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Chantry Dance is a Theatrical Contemporary Ballet Company formed in May 2012 and led by co-Artistic Directors and choreographers Paul Chantry and Rae Piper. Chantry Dance's first public performance was on Sadler's Wells main stage in 2012 as part of the "Chinese Calligraphy, Music and Dance Concert". Paul and Rae had been commissioned through Sadler’s Wells by the Chinese Ministry of Culture to choreograph 5 pieces for the concert which were performed alongside Master Calligrapher Li Binquan to music from the New London Orchestra conducted by Ronald Corp OBE (who is now one of the company patrons!). The show was televised to the whole of China, which was a phenomenal way to start the company. Following this incredible debut, Chantry Dance has created over numerous works including seven UK tours, a triple bill in collaboration with Ronald Corp OBE, and various major commissions. |
In 2013 Chantry Dance re-located from London to Grantham, East Midlands, where Rae and Paul had identified a specific need for high-quality, professional contemporary ballet performance and education opportunities in the region. Chantry Dance continues to reside in Grantham and we have become a successful touring company. The company now sits alongside our official school; Chantry School, also based in Grantham.
Mission Statement
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Chantry Dance’s mission is to explore how dance can operate as a liberating art-form, bringing freedom of expression, mind and emotion to performers, participants and audience.
We aim to show that contemporary ballet is exciting, interesting, and can have a meaningful, positive impact on life. It can make you laugh, it can make you cry, it can give you hope and can even change lives. We aim for our work to bear witness to the world, showing all the joys, passions, pains, and sorrows of humankind, and enable us to look at a situation with different eyes. We also aim to bear witness simply to the endlessness of the human imagination. |
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We are dedicated to bringing contemporary ballet performance and participation opportunities to as many people as possible.
Chantry Dance is made up of a professional performance company, an education and talent development department (Chantry School), and an outreach and participation department - all three strands have equal weight in realising our mission.
Chantry Dance is made up of a professional performance company, an education and talent development department (Chantry School), and an outreach and participation department - all three strands have equal weight in realising our mission.
Company Departments
PERFORMANCE
Chantry Dance aims to use dance to tell stories - both old and new - that inspire, engage, and capture the heart and imagination of the audience.
We seek to develop and broaden dance audiences within the theatre by creating accessible work, whilst maintaining high artistic and technical performance standards.
Chantry Dance's debut performance was on Sadler's Wells main stage, within three months of the company's formation. Five pieces were commissioned for the Chinese Calligraphy, Music and Dance Concert. Following this, Chantry Dance has produced many other works. Please click here for CDC's full repertoire.
Chantry Dance invites work from external choreographers to broaden the ways in which we can communicate with our audience, and to afford the dancers at Chantry Dance an opportunity to further their artistic development through dancing a range of choreographic styles.
Chantry Dance employs experienced professionals, preeminent in their chosen fields, which ensures the high quality of the work. However, we also give recent graduates the chance to work within the company in supervised roles, so ensuring that the next generation of artists is also supported.
Chantry Dance aims to use dance to tell stories - both old and new - that inspire, engage, and capture the heart and imagination of the audience.
We seek to develop and broaden dance audiences within the theatre by creating accessible work, whilst maintaining high artistic and technical performance standards.
Chantry Dance's debut performance was on Sadler's Wells main stage, within three months of the company's formation. Five pieces were commissioned for the Chinese Calligraphy, Music and Dance Concert. Following this, Chantry Dance has produced many other works. Please click here for CDC's full repertoire.
Chantry Dance invites work from external choreographers to broaden the ways in which we can communicate with our audience, and to afford the dancers at Chantry Dance an opportunity to further their artistic development through dancing a range of choreographic styles.
Chantry Dance employs experienced professionals, preeminent in their chosen fields, which ensures the high quality of the work. However, we also give recent graduates the chance to work within the company in supervised roles, so ensuring that the next generation of artists is also supported.
OUTREACH & PARTICIPATION
In our Outreach & Participation work, our aim is to bring dance participation opportunities to as many people as possible.
We take performances to those people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to see live dance, which specifically includes the elderly and sick who are resident in care homes, or those in prison. We also create dance for these groups to participate in performing.
We offer a large range of workshops for all standards of particpants, in a variety of dance and theatre styles, from recreational dancers all the way to elite vocational dance students.
EDUCATION & TALENT DEVELOPMENT
In our Education Department we work with participants from all backgrounds. Whatever their experience, circumstances or needs, we aim to help them develop their potential. Chantry Dance is keen to encourage participants to push their boundaries and surprise themselves by discovering new dimensions to their dancing.
Chantry Dance's official school is Chantry School. The school which offers vocational and pre-vocational training for students wishing to pursue a professional career, as well as Associate Programmes, a Young Performers' company, Summer Intensives, Workshops and more.
Chantry Dance is a registered charity number 1153601
