Wales returns to DanceEast with Surge | Gwefr, a triple bill of captivating dance and breathtaking design. Experience Infinity Duet by Faye Tan and Cecile Johnson Soliz, where a swinging sculpture meets warm, soulful movement exploring weight and time; Marcos Morau’s glittering sci-fi Waltz; and Osian Meilir’s enchanting Mabon, weaving folklore, rebellious choreography and fantastical costumes. A mystical journey through time and chaos awaits. BOOK NOW
MASTERCLASS
Join National Dance Company Wales for a masterclass and repertory workshop on Saturday 22 November 11.00am-1.00pm.
BOOK NOW
“Marcos Morau’s Waltz utterly compelling.” The Times.
Photo: Kirsten McTernan
PROTEIN DANCE
The Magic Flute
JOY•WONDER•SPECTACULAR
SCHOOLS PERFORMANCES
TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER, 1.30PM
WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER,
10.30AM AND 1.30PM
THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER, 10.30AM
£8 PER STUDENT
ONE TEACHER FREE FOR EVERY TEN STUDENTS BOOKED
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER, 7.30PM
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER
11.00AM AND 3.00PM
SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER, 2.30PM
TICKETS FROM £18 CONCESSIONS FROM £14
Experience the magic of the festive season with PROTEIN DANCE’S The Magic Flute!
Perfect for ages 5+, this enchanting dance-theatre show is a playful mix of dance, singing, and storytelling. With rearranged Mozart and new music by Frank Moon, join Papageno and Prince Tamino on a heartwarming adventure of love and wonder. Created with set and costume designer Dick Bird, caption/video designer Douglas Baker, and lighting designer Rachel Shipp, audiences will be captivated by this stunning visual experience. A dazzling celebration for the whole family! BOOK NOW
For details on our access offering, please head to our website.
Co-commissioned by DanceEast and The Place. Supported using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. With funding from Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund held at The Prism Charitable Trust, Garrick Charitable Trust, The Lucille Graham Trust, Royal Borough of Greenwich and The Golsoncott Foundation.
Supported by Woolwich Works, Pavillion Dance South West and Dance City.
FESTIVE
Photo: Roswitha Cheshire
2024-25 59,775
In 2024-25 we reached beyond the Jerwood DanceHouse into Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. We involved more people with lifechanging dance, recording:
ATTENDANCES FROM DELIVERED Worked with PROGRAMMED HOSTED ARTISTS AT THE DANCEHOUSE. regional festivals. TAKE PART SESSIONS
PEOPLE
32,836
1,954
51
schools.
33
THEATRE PERFORMANCES and
3
64
HIRE THE JERWOOD DANCEHOUSE
DanceEast’s stunning waterfront home offers flexible spaces for hire, perfect for rehearsals, performances, meetings, away days and events.
AVAILABLE SPACES INCLUDE
› Studio Theatre
› World-class dance studios
› Digital suite
› Therapy room, café, bar and foyer
› Meeting rooms and gallery
Take a virtual tour at danceeast.co.uk/venue-hire
Our digital suite features green screen, lighting, AV and postproduction facilities. Our expert team is here to support your event, and catering is available.
To enquire or book, please get in touch
T: 01473 295230
E: hires@danceeast.co.uk
Photo:
JOIN THE MOVEMENT. DONATE TODAY.
Your generosity makes the difference. Thank you. As a charity, everything we do is made possible by our audiences, participants, donors, and supporters. Every ticket, class booking, and donation brings lifeenhancing dance to Ipswich, East Anglia, and beyond.
Your support is transformative, enabling people to move and be moved: to experience connection, expression, and joy.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
› Support our impact fund to give dance class places to children who can’t afford to attend.
› Become a member and join DanceEast’s regular giving community.
› Donate £1,500 or more as an Impact Patron to drive lasting change through dance.
› Leave a gift in your will to secure a bright future for DanceEast.
› Sponsor DanceEast to align your brand with impactful community and youth work.
› Contact us to discuss Dance in Perpetuity, DanceEast’s upcoming Endowment Campaign: development@danceeast.co.uk
YOUR DONATIONS MATTER
£10 £50
pays for two under 5s to attend our Baby Loves to Boogie disco.
£250 £500
buys a new props box for sessions for people with Dementia.
£75
pays for a term of dance classes for a young person in Ipswich who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
buys tickets to a DanceEast performance for 40 children living in deprived households.
£1 ,750
covers a specialist Artist to deliver sessions for people with Parkinson’s for half a year. employs a young Dance Artist to perform at DanceEast’s annual YouthFest.
*These examples are indicative and donations are unrestricted unless agreed with the Development Team
“This role has quite literally changed my life. It’s broadened my view of what the arts can be and what they can do. I’ve found a family here, a team deeply committed to sharing beautiful, meaningful experiences with the people of Ipswich and beyond.”
Audience Ambassador
“… people with dementia and their carers are isolated, this might be the only thing they do in a week… socialising and exercising in a fun way may be the only time they do anything for their physical and mental health.”
Partner setting, Care to Dance (Dementia programme)
VISITING DANCEEAST AT THE JERWOOD DANCEHOUSE
Located on Ipswich Waterfront, the Jerwood DanceHouse is easy to reach by public transport or car. We encourage sustainable travel where possible.
For more information, including café hours or access support, please contact our Box Office on 01473 295230, email info@danceeast.co.uk or visit the DanceEast website, danceeast.co.uk
BY TRAIN
Ipswich Station is a 12-minute walk and provides great links to the rest of the county, with London just over an hour away.
BUS STATIONS
Cattle Market and Tower Ramparts are within 15 minutes walk.
BY CAR
Easily accessible via the A12 and A14. Nearest car parks: St Peter’s Dock, Cardinal Park, and Duke Street. Limited Blue Badge parking is available, please call 01473 295230.
A14 (W) – Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds
(S) – London,
HOW TO BOOK
danceeast.co.uk/ticket-information/ Prices vary, individual prices per event/class. Book early for the best deal. Details available on individual event pages.
BURSARIES
Free places for eligible children and young people in Ipswich. Limited availability, please visit our website for criteria.
ACCESS
Please contact us in advance for access needs or to book a wheelchair space. Visual Story and Virtual Tour available online.
CONCESSIONS
Available for over 60s, students and those receiving qualifying benefits. Tickets from £14 –full details online.
BOX OFFICE HOURS
FAMILY AND GROUP BOOKINGS
Family tickets available on select shows. For groups (10+), call Box Office on 01473 295230
Payment due within 30 days.
SCHOOLS
£8 per student, with one free teacher ticket per ten pupils. Payment due within 30 days of booking.
CLASSES
Pay upfront or in two instalments. Tasters available. Please call Box Office on 01473 295230 to book.
Monday-Thursday 9.00am–8.00pm
Friday-Saturday 9.00am–6.00pm
Sunday 10.00am–5.00pm
Hours may vary during events, please call ahead to check.
Please note: Discounts subject to availability. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Terms and charges may change.
All discounts are subject to availability, only one discount applies and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or concession. Concessions for classes and performances are classified as over 60, students, and anyone on income support or in receipt of benefits (excluding standard child benefits). Once purchased, performances, classes and workshop tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. The information in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. DanceEast reserves the right to amend prices, discounts, and benefits at any time. Fees and transaction charges are subject to change.
