Dance UK is running Business of Dance, a series of seminars on business planning, promotion and fundraising for dance artists.

Dance UK is running Business of Dance, a series of seminars on business planning, promotion and fundraising for dance artists.

Dance UK is organising a seminar for dance managers and self-managed artists, part of its training programme The Business of Dance. The seminar will be held on Friday, April 5 from 7pm to 10pm.

The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for 2012 were held at The Place on Monday, January 28. Hosted by Gary Avis of The Royal Ballet and KennethTharp of The Place, the awards celebrated a broad spread of dance performances in Britain, from hip hop – with a spectacular double win for ZooNation – to narrative ballet. Tharp and Avis opened with a touch of showbiz, dancing on with a flourish. This year’s awards were dedicated to the memory of critics John Percival, Charles Hedges and Freda Pitt.

Brendan Keaney (pictured), currently director of Greenwich Dance, has been appointed artistic director and chief executive of DanceEast, Ipswich. He replaces Assis Carreiro, who has left to direct the Royal Ballet of Flanders, and will take up the post in March 2013.

Twenty dancers have been chosen to take part in Dance UK’s leadership mentoring scheme. The programme offers workforce development for mid-career dancers who have been nominated by their peers as future leaders. It is organised by by Dance UK in partnership with Dancers’ Career Development, with the support of Arts Council England. Over eight months, each dancer will be provided with a paid mentor who is a high-profile leader from the arts world or beyond.

Applications are now open for a new mentoring scheme for dancers who could be future leaders of the arts. Launched by Dance UK, with the support of Arts Council England and in partnership with Dancers’ Career Development, the scheme will award mentorships to six independent dancers and 14 company dancers. The deadline for all applications is Friday, September 7.

On Tuesday, October 11, Frank Doran MP, secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Dance Group, led an adjournment debate entitled Education System and Dance.

Today Frank Doran MP, secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Dance Group, led an adjournment debate entitled Education System and Dance.

Olympic gold medallist and "Strictly" star Denise Lewis and Rambert dancer Angela Towler were among those highlighting the need for comprehensive medical support for dancers and athletes at a conference organised by Dance UK and the Royal Society of Medicine.