Dance Consortium Announces New Learning and Participation Coordinator

Dance Consortium, a group of 18 large-scale theatres located across the UK, announces the appointment of Fiona Ross as its first Learning and Participation Coordinator, commencing on 1 June 2017.

Fiona has more than twenty years' experience working in dance venues and with UK and international dance companies including Sadler's Wells (Director of Learning and Engagement 2005 - 2015) and Rambert (Director of Education 1995 - 2005). She has developed many high-profile and successful public engagement strategies in dance through innovative practice to develop youth talent and community participation programmes, including: Get Into Dance, a new approach to engaging local audiences at Sadler's Wells; the EU-funded Theatron partnership project; and Arts Council England's Associate Bridge Cultural Learning programme.

Fiona will divide her time between Dance Consortium and the Mayor of London's office, where she will continue in her part-time role as Senior Policy Officer in social policy and culture.

Since 2000, Dance Consortium has presented the very best of contemporary dance from across the world. The Consortium work together to present international dance companies that excite, challenge, entertain and inspire audiences. Its current tour presents a Sadler's Wells production, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's m¡longa until 17 June 2017.

Dance Consortium has created the freelance Learning and Participation Coordinator role to work with a small executive team to expand the Learning and Participation programme that currently accompanies each tour.

Fiona will extend engagement opportunities between member theatres, touring companies and local communities and will ensure that the work of the international companies is as accessible as possible to a broad range of audiences. In addition the new role will develop relationships with member venues' local dance sector, including dance agencies, regional dance companies, dance artists and youth dance companies.

All of this creates new opportunities for Dance Consortium to enhance its role and impact in the UK and the international dance ecology by bringing dedicated leadership to the overall work of the Consortium's programme of touring, audience development goals, contribution towards dance education and talent development, and links with partners for whom international dance can complement their aims.

Fiona will explore opportunities for new initiatives and partnerships to make the most of the unique experience and expertise within Dance Consortium's membership of theatres.

Ros Robins, Dance Consortium's Executive Director, said: "Dance Consortium is delighted to announce the appointment of Fiona Ross as Learning and Participation Coordinator. Fiona has extensive experience of leading highly successful and innovative learning and engagement programmes across the dance sector and we look forward to working with her to encourage even more people across the UK to enjoy extraordinary international contemporary dance."

On accepting the role, Fiona Ross said: "I'm looking forward to working with Dance Consortium's member theatres to develop opportunities for audiences and local dance communities to interact and engage with the international dance companies toured by the Consortium."

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Notes to Editors:

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Fiona Ross has more than twenty years' experience working in dance venues and with UK and international dance companies. She has experience of developing public engagement strategies in dance and a record of successful and innovative practice in developing youth dance talent and community participation programmes.

Fiona is a Senior Policy Officer for the Mayor of London working in social policy and culture. Prior to joining City Hall in 2015, she spent a decade at Sadler's Wells (2005-2015) as Director of Learning and Engagement. At Sadler's Wells she developed Get Into Dance, a new approach to engaging local audiences and was strategic lead for the EU-funded Theatron partnership project and Arts Council England's Associate Bridge Cultural Learning programme.

Fiona produced Sadler's Wells first community mainstage production Destino and took Sadler's Wells' highly regarded Company of Elders over 60s company on tour across Europe. Prior to this she was Director of Education at Rambert (1995-2005).

Fiona completed an MA in Arts Management at City University in 2002 and also holds a BSc (Hons) in Sociology and Dance from Roehampton University, London. She is a guest lecturer for City University, London on Cultural Policy and Politics of Participation MA courses. Ross is a trustee of Luca Silvestrini's Protein Dance.

Fiona grew up in Hertfordshire and now lives in South London with her husband and seven year old twins.

Dance Consortium is a group of 18 large scale venues located across the UK. Since its formation in 2000 Dance Consortium has presented 40 tours by 22 different companies from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, France, The Netherlands, Taiwan, Israel and the USA. Their performances and education activities have been experienced by hundreds of thousands of people across all parts of the UK. Dance Consortium receives investment as a national portfolio organisation of Arts Council England.

Dance Consortium members: Grand Opera House Belfast, Birmingham Hippodrome, Alhambra Theatre Bradford, Brighton Dome, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury, Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Curve Theatre Leicester, Hull New Theatre, Sadler's Wells London, Milton Keynes Theatre, Theatre Royal Newcastle, Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall Nottingham with Dance 4, Theatre Royal Plymouth, The Lowry Salford, The Mayflower, Southampton, New Victoria Theatre, Woking. For more information, visit www.danceconsortium.com

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