East London Dance - Annual Review 2021-22

20212022 ANNUL REVIEW

INTRODUCTION

We’rereallyproudtobewritingthisasthejointCreativeDirectorandCEOofEast LondonDance.ELDisanorganisationthatwebothhavealonghistorywithandit’san honourtobeinpost.

WejoinedtheorganisationinOctober2021,aremarkabletimeinitshistory,where thedreamofanewhomewasabouttobecomeareality,coupledwithaglobal pandemic,hugepoliticalandsocialupheavalsandfundingcuts.Despitethis extremelychallengingsituation,wearesogratefultohavejoinedatthistime;withall betsoff,allsystems,ideasandprocesseswerethrownupintheair,givingusan excitingopportunitytoworkwiththeteamtorefneandadvancethemissionofthe organisation.

Over33yearsagothefoundingenergyofthisorganisationwasdirectedat discovering,nurturing,growingandshowcasingeastLondontalent,create opportunitiesandconnectingthishomegrowntalenttothesector.Andthishas continued,astheELDthatwejoinedhadprovidedincrediblesupporttostaffandour communitiesduringthepandemicand,astheworldreopened,wasconsideringhow tocontinuetodothis,allwhilstopeningthedoorstoitsnewhometheTalentHouse forthefrsttime.

We’resoproudofthisworld-classbuildingfordanceandmusic,whichyou’llread moreaboutinthisreview.Wehavehadsomuchincrediblesupportandinvestment torealisethedreamoftheTalentHouse,butwe’despeciallywanttomarkthe outstandingcontributionsfromPollyRisbridger,BenCooper-MelchiorsandMoira SinclairandtheBoard,whomadethecapitalprojectthesuccessithasbecome.If youhaven’tvisitedusyet,pleasedo,we’dlovetowelcomeyou.

Andnowtherealworkhasbegun,tobringourspacesandprogrammestolifeand investinthenextgenerationoftalentandtheirsustainablecareers,whilstplacing wellbeingattheheartofcreativity.

EastLondonDanceattheTalentHousewillbeahomeforourcommunities,aplace togather,learnandcreate.Wewillbethereforthelifetimeofourcommunities,not justone-offexperiences,andwillcommittothesupportofun-amplifedvoicesand artforms,fromblack,Asian,globalmajorityandworking-classcommunities.Atthe timeofwriting,wehavealreadywelcomed4435peopleacross10,000visitstothe buildinginourfrst11months.

WithourbuildingpartnerUDMusic,wehavecreatedabeautifulandinspiringbuilding fordanceandmusic.Abuildingthatprovidesustheopportunitiestobeapioneering danceandmusichubforthecommunities,artistsandproducersofeastLondon.The futurestartshere!

TiaHassan&KateScanlan JointCreativeDirector&CEO EastLondonDance

KateScanlan&TiaHassan.ImagebyCharleneDavies

THETALENTHOUSEOPENSITSDOORS

Following5yearsofplanning,constructionandftout,wewerethrilledtofnallyopenthedoorstoour frstdedicatedhometheTalentHouse,arepurposed historicwarehouseonSugarHouseIslandin Stratford.

SharedwithbuildingpartnersUDMusic,theTalent Housenowprovidesourcommunitieswithtwo accessiblestate-of-the-artdancestudios,ahostof musicproductionandrecordingstudiosandacoworkingspacedesignedforearlycareerandmore establisheddanceandmusicartistsandproducersto connectwithoneanother.

Withtheseprofessionalrehearsalspacesanddigital broadcastcapabilitythroughoutthebuilding,brand newcreationsandcollaborationsfrombold, authenticandblazinglycontemporaryeastLondon danceandmusiccreativeswillhaveavitallaunchpad toreachnewaudienceslocally,nationallyand internationally.

“Anengineroomforcreativity,theTalentHouseisa vitaltooltohelpusequipyoungdiversetalentineast Londontobecomethenextgenerationofdance professionals,providefreeandaffordableaccessto worldclassfacilitiesasalaunchpadforyoung creativestoreachnewaudiencesandfacilitate collaborationbetweenyoungpeopleandearlycareer creativesandproducers.”

TALENTHOUSE FUNDRAISING

Aswesoughttoraisethelast5% ofthe£2millionneededtoftout ourbrand-newhome,oneofour dedicatedtrusteesGraham Ambrosetookthingstothenext levelbychallenginghimselfto learnandperformapieceofhip hopdancechoreography,having neverdancedbeforeinhislife!

