Northern School of Contemporary Dance

Last week, we were delighted to welcome 8 dance students from Virginia, USA, to NSCD as part of our growing strategic partnership with George Mason University School of Dance

Matthew Slater, Head of Undergraduate Studies at NSCD, commented on the visit:

"It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome our visitors from George Mason University as part of our exchange. The talent, openness and generosity of the students has been inspiring. Seeing both NSCD and GMU students benefit from the brilliant opportunities to nourish, inspire and learn has been such a rich and rewarding experience, and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership work over the coming years."

Shaun D’Arcy, Assistant Professor at George Mason University School of Dance, echoed the sentiment:

"We are thrilled by the success of the first in-person exchange between NSCD and Mason's School of Dance! Our U.S. students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to take classes at NSCD, observe rehearsals, and build meaningful connections with new international friends. This inaugural exchange has exceeded our expectations, and we are excited by the possibilities it has opened for future collaboration and cultural exchange between our schools.”

Today we honour and celebrate the extraordinary Windrush Generation, whose cultural legacy continues to shape communities across the UK

'Windrush Day' marks 78 years since the arrival of the passengers of the Empire Windrush and celebrates the immense contributions of the generations that followed

As an organisation based in Chapeltown, one of the UK's most vibrant African-Caribbean communities with deep Windrush roots, this celebration is especially meaningful to us

Tonight, we are proud to present 'In The Front Room', a new dance theatre work by NSCD Principal Sharon Watson MBE DL and Dr Khadijah Ibrahiim, both descendants of Windrush families

Created with local communities, the work shares stories, traditions and memories from Windrush elders, celebrating heritage, identity and connections across generations

Thank you to 'Near Neighbours' who have supported the creation of tonight's sold-out performance

Learn more about them here > www.near-neighbours.org.uk/windrush-2026-grants-announcement

📸 Elly Wel Photography

'FUTURE NOW' Choreographer Announcement ⚡

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations, this year's 'FUTURE NOW' sees NSCD students perform a specially curated programme created by some of our most innovative and influential graduates 💙

Bringing together new commissions and acclaimed repertoire, the programme features brand-new works by award-winning choreographer Gary Clarke and Glenda Gheller, alongside a restaged work by internationally celebrated choreographer Akram Khan

Gary Clarke is a multi-award-winning British Choreographer, Director, Performer, Mentor, Teacher and Facilitator and has contributed to the UK dance scene for 25+ years. Gary is currently the Artistic Director & joint CEO of Gary Clarke Company, where he has created three major mid-scale works that have toured extensively both nationally and internationally to critical and audience acclaim

Originally from Asiago, Italy, Glenda Gheller began her professional training in various dance programmes across Italy. In January 2020, Glenda became a company dancer with Scottish Dance Theatre and has since performed works by Sharon Eyal, Maxine Doyle, Noa Zuk, Emanuel G*t, Roser Lopez Espinosa, Sofia Nappi, Botis Seva, Joan Clevillè, Ben Wright, Theo Clinkard, Colette Sadler, Mele Broomes, Janine Harrington and Meytal Blanaru

Akram Khan is one of the most celebrated and respected dance artists of today. Over a career spanning more than 25 years, he has created an internationally acclaimed body of work including Thikra: Night of Remembering, GIGENIS: the generation of the Earth, Jungle Book reimagined, Outwitting the Devil, XENOS, Until the Lions, Kaash, iTMOi, DESH, Vertical Road, Gnosis and zero degrees with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

Learn more about these incredible artists and secure your FUTURE NOW tickets here >www.nscd.ac.uk/events/future-now-2026/

From their studio in the heart of Chapeltown, NSCD graduate Tanya Cusan Espinosa and her collaborator Alan Pergusey have been creating something very special for us...

At 'Party in the Park', you'll get to meet a brand new creature, formed from the eclectic memories of NSCD

Performed by our current MA students, this mysterious being represents what has come before, as it uses its magical kaleidoscope to see into the future

Alongside this brand new walkabout performance, Cusan Theatre will be conjuring their much-loved walkabout performance 'The Seed Keepers', inspired by those around the world who protect our planet 🌍

You'll find both of these performances popping up at:

📍 Norma Hutchinson Park
📆 Saturday 11 July
⏰ 11.30am - 5pm

Learn more > www.nscd.ac.uk/events/party-in-the-park/

'IN FOCUS' Choreographer Announcement 🌟

Introducing Amaury Lebrun & Darren Carr, this year's choreographers for our CertHE end-of-year performance 'IN FOCUS' 💙

Amaury was born in France and trained at the School of American Ballet and has worked for many renowned European companies, including The Opéra national du Rhin Ballet, Staatsoper Berlin & the Ballet de l’Opéra de Nice

Darren is a choreographer and educator whose practice is grounded in inclusion, collaboration, and music. His work was shaped by a formative period in the USA studying the technique and performing repertoire of Doris Humphrey, and in reconstructions of choreographers' work such as Mark Morris and Paul Taylor

Learn more about these incredible artists & secure your 'IN FOCUS' tickets here > www.nscd.ac.uk/blog/meet-the-2026-in-focus-choreographers/

Just 1 month to go until Party in the Park! 🎉

Get ready for an unforgettable day packed with incredible dance performances, delicious food & craft stalls from Mahogany Market, live music including DJ Fluid Irie, stunning sculpture and photography installations, surprise pop-up cabaret performances from the Glitter Bomb dancers, and so much more!

As we celebrate 40 years of NSCD, this special cross-cultural event is all about bringing people together and shining a spotlight on the amazing communities who have helped shape NSCD over the last four decades 💙

Let's fill the park with joy, laughter & community spirit, and make this a 40th birthday celebration to remember

See the full line-up here >www.nscd.ac.uk/events/party-in-the-park/

A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Spring Open Day last week! We hope you had the best time 💙

Looking to dive deeper into NSCD life?

Join us for NSCD's 'Undergraduate Experience Intensive' to fully immerse yourself as a Northern student

📆 Mon 26 - Tue 27 Oct
⏰ 10am - 4.45pm daily
💸 £120

This 2-day programme is perfect for aspiring dancers aged 15+ looking to study dance at HE and considering our three distinctive undergraduate courses

Places are limited, so booking is essential!

Find out more & sign up here > www.nscd.ac.uk/events/undergrad-experience-intensive/

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