Candoco Dance Company co-artistic directors to step down

Stine Nilsen and Pedro Machado, co-artistic directors of Candoco Dance Company, are to step down later this year after sharing the role for a decade.

They took over from founder Celeste Dandeker-Arnold, who started the company for disabled and non-disabled dancers in 1991.

During their time at the helm, Nilsen and Machado saw Candoco perform in Paralympic ceremonies in London and Beijing, but now they're leaving to pursue new projects.

In a joint statement, they said: "We have had the privilege of leading Candoco through the last ten years of continued growth and success, a period full of dance and ideas.

"It's been an amazing decade for us and we look forward to following what the company will do next."

Nilsen will go on to be the artistic director of CODA Oslo International Dance Festival in Norway from September, while Machado will pursue freelance projects.

Board member Kimberley Harvey said: "Under their directorship, Candoco have gone further in asking questions of the dance sector in terms of training, access, visibility and opportunity.

"Stine and Pedro have done an incredible job in their role as artistic co-directors."

The post of artistic director will be advertised some time in March.