Grahamwastakenthroughhis pacesbyformerRedBull NationalFreestyleDance ChampionandeastLondon residentKofMingoandthe resultingdancepiece,whichwas theveryfrstdanceperformedat theTalentHouse,helpedtoraise anincredible£53,083.

“OverthetimeIhavebeenan EastLondonDanceboard memberIhaveseenhowthe organisationhasaffectedthe livesofyoungpeopleineast London.Thischarityshows everyonecancometogetheras oneusingmusicanddanceand breaksdownallculturaldivides.”

TiaHassan&KateScanlan,JointCreativeDirector andCEO,EastLondonDance

GrahamAmbrose,EastLondon DanceTrustee&Goldman SachsManagingDirector

Studio1attheTalentHouse.ImagebyBenStanley

TheTalentHouse.ImagebyBenStanley

Kof&Grahamrehearsing.ImagebyBenStanley

YOUTHPARTICIPATION&WELLBEING

OngoingCovidrestrictionsmeantthatmuchofour youthdeliverycontinuedonlineforthefrsthalfofthe year.However,forour SummerDanceSchool in partnershipwithEnglishNationalBallet,wewere abletotakeyoungpeopletoENB’snewhomein CanningTownforajam-packedweekofdance training,costumemakingandballetexploration.In theirusualclasseswithus,theyoungpeoplelearn stylessuchashiphopandBollywood,soformanyof themthiswastheirfrstexperienceofballettraining, andtheytooktoitlikeswanstowater!

AsCovidrestrictionswereliftedwewereableto transferoursuccessfulonlineyouthprogramme On TheMove backtoanin-personformat,kickingoffa newmulti-yearpartnershipwithfunderThe PrudenceTrust,witharefreshedprogrammeoffree dancesclassesinournewTalentHousestudiosfor youngpeopleaged7-17.

SupportedbytheMayorofLondon’sYoung LondonersFund, VRDance saw100Newhamand Redbridgeschoolpupils,aged12-16,explore alternativerealitiesthroughimmersivetechnology andphysicalmovementtoencourageawider conversationaboutpositiveandcreativechoices.

WithsupportfromourVRDancepartnersBirdGang Ltd,MaskomiandBristolUniversitytheyoungpeople co-creatingchoreographytoperform,digitally capture,withinaliveonlineworld,andthenreexperiencethroughVRheadsets.Aswithallour youthactivityVRDancewassupportedbyourinhouseYouthSupportWorkerallowingreflection, coachingandmentoringsessions.

SUMMERDANCE SCHOOL

“Ienjoyedlearningnewskillsand creatingstrongfriendships”

YouthParticipant

“Iamsogladfortheopportunity. ItwasreallygoodandI’mproud ofmyself.Thisexperiencehas encouragedmetokeepupallthat Ihavelearnt”

YouthParticipant

“Ienjoyedmeetingnewpeople anditallowedmetobeopenand share”

YouthParticipant

VRDANCE

“Ienjoyedjustbeingabletolearn howtodance,thefactthatyou canwatchitbackafteryouare doneandseeingwhatyouhave achieved”

YouthParticipant

“WhatIfeltwiththeYouth SupportWorkeristhatitisreally goodtoknowthatsomepeople careaboutus,thereisstill humanityinthisworld”

YouthParticipant

“IthinkIwilldefnitelycontinue dancingafterthisbecauseIhave realisedthedifferent opportunitiesyoucandowith dance”

YouthParticipant

PARTICIPANTPROFILE-SOFIYA

SofyajoinedEastLondonDance'sOnTheMoveyouth programmein2020andhascontinueddancingwithusacross everyavailableprogrammeeversince,fromonlineclasses duringlockdowntotheopeningoftheTalentHouse.

"OntheMovehasallowedSofyatoexpressherselfmorein depth,whenshefrststartedshewasmoreintrovertedandit hasallowedhertocomeoutofhershellandbemore expressive.She’sbecomemoreconfdenttodancealoneanddo freestyleandnothidebehindpeople."

Sofya’sMum

"IthinkI'vegainedconfdenceandlotsofdifferentskillsin dancing." Sofya

"Sofya’snotonetoshowhercharacterunlessyougettoknow her.Thisprogrammehasallowedhertoopenupmoreandbe morerelaxedandcomfortableinnewsituations."

