Dance Consortium exists to tour the best contemporary dance from across the world to local audiences across the UK and Ireland.
The Consortium was formed by a group of UK Theatres in 2000 and is currently made up of 21 member theatres from all regions of the country as well as the Republic of Ireland. The Chief Executives of the Theatres are the members of the Consortium, they meet regularly throughout the year and appoint a Board of Directors, which also has independent members.
Working together, the theatres jointly choose the international companies they wish to invite to tour the UK and Ireland, they share the costs of each of the tours and use their collective knowledge and expertise to ensure that the artists achieve the highest level of presentation to enthusiastic audiences.
Dance Consortium is proud to be included in the National Portfolio of arts organisation funded by Arts Council England.
In choosing which companies to tour Consortium members look for the highest quality of performance and a diversity of styles and cultural influences that are different from those normally seen on our UK stages. They consider which companies are likely to be most entertaining for audiences and which will appeal to the broadest possible audience.
Since 2000 we have organised 53 Tours by 29 different companies and have performed to over 800,000 people.
The Consortium is always looking to introduce new audiences to contemporary dance. We have a far-reaching Learning and Engagement Programme and work with member venues to engage local and community groups through ‘wrap around’ activity for example Question and Answer sessions with the artists and participatory workshops. We support talent development amongst UK dance artists through a programme of live and online masterclasses and workshops and provide career development opportunities through our Future Leaders programme and the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
Previous Tours
In Autumn 2001 Dance Consortium collaborated with Dance Umbrella to tour the Mark Morris Dance Group. Since then it has presented:
Acosta Danza (2020, 2022)
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (2005, 2007, 2010, 2016)
Ailey 2 (2011, 2023)
Australian Dance Theatre (2007)
Ballet BC (2018)
Batsheva Ensemble (2012)
Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company (2004)
Breakin’ Convention (2007)
Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (2013)
Cirque Éloize (2015)
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan (2008)
Compagnie Käfig (2005, 2014)
Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker (2004, 2006, 2010)
Dada Masilo (2019, 2023)
Dance Theatre of Harlem (2004)
Danza Contemporanéa de Cuba (2010, 2012, 2017)
Grupo Corpo (2005, 2014)
La La La Human Steps (2008)
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (2008/09, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2022)
Mark Morris Dance Group (2009, 2019)
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (2017)
NDT 1 | Nederlands Dans Theater 1 (2008)
NDT 2 | Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2022)
Paul Taylor Dance Company (2003)
Qudus Onikeku | The QDance Company (2024)
São Paulo Dance Company (2024)
Stephen Petronio Company (2008)
Sutra, A Sadler’s Wells Production (2013)
The 7 Fingers (2021)
You can find further information about these companies and their tours here.
“We must commend Dance Consortium for reaching parts of the country, and the hearts of dance lovers, that are otherwise often overlooked.”
“Dance lovers with no access to a major city could feel genuinly hard done by were it not for Dance Consortium.”
“Working with Dance Consortium for me was really incredible because of the level of professionalism and the support. It felt like a family.”
