<img src="http://www.thecogency.com/gda/2002images/events/uniondance.jpg" alt="" />
<small>Union Dance who appear at gDA on 1st March</small>

PRESS RELEASE:

<big>A Decade of Dance at gDA</big>
1993-2003
gDA celebrates its 10th Anniversary

www.greenwichdance.org.uk

'Greenwich Dance Agency serves an important role in
the provision of dance education in London and in
supporting dance in a far wider context"
Dance Express Magazine

2003 marks the 10th Anniversary of Greenwich Dance
Agency and a point at which to celebrate and reflect
upon the achievements of a decade of professional and
community dance activity in Greenwich.

Serving the Professional Dance Community

gDA has built up an extensive support and development
facility for the professional dance community and over
its 10 year history has become one of the most valued
resources in London for professional dancers and
emerging and established contemporary dance companies.
Last year gDA recorded over 4,500 attendences to
organisations' programme of daily classes and
professional development forums, workshops and
seminars.

In the course of the past decade many of the UK's
brightest choreographic talents, among them Michael
Clark, Akram Khan, Wayne McGregor, Jonathan Burrows
and Finn Walker have chosen gDA and its flexible
spaces as their rehearsal and research base for making
ground breaking new works. The opportunity for
companies to give work-in-progress performances at gDA
to invited or public audiences is yet another of gDA's
highly valued contributions to the development of new
dance works in the UK.

In recent years gDA has hosted some of the most
adventurous commissions seen in the capital as part of
one of the world's most renowned international Dance
Festivals, Dance Umbrella. Dance works such as Shobana
Jeyasingh's [h] Interland, Random Dance Company's
Trilogy, Carol Brown's Machine for Living are amongst
some of the more recent site specific installation
works that have enjoyed critical and public acclaim at
gDA.

Developing a Community of Dance

Since 1993 gDA has been committed to developing and
reaching dance enthusiasts from every walk of life.
gDA's community and public dance programmes have grown
steadily in scope and popularity since gDA first
opened its doors in 1993. Today gDA classes have over
9,500 attendances each year by local adults and young
people.

The Borough Hall, gDA's home for 10 years and a
building of great character and distinction in the
heart of Greenwich, is an historic civic building that
remains alive and kicking with dance activity every
day of the week.

The main hall has been the perfect setting for the
dynamic programme of community dance activity that has
consistently engaged with the history, future and
ethnic diversity of dance culture. As well as a
mind-boggling array of public classes including
Egyptian, Flamenco, Irish, Latin, Tap, Hip-Hop,
Breakdancing, Bollywood or Capoiera - gDA has hosted
authentic 1940's Harlem jazz club revivals,
traditional tea dances, futuristic installations, live
webcast performances and cutting edge contemporary
dance works to name but a few.

The agency's outreach programme has taken dance
classes and workshops off site and into many community
institutions. Two dedicated community dance
coordinators have built up a strong and enthusiastic
network of dance lovers throughout Greenwich's old
people's homes, mental health organisations and
mainstream and special needs schools

A Year of Celebration

As gDA approaches its 2nd decade it is undoubtedly one
of London's most lively and accessible dance
organisations with a constant vision to bring dance
experiences to as many people as possible.

"We will be marking gDA's 10th anniversary year with a
series of special community dance events. The first
event LET'S DANCE! in March will give all members of
the public who attend a gDA class - be it Tap,
Egyptian or Lindy Hop -
the chance to take part in a public performance."
Brendan Keaney (Director, gDA)

VITAL MOVES, the hugely successful boys dance project
that gDA initiated in conjunction with Union Dance
Company in 2002, will continue our mission to get boys
dancing. As part of the 10th anniversary celebration
VITAL MOVES will be inviting a further 40 young men to
take part in an extended dance and film project that
will culminate in a public performance and screening
alongside Union Dance Company on 1st March.

A number of other large-scale community dance
performances and events are planned throughout the
year to showcase the breadth and diversity of gDA's
work.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PICTURES or INTERVIEWS
please call gDA's Press Contact:-

Jo Cole

Tel: 0208 690 3404
Mobile: 07929 566 980
E-mail: joannacole@yahoo.co.uk

<small>[ 02 February 2003, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Congratulations to gDA as they start their 10th Anniversary. It is a fine, artist friendly venue for dance, which is often used as an example for dance administrators visiting from overseas.

It deserves to be better known for its singular contribution to independent and community dance.

<small>[ 02 February 2003, 08:20 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

A message from the organisers:

Union Dance: Permanent Revolution V2R with Vital Moves
Saturday 1st March, 7.30pm at gDA, The Borough Halls, Royal Hill, Greenwich SE10
www.greenwichdance.org.uk
&nbsp

Due to a huge demand, extra tickets have been made available for Union Dance?s new work Permanent Revolution V2R at Greenwich Dance Agency this weekend.

Always exhilarating and right up to date, this piece explores the circular nature of migration, cultural transition and the rhythms of life. In Union?s own trademark fusion style, street dance is combined with traditional Western, African and Indian dance and the music ranges from Hip Hop to African sounds.

Permanent Revolution V2R sees Union collaborating with media artists Thomas Grey and Derek Richards to create a rich and sensory world where a culture is informed by a multitude of real and virtual migrations. International choreographers Doug Elkins and Bawren Tavziva create a world in which memory and place collide to challenge our notions of identity.

The piece will be preceded by a short performance as part of gDA?s Vital Moves project. 20 young men have been working with Union in a series of intensive workshops to create a new work based around dance and film.

Tickets for Permanent Revolution V2R are just £9 (£7 concessions). We are expecting this show to sell out, so if you would like to come along please book your tickets now from 020 8293 9741.

A fine tribute to gDA (Greenwich Dance Agency), which is celebrating 10 years of working with artists and the local community to develop dance. Here's to Brendan Keaney, one of the unsung heroes of UK dance and all his team:

Greenwich Dance Agency - the first 10 years
From cutting edge high tech. installations to tea dances, Greenwich Borough Hall sees it all...From the londondance website:

2003 marks the 10th Anniversary of Greenwich Dance Agency and a decade of professional and community dance activity in South East London.

This weekend (Fri 21 & Sat. 22 Mar.)one of the first celebratory events of the year, Let’s Dance, promises to be an extravaganza of performances by all the classes on the community and education programme and a dance/film project by the Greenwich Youth Dance Company and older people’s groups based in Woolwich. There will also be an integrated dance performance by Charlton School and Blackheath Blue Coats, the culmination of over a year’s collaboration with these two schools.

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