Caroline Miller OBE

Our sincere thoughts and support go out to Caroline’s family, friends and colleagues.

Through her role at BRB, one of DCD’s Partner Companies, we had the privilege of working closely with Caroline – a leader with the most incredible amounts of passion, vision and joy. Throughout our team we fondly remember the impact she made both at BRB and across the dance sector through her previous roles.

Charles Glanville, Chair of Dancers’ Career Development, said: “Dancers’ Career Development and Birmingham Royal Ballet are close partners, working together to support BRB’s dancers. We are so sorry to hear that our good friend at BRB, Caroline Miller OBE, has passed away.  Caroline was such a live wire, as well as incredibly good at her job. She will very much be missed.”

Vanessa Lefrancois, Executive Director of DCD said “I first met Caroline when she led Dance UK. I was struck immediately by her incredible energy and passion for dance, which radiated from her and was a driving force behind her multiple accomplishments. Her vision, boldness and tenacity in her role at BRB introduced ballet to new audiences from Glastonbury Festival to Black Sabbath fans. Caroline was a great advocate for the sector, dancers and DCD. We are deeply saddened by Caroline’s passing; dance has lost a true friend, champion and trailblazer – she will be missed by all at DCD.” 

To read more about Caroline’s incredible legacy, and to offer condolences, head to BRB’s website: https://www.brb.org.uk/stories/caroline-miller

Save the Date!

50th Anniversary Inspiration Day

Monday 11 November 2024

Rich Mix, London

This one-day event will examine current and future topics around career development for dancers via a mix of guest speakers, panel discussions, inspirational stories, networking opportunities and a market-place of industry experts – with some added pop-up creativity to fuel our conversations.

The day will be relevant to both dancers (at any career stage) and anyone who supports the career development of dancers, including Producers, Artistic Directors and Educators. It will provide connections with DCD and our current grant-giving and support programmes.

As DCD comes to the end of its 50th year, during which time it has awarded training grants to over 2,500 dancers, this day will enable us to continue supporting the career development of dancers today and into the future, in the most appropriate ways possible. We will look back, sharing the learnings and wisdom of dancers we’ve supported to date, address the here and now of challenges and opportunities currently facing dancers, and discover what new support may be required to future-proof our incredible community.

Please join us to consider, progress and celebrate the boundless potential of our dance community.

Full programme and timings to be announced.

For updates, please follow DCD on social media or sign up to receive our enewsletter.

The Inspiration Day forms part of DCD’s 50th Anniversary programme and follows Inspiration Events held recently in Leeds, Swindon and Birmingham, in partnership with Yorkshire Dance, Swindon Dance, The Jam Festival and Sampad. This Event is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Career Inspiration Event in Leeds

DCD is ambitious for dancers’ futures.

The Inspiration Event Leeds will include a morning workshop with Nicolette Wilson-Clarke, plus an awesome afternoon line-up of artists performing, speaking and sharing films and stories, including Company Chameleon and Northern Ballet.

When:                 Friday 7 June, 10am-5pm

For those unable to join us for the full day it is possible to attend the morning only (workshop) 10am-1.30pm or afternoon only (panel, film, performance, networking) 2.30-5pm. This choice can be indicated when booking.

Where:               Yorkshire Dance

Booking:             Click here

Cost:                    FREE

The morning workshop will use a combination of self exploration, partner work, gentle movement and coaching exercises, to offer insight into tools that can support creating a sustainable practice, with self compassion.

In the afternoon, a panel of speakers will discuss their careers in dance and beyond, and how they’ve forged their own unique pathways. Panel line-up: Dickson Mbi, Anthony Missen, Sandrine Monin, Pippa Moore MBE and Kevin Edward Turner.

The event will be an opportunity for dancers to learn more about the career development programmes and retraining grants DCD offers for dancers, and to talk informally with members of staff. It will also be an opportunity for dancers to connect with peers and reflect on their individual career trajectories; as well as to consider and explore new opportunities, in order to realise their full potential.

The Career Inspiration Event is FREE and bursaries are available for travel, childcare and accessibility needs or adjustments. Bursaries can be applied for when booking. The venue is wheelchair accessible. If you have any questions please contact: dancers@thedcd.org.uk 

Keep an eye on our socials for further updates.

The Inspiration Event forms part of DCD’s 50th Anniversary programme and follows similar events held recently in Swindon and Birmingham, in partnership with Swindon Dance, The Jam Festival and Sampad. This Event is delivered in partnership with Yorkshire Dance and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and by the Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund.

