THIS IS DANCE: A New Era for Dance in Birmingham Begins

Major Partnership Launches Birmingham’s Annual International Dance Season

A new partnership of cultural organisations today announces THIS IS DANCE, an international season of dance in Birmingham. This landmark new collaboration will bring exceptional dance from both across the globe and the local community, to stages across Birmingham, developing the city’s position as a global centre for dance.

Launching in Autumn 2025, THIS IS DANCE will be delivered annually by a growing collective of presenting partners, co-producers, and commissioning organisations, including FABRIC, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Rep, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Fierce Festival and Sampad Arts with further partners to be confirmed.

The ambitious new initiative celebrates and builds on the legacy of Birmingham International Dance Festival which ended in 2022, and will feature performances by local, national, and international artists across a range of venues and contexts. From major stages to community celebrations, the season is committed to inspiring curiosity, challenging expectations of what dance can be, and bringing joy to audiences in Birmingham.

At the heart of this new season is a shared commitment to positioning Birmingham as a globally significant city for dance — one where artistic excellence, equity, and community engagement are the foundation. The initiative recognises the importance of collaboration working together to build audiences, support artists, and deepen Birmingham’s dance scene.

Through FABRIC, the partnership also connects with festivals and projects beyond Birmingham — including nottdance in Nottingham, Midlands touring activity, and national initiatives such as Dance Consortium, Stomping Ground and Making Waves — ensuring that Birmingham’s audiences are part of a wider conversation about dance across the UK and beyond.

The inaugural season of THIS IS DANCE will be announced in full in September 2025 and will include local premieres, international companies, artist commissions, and work for young people. Artists will include ACE dance and music, Motionhouse, Sung Im Her, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Jasmin Vardimon Company, La Chachi, Jaivant Patel Company, and Naishi Wang & Jean Abreu.