As 2022 draws to a close we take a look back at some of our highlights and achievements over the past 12 months...
Back in February we had the pleasure of hosting the BBC and ONE Dance UK for the second edition of Dance Passion, bringing the best of UK dance to audiences at home. We were one of just 4 national 'hubs' and some of our talented students were broadcast taking part in an R&D workshop with NSCD alumnus Akram Khan, ahead of his company's world premiere of Jungle Book: Reimagined. Watch here or Read more
In 2022 we officially became our own independently registered Higher Education Provider with the Office for Students. Our independent status came into effect on 1 August 2022 and recognises the quality of our courses, student support and graduate outcomes. Read more
This year we also launched a brand new company of dancers, Watson Dance Project. Composed of students on postgraduate placement, the company have been gearing up to perform in unconventional spaces and projects as part of Leeds 2023, a landmark year of culture for the city. Find out more
In November this year we received news that we were successful in our bid to join Arts Council England's National Portfolio for the second time. This next funding period runs until 2026 and will enable us to continue to build on the important work achieved over the last 4 years and to deliver on Arts Council's ambitious new strategy Let's Create. Read more
A total of 990 organisations across the country were awarded NPO status this year in a highly competitive process, including four organisations/companies led by NSCD alumni who joined the Portfolio for the very first time - Gary Clarke Company, FRONTLINEdance, Humanhood and Jaivant Patel Dance. Read more
We were over the moon to receive 91% overall student satisfaction in this year's NSS Survey – a 7% increase on our 2021 score and significantly above the national average of 76% Read more
In a challenging year for live theatre we welcomed over 6000 ticketholders to events at our venue Riley Theatre, including performances from students and professional guest companies. Our postgraduate company VERVE toured their 2022 Triple Bill to venues across the country and internationally, reaching an additional 3,500 people.
2022 was a bumper year for new commissions - across educational work, professional development and research.
Over the last 12 months we invited a total of 16 professional artists to create and platform brand new works with our students across undergraduate and postgraduate courses. An additional 8 research commissions were awarded to 10 artists at all stages of their careers to work with our postgraduate students. We also platformed 3 brand new works created in residence at NSCD by this year's Northern Connections artists - Chandenie Gobardhan, Jake Evans and John-William Watson.
This year we launched the first edition of COLOUR Festival. Programmed with our local Chapeltown community in mind and embracing black history, arts and culture, the festival included two sold out shows and received rave reviews from those in attendance.
Joining our HE teaching staff team this year were Azzurra Ardovini, Hannah Bateman, Rachel Fullegar, Gianluca Vincentini, Keira Martin and Ben Wright.
Lorna Chadwick, Zara Lee, Philippa Ranger, Hannah Strachan, Elliot Smith, Elizabeth Richardson, Ibtisam Ibraham, Haroon Mohammed, Levi Gateway, James Squire, Taleasha Johnson-Brown and Eleanor Grice joined the wider support staff team, across departments including Learning & Participation, Library, IT, Finance & Facilities, and Events and Marketing. Read more
Thanks 2022, you've been ace! Here's to an equally inspiring and rewarding 2023.
