The People's Choice Award 2024/25 This Award is supported by Performers College. Question Title * 1. Please select the nomination you would most like to see receive The People's Choice Award at the next One Dance UK Awards.All listings, information and quotes are taken from this year's One Dance UK People's Choice Award nominations. Acosta Dance Centre The Acosta Dance Centre (ADC) in Woolwich has had a transformative impact on the dance ecology in the UK. As a beacon of artistic excellence, it offers a fresh perspective by blending classical ballet with contemporary dance under the visionary guidance of Carlos Acosta. The centre has become a nurturing ground for emerging talent, providing top-tier training and unique opportunities for young dancers. Its commitment to inclusivity and community engagement is unparalleled, offering free workshops and outreach programs that make dance accessible to all. By fostering creativity, discipline, and cultural diversity, the Acosta Dance Centre has significantly enriched the UK's dance landscape, making it a true hub of innovation and inspiration. www.acostadancecentre.com Allegiant Dance studiosAllegiant Arts is led by two industry professionals, Kirsty Whiteleg and Keith Millward, who make dance an option for everyone, no matter their background. Using their experience and professional industry knowledge, they teach students from the age of two right through to university graduates. They produce and teach work of the highest standard and inspire the next generation of dancers! https://www.instagram.com/allegiant.arts Ballet4Life - Donna Schoenherr This organisation has changed many people's lives through adult ballet classes and community activities. The instructors are not only skilled dancers but also caring teachers who create a supportive environment. The impact of Balle4Life goes beyond dance; it encourages physical fitness, mental well-being, and a sense of belonging. People come together not just to learn ballet but to connect with each other and support networks that go beyond the studio. Balle4Life also organises events, performances, and workshops where members can show what they have learned and celebrate their progress. These activities enhance the learning experience and build confidence in a caring environment. Donna and her teachers offer not only the highest quality of dance training but do it in a way that promotes joy and emotional and physical wellbeing. https://www.ballet4life.com Dance.Film.Performance. Dance.Film.Performance (DFP) is an award-winning contemporary dance theatre, closely integrated with new media, visual arts, and fashion. This groundbreaking company provides opportunities for artists to collaborate, share their art, network, and develop ideas, fostering collaboration across various fields to help artists convey their unique perspectives. DFP deserves recognition for its bold and visionary approach to reimagining artistic dance events. The company has created an innovative platform that seamlessly blends a variety of art forms with contemporary dance, pushing the boundaries of traditional performances. Launched in February, DFP’s multi-disciplinary showcases have evolved into a series of extraordinary events, each highlighting a range of professional and emerging artists, as well as groundbreaking collaborations across dance, new media, visual, and digital arts. The most recent event, Collaborations 1.0, showcased DFP’s commitment to creating immersive, avant-garde experiences, further cementing its reputation as a trailblazer in the contemporary arts scene.Led by CEO and Artistic Director Angelina Gorgaeva and by Producer Kate Gordeeva.https://www.instagram.com/dance.film.performance/profilecard/?igsh=MTlvanVqejY3MHd6cg== Dean Wakefield Dean, a noted professional dancer, respected choreographer, adept casting director, and an influential lecturer and educator across three notable institutions in the north-west of England, has lent his talent and knowledge to the industry for an impressive span of 15 years. His expertise in the dancing genre is second to none, and his talent knows no borders or boundaries. His unwavering commitment to the dance sector, his untroubled determination in the face of adversity, and his iron will to continue teaching and inspiring without a hitch, make him not only an exceptional teacher but also an outstanding human being. Every day, Dean makes a genuine difference in the lives of his students. He demonstrated that it is our passion and drive that serve as a beacon, guiding us forward. His achievements deserve applause, recognition and appreciation. @Deanchoreography Leap Dance Festival Leap Dance Festival this year brought 781 performers of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate dance across the Liverpool City region. The festival showcased work from professional artists, community groups and young people in theatres, venues and