East Midlands Dance Artist Network (EMDAN)

East Midlands Dance Artist Network is for those working in the dance profession.

It operates across the region with other arts organisations to try and make the best professional development opportunities, advocate for, share and disseminate information for those in the dance sector.

History

EMDAN was set up in 2018 after local independent dancers identified a gap in consistent continued professional development provision across the East Midlands. At the onset, the network consulted the wider dance community with both a questionnaire and an open meeting supported by Dance4. The response was overwhelmingly positive with over 90 independent dance artists expressing an interest in developing a formal network and engaging in regular group based activities. The biggest ‘ask’ from dance artists was access to Contemporary Class (suitable for trained dancers), local to their area, followed up by the need to share work, opportunities and generally network.

Part of the network’s current organisational development project offers an opportunity for a weekly programme of contemporary classes in the East Midlands. EMDAN aim to support the regional independent dance infrastructure and provide freelance dance artists the opportunity to get back on their feet for life in a post lockdown landscape.

From September 2021 onwards EMDAN are re-launching weekly open contemporary class in 3 counties over 4 terms including Dance4 (Nottingham).

We hope to; further develop the dance infrastructure for the region, help dancers get physically stronger, connect to others in a class setting, reconnect with their bodies and offer mental/ emotional support through supportive feedback/ mentoring at the end of each class.

EMDAN steering group members: