The Place
Encyclopedia
The Place is a dance
and performance
centre in Duke's Road near Euston
in the London Borough of Camden
. Originally the home base of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre
from the 1970s, it is now the location of the London Contemporary Dance School
, the Richard Alston Dance Company
and the Robin Howard Dance Theatre.
built in 1888/9 for the Artists Rifles, The Place became the permanent home of the Contemporary Dance Trust in 1969. Since then, under the auspices of its founder Robin Howard
, its first artistic director Robert Cohan, and subsequent directors Richard Alston
, John Ashford
, Nigel Hinds and Veronica Lewis, it has led the way in the development of contemporary dance in the UK. Virtually all of the major British contemporary dance artists to have emerged in the past 40 years have been associated with The Place at some stage in their careers, and its contribution to the popularity of contemporary dance in Britain today is hard to overstate.
Between 1999 and 2001, a major redevelopment programme principally funded by the National Lottery
refurbished The Place's original building and replaced a decaying studio block added in 1978 with six new state-of-the-art dance studios designed by architects Allies and Morrison
. Two further studios were added in 2001.
The Place's work today continues to focus on developing dance artists at different stages of their careers. This work is most visible through the touring of the dance company of it Artistic Director, Richard Alston
, whose company perform annual seasons at Sadler's Wells and in 2006 complete their first tour of the USA. The Place's Robin Howard Dance Theatre, so named in honour of their founder in 2001, premieres more danceworks than any other venue in the country. It is seen as a hotbed of experimentation, where emerging dancers and dancemakers from the UK and abroad first come to national attention, while more established artists use the space to develop and show experimental works.
Among work less visible to the general public, London Contemporary Dance School is recognised as one of the world's leading dance conservatoires, providing full-time vocational training to around 170 students to degree and postgraduate level. Through founding in 2001 with RADA
the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
, London Contemporary Dance School became the first dance school to provide funding for its students which compares to that for students of other disciplines in the UK.
The Place also organises community work to address the needs of local people, including those who are disadvantaged or may feel excluded, and runs a popular programme of evening and weekend classes where enthusiasts of all ages and abilities have the chance to learn from some of the artform's most accomplished practitioners.
OBE took up the new position of Chief Executive of The Place.
The Place receives regular funding from Arts Council England
, the Higher Education Funding Council of England and Camden London Borough Council
, along with private sources.
In Spring/Summer 2008, two brand new dance studios were opened at the top of the building providing the students, faculty and community with more space to rehearse and make work.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
and performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
centre in Duke's Road near Euston
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
in the London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
. Originally the home base of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre
London Contemporary Dance Theatre
The London Contemporary Dance Theatre was a contemporary dance company, based at The Place, founded by Robin Howard with Robert Cohan as its Artistic Director....
from the 1970s, it is now the location of the London Contemporary Dance School
London School of Contemporary Dance
London Contemporary Dance School is a contemporary dance school located in London, United Kingdom. LCDS was founded by Robin Howard in 1966 in order to train new dancers for his company, London Contemporary Dance Theatre....
, the Richard Alston Dance Company
Richard Alston Dance Company
The Richard Alston Dance Company is a medium size contemporary dance company that was formed in 1994 after the demise of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre, based at The Place in London.-External links: **...
and the Robin Howard Dance Theatre.
History
Converted from a Grade-II listed Victorian drill hallDrill hall
A drill hall is a place such as a building or a hangar where soldiers practice and perform military drill. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, the term was also used for the whole headquarters building of a military reserve unit, which usually incorporated such a hall...
built in 1888/9 for the Artists Rifles, The Place became the permanent home of the Contemporary Dance Trust in 1969. Since then, under the auspices of its founder Robin Howard
Robin Howard
Robin Jared Stanley Howard was a British philanthropist, dance patron and founder of The Place who promoted modern dance in England.-Early life:...
, its first artistic director Robert Cohan, and subsequent directors Richard Alston
Richard Alston (choreographer)
Richard Alston is a British choreographer. He has been Resident Choreographer and Artistic Director for the Ballet Rambert and is currently Artistic Director at The Place....
, John Ashford
John Ashford
John Ashford is a contemporary dance producer, Director of Aerowaves, the European network for research and presentation of emerging dance companies which he founded in 1997.John Ashford was the first theatre editor at Time Out...
, Nigel Hinds and Veronica Lewis, it has led the way in the development of contemporary dance in the UK. Virtually all of the major British contemporary dance artists to have emerged in the past 40 years have been associated with The Place at some stage in their careers, and its contribution to the popularity of contemporary dance in Britain today is hard to overstate.
Between 1999 and 2001, a major redevelopment programme principally funded by the National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
refurbished The Place's original building and replaced a decaying studio block added in 1978 with six new state-of-the-art dance studios designed by architects Allies and Morrison
Allies and Morrison
Allies and Morrison is a London-based architectural practice founded by Bob Allies and Graham Morrison in 1984. The practice is now headed up by 10 Partners and employs around 210 people in their purpose designed studios at 85 Southwark Street...
. Two further studios were added in 2001.
The Place's work today continues to focus on developing dance artists at different stages of their careers. This work is most visible through the touring of the dance company of it Artistic Director, Richard Alston
Richard Alston (choreographer)
Richard Alston is a British choreographer. He has been Resident Choreographer and Artistic Director for the Ballet Rambert and is currently Artistic Director at The Place....
, whose company perform annual seasons at Sadler's Wells and in 2006 complete their first tour of the USA. The Place's Robin Howard Dance Theatre, so named in honour of their founder in 2001, premieres more danceworks than any other venue in the country. It is seen as a hotbed of experimentation, where emerging dancers and dancemakers from the UK and abroad first come to national attention, while more established artists use the space to develop and show experimental works.
Among work less visible to the general public, London Contemporary Dance School is recognised as one of the world's leading dance conservatoires, providing full-time vocational training to around 170 students to degree and postgraduate level. Through founding in 2001 with RADA
Rada
Rada is the term for "council" or "assembly"borrowed by Polish from the Low Franconian "Rad" and later passed into the Czech, Ukrainian, and Belarusian languages....
the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama is a higher education institution in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 2001 to co-ordinate the activities of a number of affiliated schools providing higher-level vocational training in the performing arts...
, London Contemporary Dance School became the first dance school to provide funding for its students which compares to that for students of other disciplines in the UK.
The Place also organises community work to address the needs of local people, including those who are disadvantaged or may feel excluded, and runs a popular programme of evening and weekend classes where enthusiasts of all ages and abilities have the chance to learn from some of the artform's most accomplished practitioners.
Current
In September 2007, Kenneth TharpKenneth Tharp
Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp is a dance artist and Chief Executive of The Place. Born in London to English and Nigerian parents, he trained at London Contemporary Dance School. His 25-year performing career included working with London Contemporary Dance Theatre and Arc Dance Company...
OBE took up the new position of Chief Executive of The Place.
The Place receives regular funding from Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
, the Higher Education Funding Council of England and Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...
, along with private sources.
In Spring/Summer 2008, two brand new dance studios were opened at the top of the building providing the students, faculty and community with more space to rehearse and make work.
External links
- http://www.theplace.org.uk/