Dancer and arts administrator who became a champion of modern dance at the Arts CouncilAs dance officer and then dance and mime director at the Arts Council in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Jane Nicholas, who has died aged 89, played a crucial role in establishing the art of modern dance in the UK. The funding she helped to steer towards a new generation of companies and dancers transformed the fortunes of outfits such as the London Contemporary Dance Theatre (LCDT) and events such as the London International Mime festival, as well as the profiles of individual dancers such as Richard Alston, Siobhan Davies and Shobana Jeyasingh. Before Jane’s arrival on the scene, contemporary dance was a minority pursuit in the UK and was to be found largely in other countries – mainly the US, Germany, the Netherlands and in Scandinavia. What little activity there was in Britain attracted no financial support from the government, and in the 60s the two main centres of modern dance, the London Contemporary Dance School and the LCDT, were essentially funded through philanthropy. Ballet ruled the roost. Continue reading…
Via: Jane Nicholas obituary | Colin Nears
Categories: English News