Press
Press Release: Monday 25 March 2013
Emma Gladstone announced as new Artistic Director from November 2013
Dance Umbrella Chairman, Andrew Hochhauser QC, today announced that Emma Gladstone has been appointed to succeed Betsy Gregory as Artistic Director of Dance Umbrella. She will take up the post formally in November 2013, following this year’s Dance Umbrella festival, the last to be directed by Betsy Gregory.
Andrew Hochhauser QC said: “There was a great deal of interest in the post of Artistic Director, both from the UK and overseas. After a rigorous recruitment process, we are delighted to have appointed Emma Gladstone to take Dance Umbrella into a new era. Emma brings a wealth of experience from across the dance sector – first as a dancer and, more recently, as a programmer and creative producer both with The Place and Sadler’s Wells. Her vision for Dance Umbrella is an exciting one and will no doubt build on the huge success of Betsy Gregory.”
Emma Gladstone is currently Artistic Programmer and Producer at Sadler’s Wells. She leads the Jerwood Studio at the theatre, which was set up to develop creative opportunities for dancers and choreographers to experiment and take risks. A co-founder of Adventures in Motion Pictures with Matthew Bourne and David Massingham, she later danced with Lea Anderson’s Cholmondeleys and went on to become Associate Director of The Place Theatre. She joined Sadler’s Wells in 2005.
Speaking about her appointment today she said: “I am so excited and honoured to take up this position. I cannot think of a better time to run Dance Umbrella than now, when the UK dance scene is so vibrant. Having had the pleasure of eight extraordinary years at Sadler’s Wells, it feels right to take on a new adventure, and I really look forward to working with the Dance Umbrella team.”
Betsy Gregory will step down after the conclusion of the Dance Umbrella 2013 festival, her seventh festival as Artistic Director having originally joined the company in 1997. Commenting on the appointment Betsy said, “I am thrilled that Emma has been appointed to succeed me as Artistic Director of Dance Umbrella. Emma is a woman of great intelligence, curiosity, knowledge and creativity. I can think of no one better to lead Dance Umbrella into its next 35 years and I look forward to her artistic programme with great anticipation.“
Dance Umbrella 2013 will run this October at venues across London. More details of the festival programme will be released soon.
For all press enquiries please contact:
TONY SHEPHERD
Festival PR Consultant
Tel: 0207 288 0266
E-mail: tony.shepherd3@btopenworld.com
