International conservatoire London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) is celebrating the numerous of achievements of their 2018 graduating students, including dancing with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Scottish Dance Theatre, Tony Adigun, Didy Veldman/Umanoove, James Wilton and National Dance Company Wales.
Graduates are set to take part in the Sadler’s Wells Young Associate scheme, study on several MA programmes and are setting up their own dance companies.
With students having success both nationally and internationally, the conservatoire is producing the next generation of dance professionals who will shape the future of the art form.
The 2018 graduating cohort comprises of 39 – BA (Hons), 9 – Postgraduate Diploma and 18 – Masters students. Each year, over 80% of London Contemporary Dance School graduates go on to work professionally in the dance sector within six months of graduating.
Several of this year’s graduating BA (Hons) students have already secured professional dance contracts and many have been accepted onto postgraduate performance programmes or are joining dance companies as apprentices.
This year’s graduating cohort has seen fantastic success in gaining apprenticeships with companies across Europe.
- William Bridgland will be moving to Switzerland to join Theatre St Gallen Dance Company.
- Daniel Conant and Madison Pomarico will be going abroad to complete an apprenticeship with Company Zappola in Italy.
- Joining Scottish Dance Theatre this year are Reece Calver, Molly Danter andGiorgia Pirozzi.
- Sean Monroe will join James Wilton Dance Company.
- Aisha Naamani will complete an apprenticeship with National Dance Company Wales.
- Eddie Hookham will take on a full time position in Germany with Statsoper Bremehaven.
- Titisa (Ice) Jeamsakul will be a company dancer with Arts Fission Dance Company Jieying Nah will join T.H.E Dance Company, both in Singapore.
Other graduates who are seeing international success are:
- Venetia Lim with IT Dansa in Spain.
- Zsofi Liszkai joining Szekesfehervase Dance Company in Hungary.
- Harry Ondrak Wright will perform in Mathew Bourne’s legendary production of Swan Lake.
- Harry Brooks will be studying on the MA Photography programme at Goldsmith’s University.
- Georgina Frampton will be working on projects with choreographer Tony Adigun and fellow graduate Anthony Matsena, who is a Sadler’s Wells Young Associate. The Sadler’s Wells Young Associate scheme is a new initiative supporting talented young artists for two years, providing a crucial first step in their career.
Undertaking the Postgraduate Diplomas in graduate companies are:
- Anna McSorley and John Sawney with EDGE, the postgraduate company of London Contemporary Dance School.
- Bun Kobayashi and Jose Torres Vasquez joining Verve, the postgraduate performance company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
- Joshua Attwood, Meshach Henry and Conor Kerrigan will be joining Rambert2, a brand new postgraduate programme at Rambert School.
This year’s EDGE graduates are involved in exciting jobs and projects:
- Toi B. Brown performed in Kamara Gray’s piece for LiveVibe at The Place, and mentors young dancers at Artistry Youth Dance on a weekly basis.
- Sam Costello will join Didy Veldman/Umanoove touring their latest work around the UK and Denmark.
- Olly Bell will be taking part in a project with Motionhouse.
This year’s Apprentices Mathew Prichard (NDCWales), Lisette Robijn (Theater St Gallen) and Anna Jurek (RADC) have all been offered professional work with the companies where they completed their postgraduate studies. Nine of the thirteen will be continuing next year as MA students.
This year’s award winners include Niall Egan, Blue Codrington-Makwana, Nichole Bennis, Bonni Bogya and Benjamin Curtis for thePeggy Hawkins Scholarship Fund. The winners of the Cohan Scholarship are Natifah White and Annie Edwards. Bun Kobayashi and Erena Reilent won the The David Steele Choreography Award. The students winning the LCDS Principal’s Award are BA3 Dulcie Fraserand graduating student William Bridgland.
Go behind the scenes of London Contemporary Dance School with the Virtual School. Look out for exciting online content revealed throughout July – September 2018 by following #VirtualSchool and visiting theplace.org.uk/virtualschool.
‘We stand on the shoulders of a great many artists here At London Contemporary Dance School. The graduates from the class of 2018 are no exception and amongst some of most successful in terms of their career destinations in recent years. In my first year as Chief Executive and Principal it has been an immense privilege to celebrate their skilful creativity and artistry. As our alumni we will look to them for their leadership and their challenge and along with the rest of the faculty I wish them the very best as they take the next steps into the future.’
Clare Connor, Chief Executive and Interim Principal