Artistic collaborations and partnerships
Artistic collaborations and partnerships not only greatly enrich our programmes, but provide our dancers opportunities to develop their artistic voices by working with a range of established dance artists, companies and organisations.
Our collaborators and partners are introduced to Magpie Dance’s unique way of working and gain the opportunity to develop their own inclusive practice, ensuring dance, arts and culture is for everyone.
The exchange between a professional dance company or artist is invaluable. Our participants revel in these experiences. So do the professionals we work with.
“It was an amazing opportunity to work with your dancers and observe your practice with them. The WWI piece was so heart wrenching but utterly brilliant. Thank you for welcoming us into your wonderful world and I look forward to maintaining our cultural exchange” David Pickering MBE, Learning and Participation Creative Associate (Ballet), Royal Opera House.
We are proud of our on-going artistic partnerships with companies both here and overseas including: the Royal Opera House (UK), Boy Blue (UK), Martha Graham Dance Company (USA), ADA – Arts with the Disabled Association (Hong Kong) and Propeller Dance Company (Canada).
We’ve welcomed many wonderful visiting artists to sessions including Federico Bonelli (Northern Ballet), Hikaru Kobayashi (Royal Ballet), Virginie Mécène (Martha Graham Dance Company), David Pickering MBE (Royal Opera House) and Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy MBE (Boy Blue) to name just a few!
Our current artistic theme for 2024/5, Our People, explores history of learning disabilities.
Coming soon…
Our next theme is Our Future (2025/6) how does technology impact us?
Our annual artistic themes are suggested by our dancers and developed by our Artistic Director, Alison Ferrao. Content of sessions, performances and additional activities have been enhanced through collaborations with a wide range of organisations.
Hidden Impact – WW1 (2018/19): Access All Areas, Breathe Arts Health Research, Bromley Historic Collections, English National Ballet, Imperial War Museum, and Royal Opera House.
eMotion – dance and technology (2019/20): Apple, KDE Dance, Luca Silvestrini’s Protein and The Place.
Virtually Magpie (2020/21): Boy Blue, Martha Graham Dance Company, Propeller Dance, Royal Ballet and Sage Dance Company.
Global Moves and Grooves – How and why people dance around the world (2021/22) – Hip Hop Hoop Dance, Horniman Museum, Iberian Folk Dance Group, Lila Bhawa, Studio Kowloon, Toahaka and Zoonation + more
Borrowed Land – Dance and nature from around the world (2022/23) – Active Chil Arts Akademi, Akram Khan Company, Baila Peru, Folk Dance Remixed, Muraldo DC, Rentadinosaur, Royal Opera House, Siti Nurhasanah, Studio Kowloon, We Are Lewisham +more
Our Land – Exploreing climate change and what we can do to help (2023/24) – Active Chil Arts Akademi, Akram Khan Company, Muraldo DC, Rentadinosaur, Royal Opera House, +more
Whether it’s our artistic themes, our methodology or you just would like to work with us, we would love to hear from you. Please email Alison Ferrao, Magpie Dance’s Artistic Director.
We create and provide high quality artistic experiences.
Performances are integral to the work we do. See us in action.
The Dancer Development Course will be performing ‘The Debate’ at The Big Syn International Film Festival 2024.
