Independent Dance (ID) supports the development of dance through radical enquiry, learning, community-building and audience engagement.
Resident at Siobhan Davies Studios in London, ID is a research engine and ‘home’ organisation for a growing community of practitioners in the UK and around the world. Artist-led since 1984, ID is currently staffed by a team of five part-timers, all of whom sustain freelance practices alongside their role with the organisation.
Our public programme supports a wide range of accessible and interdisciplinary approaches to dance, somatic practices, improvisation and choreography. Co-designed with UK/ international artists and partner organisations, this far-reaching programme includes classes, talks, workshops, research, digital initiatives and small-scale festivals. ID also bridges higher education and professional spheres, leading on MA/MFA Creative Practice: Dance Professional in partnership with Trinity Laban and Siobhan Davies Studios.
Our aim is to generate a diverse and dynamic ‘community of practice’ which is not limited to one place or location and to agitate for positive change and justice within ID, the arts and society.
Over the past five years we have been working to diversify and broaden our programme offer and expand our reach, supporting a wide range of artists and practices through a live and online programme. We have undergone significant organisational change and revised our policies, including making commitments to anti-racist and anti-ableist working practices and to reducing barriers to engaging with our programme and organisation at all levels. This ongoing work is critical to our future development.
While Independent Dance and Siobhan Davies Studios (SDS) are different organisations and charities, they are proud to be partners in a National Portfolio Organisation consortium, currently receiving regular funding from Arts Council England, with SDS as the lead partner.
ID receives core funding of £71,000 a year from ACE and generates further funding through project grant applications. ID’s turnover is between 150k – 250k annually, and our programme operates largely on an income-generating basis.
As such, ID is a thinktank, a hub for research, a meeting and learning ground, and a base for artists across generations. It is considered a ‘home’ organisation and reference point by a wide community across the UK and internationally.
Funders and partners between 2021-2023
Arts Council England
Candoco Dance Company
Center for Performance Research, New York
Centre for Performance Philosophy, University of Surrey
Centre for Dance Research, Coventry University
Dance HE
Dance North
Dance Umbrella
Fest En Fest
Mosaic Rooms
Perform Europe
Sadler’s Wells
Siobhan Davies Studios
Team London Bridge
The Work Room
The Leverhulme Trust
Theatre, Dance and Performance Training Journal
Trinity Laban
University of Roehampton
University of Middlesex
Women’s Art Library, Goldsmiths Library Special Collections and Archives
Our values are
Trust – working continuously to be a fair organisation with a consistent high-quality programme offer
Curiosity – demonstrating an open attitude to learning and reflecting together
Rigour – working with care and precision
Risk – forging bold new programme avenues and supporting artists to experiment with and deepen new practices
We aim to
Support artists to evolve their work for the benefit of the public
Drive artform development through a hybrid, local, national, and international learning offer Engage people in learning through dance as participants and publics
We aim to do this by
supporting dance artists to play multiple interconnecting roles – as teacher, maker, performer, producer, researcher, activist, facilitator
providing a trusting space for learning and collaborative development
fostering greater diversity; not only in terms of aesthetics or style, but also how work is made, by whom, with whom and for whom
championing the value, relevance and health benefits of embodied learning and seek connection with people and practices beyond the field of dance
safeguarding the individual and collective well-being of all involved, and work with care, grace and humour
learning from and flex to shifting circumstances and artistic concerns, holding a space for critical reflection and agitating for change