Dance Umbrella 2014

The 2014 festival for Dance Umbrella has recently been launched, hosting a multitude of talent and exciting dance performances. The new programme is full of international dance events, with highlights including Le Patin Libre, a Canadian collective reinventing ice skating at Alexandra Palace; world-renowned flamenco dancer Rocío Molina at the Barbican; Ivan Blackstock's Harlem-set hip hop show at the Young Vic and Beijing-based choreographer Tao Ye in bringing TAO Dance Theatre to Sadler’s Wells. The 2014 festival will be new Artistic Director Emma Gladstone's first after taking over Betsy Gregory in the role: for 2014 Dance Umbrella will bring together a thrilling and diverse programme of work, with the new festival celebrating 21st century choreography in all its forms. As with previous years, the internationally-renowned dance festival will present a series of performances across fourteen venues. Since her appointment, Emma Gladstone has introduced new programming strands such as regular international work for children and young people, a four year commitment to London touring with outer London arts centres and a series of discussions and debates called Body Politic. The festival will also present its first ever shows for babies in 2014 as well as performing for the first time at the Young Vic with the highly acclaimed London hip hop star Ivan Blackstock. The Dance Umbrella programme for 2014 will begin with Jérôme Bel at The Shaw Theatre on Tuesday 14 October, run for two and a half weeks and culminate with La Veronal at Southbank Centre on Thursday 30 October. Dance Umbrella will also be involved in year-round creative digital projects and will invite Guest Editors to contribute longer form articles online. The Festival has recently launched the Moving London Commission Fund and set up the Re-Search Programme that runs throughout the year.