Press Release
<img src="http://www.candoco.co.uk/images/shadow_celeste.jpg" alt="" />
<small>image by John Cole</small>
Dance pioneer announces retirement Celeste Dandeker MBE, founder and Artistic Director of CandoCo Dance Company, has announced that she will retire in December 2004 after thirteen outstanding years leading the company. In that time, she has provided the vision and tenacity that has led CandoCo to its position as the world’s foremost integrated dance company.
Celeste’s pioneering work has changed the way that people look at dance and led to the establishment of integrated dance within the mainstream. Never one to demand the spotlight for herself, Celeste has nevertheless found herself as a somewhat reluctant but inspirational advocate for integrated dance worldwide.
Jeanette Siddall, Director of Dance, Arts Council England, said ‘Celeste is one of those rare people who has the passion, the vision, and the energy to make things happen. In establishing CandoCo, she has transformed the landscape of British dance and created a flagship for integrated dance worldwide. We all owe her enormous gratitude, and I am sure I speak for many in wishing her all possible happiness in her new life. Celeste will be a hard act to follow, but she is wonderfully generous and I know she will do everything possible to enable her successor to take CandoCo forward successfully.’
Celeste founded CandoCo in 1991 with Adam Benjamin. She danced and created work with the company until 1999, when she gave up performing to concentrate full-time on her role as artistic director. Celeste’s aim from the beginning was to commission the best choreographers to create work with the company. CandoCo’s archive includes pieces by Siobhan Davies, Darshan Singh Bhuller, Emilyn Claid, Javier de Frutos, Doug Elkins and Fin Walker.
With Celeste at the helm, the company has gone from strength to strength, carving a place for itself on the international stage. She has accepted awards for the company’s work both here (The Prudential Award, Barclays New Stages) and abroad (Melbourne Festival First).
It is fitting that Celeste’s final season comes at a time of particular success for CandoCo. Last season, which featured work by Javier de Frutos, Jamie Watton and Fin Walker was CandoCo’s strongest artistic programme yet and this repertoire has been nominated for a National Dance Award. CandoCo are currently rehearsing The Human Suite, a new work from renowned US choreographer Stephen Petronio. The new work will join Microphobia, choreographed by Luca Silvestrini and Bettina Strickler of Protein Dance, for CandoCo’s brand new 2004 touring season.
Celeste commented “I have decided to leave CandoCo and pass on the role of Artistic Director in December 2004 after what will have been 13 very happy years. I am immensely proud and very grateful for the privilege of working with such creative and committed dancers, choreographers, administrators and technicians. I feel the time has come for a new Artistic Director with a fresh vision, to take CandoCo on to another level. I look forward to the future and would like to thank everybody who has contributed to CandoCo's success over the years”.
The company has been aware of Celeste’s intention for some time and has plans in place to ensure a smooth handover to her successor. The post will be advertised internationally in 2004.
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