East London dancing renovation
Stacey MacNaught |
World-renowned choreographer Wayne McGregor has unveiled the designs for Studio Wayne McGregor, his new dance and training space in Here East, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. The space will contain some of the largest dance studios in the city, which - through an innovative share arrangement - will be gifted to artists to use for free which will create numerous in-kind donations for dance artists looking to establish their work.
The new facility will open at the end of 2016 and will be the first arts organisation to move into the Olympic Park, leading the cultural regeneration of the area following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The space will include three dance studios and will be a home for McGregor’s company. In providing opportunities for other dance artists, the space will give access to the world-class studios in return for contributing time to deliver creative interactions and engagement projects in schools and communities.
The aim for Studio Wayne McGregor is to create an inspiring place to choreograph in studios and work spaces, in addition to providing space for new relationships to develop within the art form. Studio Wayne McGregor will actively work with local schools and communities to engage them in the arts. As part of the re-visioning, the name of the organisation changes from Wayne McGregor | Random Dance to Studio Wayne McGregor. McGregor’s own company of dancers remain at the heart of Studio Wayne McGregor and will continue to tour his signature contemporary work under Company Wayne McGregor; they will also remain Resident Company at Sadler’s Wells.
Studio Wayne McGregor will reside close to East London Dance, famous for its innovative community engagement projects, as well as English National Ballet, which is set to move from Kensington to a purpose built new home in Canning Town in 2018. Sadler’s Wells will have a new 600 seat theatre in Olympicopolis, also part of the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, due to open in 2021.