Photo Hugo Glendinning
2020 marks the 42nd year of Dance Umbrella and it is with great sadness that we announce it is Emma Gladstone’s 7th and final year as Artistic Director and Chief Executive.
Having joined the organisation in 2013, Emma has since curated seven festivals, presenting over 80 artists and companies from across the world. Her programming has reached 17 London Boroughs, visiting over 50 different locations across the capital.
Speaking of her departure, Emma said: ‘The time has come for me to hand over the DU baton to someone new. It has been an amazing seven years and I want to thank all the artists, audiences, venue partners, supporters, funders and staff team past and present for making it such an exhilarating ride. I am proud of what has been achieved artistically without question. But also, geographically as we are now touring more widely across London than ever before in DU’s long history.
Numerous things have combined leading up to my decision, both personal and professional, including my belief in the need to keep programming views rolling, the sense of being at the end of a particular era, the strength of the current team, and the fact that we are at the start of another reinvention of DU with our first digital festival this autumn.’
From the new year, Emma will look to focus on specific areas of programming including talent development projects in the UK and Europe, whilst continuing as Chair at Siobhan Davies Studios, and in Trustee positions at Aesop and Dartington Hall Trust.
Everyone at Dance Umbrella thanks Emma for her seven years of leadership, as we wish her all the best in her new endeavours.