New initiative for retraining independent dancers

Posted on January 29, 2014

Dancers’ Career Development (DCD) and The Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund (RBBF) have announced a new initiative that will increase support for the retraining of independent dancers in the UK. From January 2014, additional funds will provide new RBBF bursaries in order to help overcome financial barriers to retraining. This is the latest development in a long-standing relationship between the two organisations.

DCD’s mission is to “support all professional dancers in the UK to navigate a positive career transition”, which it hopes to achieve by providing a programme of transition support services. The RBBF supports classical and contemporary-based dancers at any time during or after their performance careers, specifically to address and alleviate financial hardship.

Dame Monica Mason, chairman of the RBBF, said: “These bursaries are an interesting and welcome development in our relationship with DCD. The opportunities for dancers to retrain are of vital importance and the RBBF is very pleased to work with DCD on this new initiative”. Tony Dyson, chairman of DCD, added: “We are delighted to announce the new RBBF bursaries as part of our ongoing partnership. DCD is known for its support for independent dancers and the bursaries offer additional and much needed support during transition”.

For further information, contact Ellen Chambers, grants and careers Officer, Dancers’ Career Development, by telephone on 020 7831 1449 or by email at ellen@thedcd.org.uk. Alternatively, visit the website. All bursaries will be awarded at the discretion of the RBBF trustees.

Jonathan Gray

Jonathan Gray is editor of Dancing Times. He studied at The Royal Ballet School, Leicester Polytechnic, and Wimbledon School of Art where he graduated with a BA Hons in Theatre Design. For 16 years he was a member of the curatorial department of the Theatre Museum, London, assisting on a number of dance-related exhibitions, and helping with the recreation of original designs for a number of The Royal Ballet’s productions including Danses concertantes, Daphnis and Chloë, and The Sleeping Beauty. He has also contributed to the Financial Times, written programme articles for The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet, and is co-author of the book Unleashing Britain: Theatre gets real 1955-64, published in 2005.