MDI Announce Sponsors LEAPing To Support Annual Dance Festival

Organisers of this year's LEAP Dance Festival - which takes place in November - are inviting businesses and organisations to come on-board to support the event as they reveal the first sponsors and partners involved for 2018.

Producers MDI celebrate their milestone 25th anniversary this year, and their vision is to make LEAP 2018 the biggest festival to date.

LEAP is one of the UK's most anticipated dance festivals, and audiences of more than 2,500 are expected.

The 2018 event takes place between 2 and 12 November, with most of the activity taking place at Liverpool Hope University's Creative Campus.

The festival theme is Suffrage, in a tribute to the Suffragette Movement celebrating 100 years since some women were first given the right to vote. In celebration of this, there is a real female focus in each dance performance - all of which are new shows to Liverpool.

MDI are delighted to announce the first round of sponsors and supporters, who are lending their support to further develop this year's event.

LEAP Festival 2018 Headline Sponsor is Hope University, Liverpool ONE are on board as Principal Sponsor and the event is also Sponsored by Morecrofts Solicitors.

Funding partners for 2018 so far include Lottery funding from Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, The Foyle Foundation, and Festival Enhancement funding from Culture Liverpool as part of the Liverpool 2018 celebrations.

LEAP 2018 will mark the final year at MDI for Artistic Director Karen Gallagher MBE. Karen has championed the development of dance across Liverpool City Region for more than 30 years, and during her time at MDI she has received a great many accolades and awards for her work in the region.

MDI Artistic Director Karen Gallagher MBE commented: "MDI is proposing its most ambitious festival to date, as we celebrate some of the best works made for the most part by female choreographers and performers. We want to ensure that Liverpool is positioned as a dance destination, and we can only do this wider support, ensuring that we can offer local audiences more chances to see dance in their city.

"We have been overwhelmed with the support we have already received from this year's sponsors and supporters. But there is still a long way to way - so we'd encourage any organisations or businesses who share our passion for dance and the creative arts, to join us for what promises to be a very special year in the festival's history. Our mission at MDI is to inspire people through dance - join us in our continuing quest to do just that."

Various levels of sponsorship packages are available, starting at £250. The deadline for sponsorship is midday on Friday 27th July. To find out more please contact Laura at MDI by emailing laura@mdi.org.uk or telephone 0151 708 8810.

LEAP 2018 is part of the #Liverpool2018 celebrations which mark 10 years since the city received the prestigious European Capital of Culture 2008 title.

For further information visit http://www.mdi.org.uk/leap2018