| Type | Contemporary dance school |
|---|---|
| Established | 1966 (Foundation) 1982 (Granted degree-awarding powers) |
| Principal | Clare Connor |
| Students | Approximately 250 |
| Undergraduates | 200 |
| Postgraduates | 50 |
| Location | London ,United Kingdom |
| Affiliations | University of the Arts London |
| Website | http://www.theplace.org.uk/study |
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London Contemporary Dance School (informallyLCDS) is acontemporary dance school located in London, England. Previously part of theConservatoire for Dance and Drama, since 2022 LCDS has been independently registered with theOffice for Students. It was founded byRobin Howard in 1966 to train new dancers for his company,London Contemporary Dance Theatre.[1]
LCDS is based atThe Place in theBloomsbury area ofCentral London.
London Contemporary Dance School and its partner company, London Contemporary Dance Theatre, were founded in 1966 under the governance of the Contemporary Dance Trust.[2][3] After receiving support from its founder, Robin Howard, the Contemporary Dance Trust moved to 17 Duke's Road in 1969, which it renamedThe Place.[2] In 1978, with assistance from the Arts Council and Linbury Trust, The Place underwent a major redevelopment, with new studios created for the School on Flaxman Terrace.[2] In 1982, LCDS began offering a BA Honours degree in Contemporary Dance, validated by theUniversity of Kent.
In 1994, London Contemporary Dance Theatre was closed and the Richard Alston Dance Company formed.[2] In October 2001 a £7.5 million redevelopment of The Place, including the construction of six new dance studios, was completed.[2][4][5] In the same year LCDS and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) formed theConservatoire for Dance and Drama.[2][6] In 2008 a £1.1 million development at The Place added two new further studios.[2]
In 2021, LCDS moved to a new validation partnership withUniversity of the Arts London. The first postgraduate students graduated with UAL-validated degrees in 2023, and the first undergraduates in 2024. In December 2022, LCDS was awardedWorld-Leading Specialist Provider Funding by the Office for Students and in December 2023 LCDS was awarded anoverall Silver rating with Gold for student experience in theTeaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
LCDS teaches a variety of contemporary dance techniques including release-based, Limón, Humphrey and Contact Improvisation, as well as dance and performance styles including hip-hop/groove, authentic jazz, circus skills, flying low and South Asian dance techniques. As part of its courses LCDS also offers pilates, body conditioning, free electives in Choreology, Anatomy and Scenography, and ballet studies. The course is developed on the principles of periodisation, a training method developed from sport science using the strategic planning of training, performances, and rest periods to optimise physical and psychological wellbeing.
LCDS provides both undergraduate and postgraduate vocational training as well as a PhD research programme in contemporary dance. The School also offers courses in contemporary dance in London for adults and children, including aCentre for Advanced Training prevocational training programme for young people in the South East.
LCDS's first year's intake includedRichard Alston, Ian Spink andSiobhan Davies who went on to perform with the main company before founding their own. Other notable alumni of LCDS include:Richard Alston,Darshan Singh Bhuller,Seeta Indrani,Sally Potter,Liz Roche,Kenneth Tharp,Studio Lenca,Paul Liburd,Jonzi-D,Anthony Van Laast,Celeste Dandeker,Fiona Quilligan,Etta Murfitt,Joan Cleville, andSharon Watson.
Students of the School have gone on to perform with a variety of prestigious dance companies includingAdventures in Motion Pictures/New Adventures, Random Dance Company/Company Wayne McGregor,DV8,CandoCo, Diversions/National Dance Company Wales andRambert, as well as working as choreographers, movement directors and artistic and creative directors of their own performance companies.
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