Sofya’sMum

"Ihavegainedfriendshipwithlotsofpeople." Sofya

"OntheMovehasopenedthedoortomanyopportunities,I’ve neverknownaprogrammelikethistodoasmuchastheydo, videoshoots,performances,onlineworkshops,onlinedance battles,andtheweekatEnglishNationalBallet.Plusthecity leadersprogrammeallowedSofyatoadaptleadershipskills andgiveherinputandcreativeideas."

Sofya’sMum

"IlikehowEastLondonDancegiveusverygoodopportunities likegoingtoENBanddoingvideosattheOlympicParkand doingsharinginfrontofparents." Sofya

OnTheMoveSummerDanceSchoolatEnglishNationalBallet,2021

ImagesbyChrisO'Donovan

ARTIST&PRODUCERDEVELOPMENT

The WeMove hiphopleadershipprogrammeentered itssecondyearledbyCreativeConsultantGaylene Gould.Thisfree9-monthleadershipdevelopment programmeinpartnershipBoyBlue,Breakin' Convention,UniversityofEastLondonand ZooNation:TheKatePrinceCompany,wastailoredto theneedsofhiphopdancecreativesandproducers lookingtoraisetheirgameandelevatetheartformto thenextlevel.Programmehighlightsincluded WorkSmARTacohort-ledfreeonlinecareerspanel eventwith400attendeesandanumberofthe12 cohortgainingfulltimeemploymentthroughwork placements.

InafourthyearofcollaborationwithLondonCollege ofFashion, CreativeLab broughttogetheragroupof 10earlycareercostumedesigners,choreographers andcreativetechnologistsfora5-dayintensiveto explorehowphysicalcomputing,mixedandvirtual realityande-textilescaninformpracticewhen combinedwithdanceandchoreography.

InJuly202115independentdanceartistsand producerspitchedonlinetothe IdeasFund,ina Dragon’sDenstylecontest.Theywerejudgedbya paneloftheirpeersrepresentingthefund’s supportingpartnersforbursariesplusin-kind supporttoresearch,testorlaunchnewartisticand entrepreneurialideas.

Bursariestotalling£15,000andin-kindsupportwere awardedtosixoutstandingdancecreativeswith awardrecipientandDeafPerformanceArtistChisato Minamimurapresentingasharingofherproject DeafScapeattheTalentHouse.

WEMOVE

“WithWeMoveithelpedmegeta lotcleareronthedirectionIwant togo...beinggivenaspacewhere Iamgiventhecoachinganda wayofthinkingtobeabletoget totheconclusionsformyself”

WeMoveCohortMember

CREATIVELAB

“Theprogrammeopenedsomany possibilitiesandprovidedgreat knowledgeandnetworks.It absolutelyhelpedreshapemy viewsandwaysIcouldproduce andcreate”

CreativeLabParticipant

“Findingpeopletocollaborate withasanindependentartistcan taketimebutthiswasa rewarding,effective,andfun experience.”

CreativeLabParticipant

IDEASFUND

“TheIdeasFundtransformedour workinvariousways;notonly wereweabletodevelopour communityoutreachwork,but experiencedasignifcantimpact onourcreativemethodologies morebroadly.”

IdeasFundRecipient

“Myprofessionaldevelopment beneftedimmenselyfromthe projectwewereabletoconduct withthehelpoftheIdeasFund;I wasablebuildnewpartnerships andbaseforfutureendeavoursin mycreativegrowth.”

IdeasFundRecipient

DeafScapeattheTalentHouse,2022.ImagebyGregGoodale

TALENTHOUSEACTIVITY

OurJanuarymoveintotheTalentHouseallowedus totestoutournewbuildingwithaseriesof celebratoryeventsandactivitiesforourlocal community.

Wekickedoffouryouthdanceprogrammewitha celebrationeventco-designedbyyoungpeopleon our CityLeaders programmeforyoungpeople,in partnershipwithLondonYouth.Aftersolongonline, itwasincredibletobringtheseyoungpeople, whetherlongstandingornewtous,together,inpersoninournewhome.

WeplayedhosttotheNewhamCouncilCultural StrategyLaunchpresentedbytheMayorofNewham, withaperformancebyour YouthDanceCompany.

