All-star Line-up for DanceHouse Opening

An impressive line-up of dancers are scheduled to appear in a celebratory gala to mark the opening of Dance East’s new Jerwood DanceHouse in Ipswich.

The Gala evening on 7 November is hosted by Ballet Boyz Michael Nunn and William Trevitt and will include Sylvie Guillem, Akram Khan, Wayne McGregor, Leanne Benjamin, Tamara Rojo, Edward Watson, Richard Alston Company and Russell Maliphant.

The Jerwood DanceHouse is a new international centre for dance developed by DanceEast as part of the £70million redevelopment of the waterfront in Ipswich.

Designed by John Lyall Architects, it provides 2,500 square metres of dance facilities including four studios, a 200 seat studio theatre, dressing rooms, therapy suites, green room, offices for DanceEast, and a café and public courtyard with views over the waterfront.

The opening season will include a project with Wayne McGregor and a residency with Mark Morris Dance Group. At Christmas, TPO from Italy will present their acclaimed production Butterflies. Will Tuckett will be in residence later in the year developing a new work for young audiences.

Led by Assis Carreiro, DanceEast has expanded rapidly since its foundation in Ipswich in 1983. Its programme, and new home, easily out-class similarly sized London venues.