public spaces across Liverpool from 26th April - 10th May welcoming a diverse range of dance styles and shining the spotlight on artists in the region. Dance in all forms was celebrated with people able to take part in workshops and participatory activities as well as watch free events, outdoor performances, online film commissions and ticketed theatre based performances. The festival featured 165 individual performances across 15 event days, with 3 new dance films commissioned. Leap attracted a total audience of 37516 people across live and digital platforms and contributed £93,000 to the local economy. The festival team worked tirelessly to enable this to happen. Since Leap, artists involved have successfully completed Arts Council applications, benefitted from further employment opportunities and developed work to take to Edinburgh Fringe. https://www.leapfestival.co.uk/ Motionhouse and Midlands Arts Centre Birmingham (MAC)Commissioned by MAC and created and produced by Motionhouse, the brilliant family Christmas dance-circus production Starchitects Save Santa! brought dance and storytelling to diverse audiences during the festive season 2023. The show was a perfect way for children and families from across Birmingham and the region to discover and enjoy dance and circus together during the festive period. With a mix of gravity-defying choreography, amazing digital projections, and magical characters, Starchitects Save Santa! is a visual spectacle and a thrilling and fun trip to the theatre. The show reached more than 7,000 people from a wide range of backgrounds, including 43 primary school groups over a 6-week run during the festive period 2023. 35% of the family bookers were first time visitors to MAC, indicating the show attracted new family audiences to the venue.https://www.motionhouse.co.uk/production/starchitects-save-santa/ Rendez-Vous dance Rendez-Vous dance is a contemporary dance company with a unique focus on engaging with lgbtqia+ narratives and voices. In their touring production The Monocle, Rendez-Vous dance tells the story of Le Monocle, a secretly notorious lesbian cabaret which existed in the 1930s in Paris and was closed in mysterious conditions by the Nazis during the Paris occupation. An incredible evening of outstanding dance highlighting the story of the underrepresented lesbian community on stage. A unique and mesmerizing performance which carries a much-needed message of tolerance and love for a broad audience.www.rendez-vousdance.com Sonia Brown / Dance with Sonia Brown Sonia's talent and passion for teaching ladies of a certain age (and making us feel young again!) is truly exceptional. Sonia makes everyone feel welcome and valued no matter what their age, state of health or ability to dance. She is so supportive & encouraging, helping me achieve things I never, ever thought I would be capable of doing. My confidence and joy of movement has returned. Every one of her Silver Swans will have a story to tell of how Sonia and her dance classes have had such a positive impact on both their physical & mental well-being. Sonia effortlessly combines technique whilst ensuring that every one of her Swans feels comfortable, included, part of the community and, above all, making sure we’re all thoroughly enjoying the class and one another’s company. Her wonderful humour and sense of joy are so infectious that she has her Swans smiling all through the class. The atmosphere within the classes is incredible. Since that first lesson, I have looked forward to the class every single week. https://www.withsoniabrown.com/ Sonia Sabri Company The work of Sonia Sabri Company (SSCo) has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people over the last 22 years in the UK and across the world. With an international reputation for presenting Kathak dance and South Asian music in a contemporary context, without diluting its integrity, through an impressive programme of performances and participatory work, which includes:- Mughal Miniatures, an outdoor performance designed to widen access to enjoyable, high-quality South Asian dance by touring free-to-access festivals and events. - Roshni, an antidote for an increasingly hopeless and cynical age, reached large audiences including those with limited access to the arts through Rural Touring. - Weekly community classes in Kathak and Classical Bollywood in Birmingham and expanding to Newcastle and Walsall.- New after-school dance clubs in 4 schools in Birmingham.- Students' work is celebrated at Akaar, an annual showcase providing a fantastic opportunity to perform in a professional setting.Since April 23, Sonia Sabri Company have reached a total of 146,634 audience members for their touring shows, community performances/workshops, CPD and Learning & Participation activities.www.ssco.org.uk Voting closes on 15th November 2024.Voting is subject to One Dance UK T&Cs which can be found on our website Done
