Some very exciting news from Dance Consortium today. We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Ros Robins as our first Executive Director, commencing on 5 July 2016.
For the past three years Robins has worked as a consultant in the North West and the Midlands advising on programmes of transformational change and was part of the team working on the much-lauded re-opening of Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.
Since 2000, Dance Consortium has presented the very best of contemporary dance companies from all over the world. The consortium of theatres work together to find dance companies and productions that will excite, challenge, entertain and inspire their audiences. Its recent tour, Nederlands Dans Theater 2, finished a six-week UK engagement with a sold out run at Sadler’s Wells from 17 – 20 May 2016 and was also programmed during the International Dance Festival Birmingham 2016 and the 50th Brighton Festival.
Dance Consortium’s directors and members recently reviewed its operating model in the light of several development opportunities and changes: Jeanette Siddall’s decision to step down as Dance Consortium’s Consultant Executive, the impending opportunity for Dance Consortium to re-apply as a National Portfolio Organisation to Arts Council England for the 2018- 21 period, and to contribute to Birmingham’s ambitions as a dance hub- the Dance Consortium having its registered office at Birmingham Hippodrome, where Robins will be based.
All of this creates new opportunities for Dance Consortium to enhance its role and impact in the UK and the international dance ecology by bringing dedicated executive leadership to the overall work of the Consortium’s programme of touring, audience development aims, contribution towards dance education and talent development, and links with partners for whom international dance can complement their aims.
Robins will explore opportunities for new initiatives and partnerships to make the most of the unique experience and expertise within Dance Consortium’s membership of theatres.
Robins said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Dance Consortium’s first Executive Director. It feels like a very exciting time for dance in the UK and I look forward to working with the members of the Consortium and colleagues across the dance sector to bring the best international dance companies to audiences across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
Dance Consortium’s Co-Chair, producer John Stalker, said: “Dance Consortium is so fortunate to have Ros Robins joining as its new Executive Director. Ros has an impressive record of getting things done and is a worthy successor to the excellent Jeanette Siddall, who achieved so much in her time with Dance Consortium. This is a new chapter for the consortium with new ambitions and new horizons. We are all so excited about what we can achieve together for international dance right across the UK.”
Chief Executive & Artistic Director of Birmingham Hippodrome, and Co-Chair of Dance Consortium, Fiona Allan, said: “This is an exciting time for dance in the UK as international choreographers, companies and programmers look beyond London to present their work. Birmingham Hippodrome is proud to be the registered office for Dance Consortium and we look forward to working with Ros to build on the many successes of this unique group of venues so we can continue to present the very best of international contemporary dance to audiences in every corner of the UK.”
A huge warm welcome to Ros, from all at Dance Consortium!