DCD at The Jam Festival, Swindon, April 2024

The evening event includes an awesome line-up of artists performing, speaking and sharing films and stories. Artists confirmed to date include Bellatrix, Jamaal O’Driscoll, Niquelle LaTouche and Max Revell aka Silk Boogie, with Luke Lentes facilitating a panel discussion. 

The Jam Festival takes place annually at Swindon Dance. An incredible, international celebration of underground dance, the festival comprises a packed week of workshops with top-tier street dancers, battles and other events. 2024 Programme highlights include New Kidz On The Block, Let There Be Lite and West Country Clash. The festival takes place 2-6 April. 

DCD’s Inspiration evening, on Tuesday 2 April (the opening evening of the festival), is open to both festival attendees and any dancer wishing to find out more about DCD, learn from and network with fellow artists. 

Alongside inspiring performances, a panel of speakers will discuss their careers in dance, hip-hop and beyond, and how they’ve forged their own unique paths. The evening will also be an opportunity for dancers to learn more about DCD, our grants for dancers, other forms of support and to talk informally with members of staff. 

In partnership with The Jam Festival and Swindon Dance, the Inspiration Evening forms part of DCD’s 50th Anniversary programme. It will be a relaxed social event and is free for dancers to attend. 

 We look forward to releasing further details very soon! Keep an eye on our socials and website, or sign up to our enewsletter for updates.  

When: Tuesday 2 April, 7-10pm 

Where: Swindon Dance 

Booking: Via Swindon Dance.

Cost: Individual event is free to attend. If attending the full festival, charges apply, see Swindon Dance website for further details. 

DCD’s Inspiration Evening is delivered in partnership with The Jam Festival and Swindon Dance and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. 

DCD recognised in 50th year with Dance Changemaker Award

We congratulate all those recognised with awards and nominations, it is an honour to be in your company.  

Executive Director Vanessa Lefrancois says:  

“We are delighted to have been given this award, in recognition of the ongoing impact and importance of DCD’s work across the dance sector.  

DCD is here for all dancers – from every dance genre, every background, across the UK and at every career stage – to offer career development support.  

We are thrilled to be a part of this year’s awards, celebrating the excellence and diversity in our sector, and offer our congratulations to all involved.” 

The Dance Changemaker Award recognises bold, brave, and impactful individuals or organisations that have driven progress across our dance ecology. This can include improving access to dance and championing diversity and inclusion. 

We are delighted to accept this award during our 50th Anniversary Year, and we dedicate it to the real changemakers: the extraordinary dancers we walk alongside every day while they take courageous and bold steps to create fulfilling and thriving post-performance careers, both within dance and beyond. It is a privilege to witness your journeys.  

Dancers’ Career Development 50th Anniversary Announcement

We are delighted to announce the commencement of our 50th anniversary celebrations, marking this milestone with a year-long programme of events, workshops and creative projects across the UK.

DCD was founded in 1973 – originally as ‘The Dancers Resettlement Fund’ – with the aim of providing career retraining support to the dancers from the then nine Arts Council funded dance companies. Today we proudly provide career development programmes for all UK professional dancers – from every dance genre, background and at every career stage. In 1993, DCD became the founding member of the International Organisation for the Transition of Professional Dancers (IOTPD). This network is dedicated to the interests of dancers as they transition into post-performance careers.

Today we announce “EVOLVE on Tour” – a series of live career coaching sessions and creative inspiration evenings for dancers delivered in collaboration with place-based partners across the UK. Each event will have a specific genre focus but will be open to all professional dancers and graduating students. This series begins with EVOLVE Birmingham in partnership with SAMPAD – a South Asian Dance focused event on Monday 2 October.  In 2024, there will be EVOLVE events in Swindon (Hip Hop), Leeds (Contemporary) and London (Musical Theatre).

Vanessa Lefrancois, DCD Executive Director, said:

“We are looking forward to celebrating our big 50th birthday together with our whole dance community – our partner companies, schools and conservatoires, dance agencies, funders, individual supporters, alumni and dancers from every dance genre.

This is an opportunity to celebrate everyone who has been part of DCD’s story for the last half century, and the extraordinary contribution to society that dancers and DCD alumni are making both within and beyond the creative industries. We’re proud to be co-creating the anniversary programme with such talented and creative dancers and alumni, as we look forwards to the future and reaching more dancers than ever before.”

 

Media Contact: 

Vanessa Lefrancois, Executive Director, Dancers’ Career Development. vanessa@thedcd.org.uk