Supporting Dance Umbrella

Development News

Night of Nights at the Savoy

“I would not know what the spirit of a philosopher might
wish more to be than a good dancer.”
Friedrich Nietzsche

Dance Umbrella’s Spring at the Savoy charity gala event on 13 May sensationally exceeded its projected fundraising target and raised
over £82,000 which represents roughly a third of the figure that Dance Umbrella needs to generate for its Commissioning Fund for new work
and major projects in 2008.

“This event was a fantastic start towards our overall target.
Everyone excelled themselves in delivering a wildly triumphant
fundraising event”.
Betsy Gregory, Artistic Director

Spring at the Savoy was held in the world-renowned Savoy Ballroom,
on the Strand in London’s West End. Guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal
and were entertained throughout the evening by a variety of performances including an extract from the Olivier Award-winning Musical Cabaret, performed by the West End cast.

“Everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves and feedback from the evening has been universally positive. As well as raising a substantial amount of money, the gala has enabled us to start building relationships with a whole new group of potential supporters. All in all, it was a success on every level”. Fern Potter, Head of Development

Hosted by our master of ceremonies Richard Wilson, luminaries from the dance world who supported the evening included Mark Baldwin (Artistic Director of Rambert Dance Company), Deborah Bull (Dancer, writer, broadcaster and Creative Director of ROH2 at the Royal Opera House), Siobhan Davies (Artistic Director of Siobhan Davies Dance Company), Thomas Edur and Agnes Oakes (Principal Dancers with English National Ballet), Javier de Frutos (Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre
and Olivier award winning choreographer of Cabaret), Matthew Hart
(formerly with The Royal Ballet and George Piper Dances and recently
starring in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake), Will Kemp (formerly Principal Dancer with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures), Cathy Marston (Choreographer, dancer and Director Designate of The Bern Ballet, Switzerland), William Tuckett (Principal Character Artist with The Royal Ballet) and Zenaida Yanowsky (Principal Artist with The Royal Ballet).

Bidding was fierce for both our silent and live actions. Some of the unique items won included a once in a lifetime opportunity to be flown by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason in his private helicopter to Gloucestershire to view his extensive classic car collection, invites to the premiere of Shrek the Third, and tickets to one of Darcey Bussell’s farewell performances, together with a pair of her signed ballet shoes.

Posted July 2007