Commissions & Projects

In 2008, Dance Umbrella is presenting an exciting new production, Overture 2012, choreographed by Royston Maldoom, and involving 120 young people performing in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra. Royston, who pioneered youth dance in the UK, will work with young people aged 8-17 from across London to create this piece. This Dance Umbrella commission will be a highlight of Dance Umbrella 2008.

Applications are now open Londoners aged 8-17 years. [More information]

About Royston Maldoom

Royston Maldoom is an international choreographer known particularly for his work in the field of 'community dance'. His perception of ‘community dance’ is “to dance with anyone, anywhere, at any time” regardless of their experience, age, gender or social or ethnic background. He particularly enjoys working with groups that are intercultural, differently abled, and inter-generational. He is always open to working in the formal education sector but his passion is for projects that take place in the community, outside schools and mainstream education establishments such Overture 2012

Royston’s aim as an artist is to initiate and deliver dance projects that widen access to contemporary dance and enrich the art form. Out of the cooperation with people from different ethnic or social backgrounds, talent or physical abilities, new forms of expression can be developed. Dancers from different cultures bring diversity to contemporary dance which can find its way into the professional dance world through the emergence and encouragement of performers and creators with different 'voices'.

Royston’s past projects include:

Orchestra Projects (educational and community dance projects)
- Berlin Philharmonics
- Scottish National Orchestra
- Ulster Orchestra
- Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra
- Natal (Kwa-Zulu) Symphony Orchestra
- Opera and musical theatre projects in Liverpool, Austria, Bosnia etc.

Youth and Community Work
- European Youth Dance Festival, Duisburger Akzente
- British-German Youth Dance Exchange
- Ulster Youth Dance Festival
- Working Children's Project in Lima, Peru (with the Ballet San Marcos, Lima and 80 young people)
- Artistic Director of the Adunga Community Dance Initiative, Ethiopia (traditional and contemporary dance with 18 street kids and educational context including music/percussion, theatre, languages, literature, culture, social studies and health awareness)
- South-African multicultural community dance project

Guest Choreographer at professional dance companies
- Scottish Ballet
- Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York
- Ballet Nacional de Peru
- City Contemporary Dance Company, Hong Kong
- Tumbuka Dance Company, Zimbabwe

If you would like to make a donation towards this worthwhile project, visit the Commissioning Fund.