Welaunchedanewprogrammeof AdultStreet DanceClasses curatedbyKloeDean&MyselfUK DanceofferingAfroDance,Popping,Breakingand HipHopfromsomeofLondon’smostexcitingdance artistsandcompanies-HomeBros,AIMCollective RainCrewandDominicHamilton.

Weweredelightedtolaunch OURHOUSE a programmewherewehandovercreativecontrolof ourprogrammingtoindependentartistsand collectivesforaweekatatime,tomakethedecisions withinourartisticofferandcurateactivityatthe TalentHouse.

FirstupinMarch2022werePoppingexpertsAIM Collectivewhotookoverthebuildingwithaweekof workshops,panelsdiscussions,screeningsand battlesfocusedonUKStreetDancehistoryand community,fromclubandbattlecultureto choreography.

OURHOUSE

“Itwasamazing.I'mreallygladI gottheopportunitytohear personalaccountsfromolder membersoftheUKstreetdance sceneandthatthisplatformwas createdforthisinformationtobe sharedwithusdancers”

OURHOUSEpaneldiscussion attendee

“Eventsliketheseareimperative forthegrowthofourcommunity anddance/educationscene”

OURHOUSEpaneldiscussion attendee

ADULTSTREET

DANCECLASSES

“ThiswasexactlywhatIwas hopingfor!Absolutelylovedthe class,defnitelycomingback”

AfroDanceParticipant

DIGITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Ourseniordancersgroup Leapof Faith performedatNewham Unlockedoverthesummerof 2021whilstalsocreatingafun Zoomflm‘TheBreakOut’asan expressionoftheircollective wishtogetbackoutintothe worldfollowtheliftingofcovid restrictions.

LedbyartistSarahLisney, East LondonYouthDanceCompany createdadanceflmabouttheir experiencesbeforeandafter joiningthecompany,whichwas selectedfortheU.Dance competitionandscreenedatthe BritishFilmInstitute.

ARTISTPROFILE-SHAWNAIMEY

ArtisticDirectorofall-femalePoppingcollectiveAIMCollective, Shawn‘Plague’AimeywasthefrstartiststotakeovertheTalent HouseaspartofourOURHOUSEprogramme.

ShawnandAIMCollectiveweregivena£2,500curatorsfee, £5000programmingbudget,supportandmentoringfromEast LondonDance’sproducingteam,marketingsupportandfree reignoftheTalentHouseforaweek,tocurateactivitythat supportedandcelebratedtheircommunitiesandpeers.

"OurtakeoversoughttounitetheUKstreetdancecommunity bydocumentingandcelebratingthescene’srichhistory, reconnectingwithitsroots,promotingcross-generational connections,andcelebratingourcollectivebodyofwork."

ShawnAimey

TheAIMConnectiveeventwithPoppingmasterclasses,panel discussions,flmscreeningsandadancebattlesaw127artists andcreativesengaged,270audiencemembersandparticipants takingpartandafurther14kviewsoftheeventactivityonline.

"Theeventfelthugelybenefcialtothedancecommunity, givingsomuchinsightintoUKdancehistory.Ithelpedpeople seeusasanestablishedcompany.Itgavepeopleinsightinto whatI'mdoingwithAIMandelevatedthecollectiveinto leaders."

ShawnAimey

SincetheeventEastLondonDancehasprovidedShawnwith supporttofundraiseforafollowupeventonanevenbigger scaleandAIMCollective’sPoppingsessionshavebecomea stapleofourweeklyAdultStreetDanceClassprogramme.

AIMCollectiveattheTalentHouse,2022.ImagebyTheDukeLDN

ShawnAimey

FINANCIALOVERVIEW2021-22

EXPENDITURE

Theinformationaboveisanexcerptfromtheauditedaccountsfortheyearending31March2022. FullauditedaccountsandTrustees'ReportcanbeobtainedfromEastLondonDanceorCompaniesHouse. *Unspentincomeisformallyring-fencedforprogrammeandcapitalprojectcostsin2022-23.

EastLondonDance

TheTalentHouse

3SugarHouseLane London

E152QS

ofice@eastlondondance.org eastlondondance.org

@EastLondonDance

/east.london.dance /east.l.dance

/EastLondonDancetv

Charityno.1053735 Companyregistrationno.3167185