Press
What the press is saying about Dance Umbrella's cuts
"As to the big question - does London really need a festival of dance, when there is so much contemporary dance around - Gregory is defiant. She thinks Dance Umbrella builds new audiences, encourages audiences to be more adventurous and brings to attention works that would never be commissioned normally. 'Generally speaking, a diversity of programming is very important,' she says. 'A single or a couple of voices is not enough for a city like London.'
I totally agree with her and hope very much that the Arts Council sees sense and restores at least some of the lost funding. Dance Umbrella has been hugely important for the health of contemporary dance, and it needs to be able to continue to present the best."
"It seems an astonishing amount to withdraw from an operation that has always punched above its weight."
- SARAH CROMPTON, THE TELEGRAPH
"But the real losers are several longstanding names on the British dance scene... The shock to Dance Umbrella is enormous. With a 43 per cent cut for one of the world’s leading contemporary dance festivals, the future is unclear. Whatever happens, Dance Umbrella is headed for a rethink."
- DEBRA CRAINE, THE TIMES
"In the area of contemporary dance the most surprising cuts are to two flagship London organisations - Dance Umbrella, which for more than 25 years has brought the best of world dance to London each autumn, along with choice British companies, takes a savage 43 per cent reduction by 2015..."
- ISMENE BROWN, ARTSDESK.COM & DAILY TELEGRAPH
"At the same time central London organisations like... Dance Umbrella suffering a wincing reduction of 43%. (This is bad news not just for London but for the UK, given the festival's record in commissioning and presenting new work.)"
- JUDITH MACKRELL, GUARDIAN
"I'm utterly bewildered by the way the cuts have been applied. Some companies have suffered huge losses – Dance Umbrella has been cut by 43%, and they do sterling work."
- SIMON CALLOW (INTERVIEWED IN THE GUARDIAN)
The Arts Council's feedback on Dance Umbrella's application
"Dance Umbrella is the UK's premier international dance festival. It makes a strong contribution to goals 1 and 2 through its programme of free events which engage broad demographics; its commissioning and showcasing of new dance; and presentations of diverse work.
A good application with clear strands of activity." Dance Umbrella scored strongly on meeting the Arts Council's goals and priorities.
Dance Umbrella's response to Arts Council funding announcement
“The Arts Council of England has, today, recognised the value that Dance Umbrella brings to the arts in London. At the same time they have set us a severe challenge: to bring a vibrant programme of new dance to London but with severely reduced resources. The challenge is now to raise significantly more funds from private sources, an area where we have had great success, at a time when there is increased competition in this area. Bringing dance to new places and spaces in London, often on a free-to-view basis remains at the centre of our mission and we remain confident of fulfilling this even in these challenging times.”
- BETSY GREGORY, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, DANCE UMBRELLA (30/03/11)
For all press enquiries and festival images please contact:
TONY SHEPHERD
Festival PR Consultant
Tel: 0207 288 0266
E-mail: tony.shepherd3@btopenworld.com
