All the latest news from Dincwear Pro Dancewear.

3 Weeks To 6/7/25

 

Wicked to be added to Amazon Prime Video.

Part one of the Jon M Chu-directed screen adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande set box office records over its opening weekend.

Based on the hit novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Wicked tells the story of two unlikely university friends in the land of Oz, one destined to become Glinda the Good and the other, the Wicked Witch of the West. Wicked writers Winnie Holzman (book) and Stephen Schwartz (score) collaborated on the screenplay with Dana Fox.

Erivo and Grande were both nominated for Academy Awards for their performances as Elphaba and Glinda, while the film was nominated for Best Picture. It picked up two Academy Awards at the 2025 ceremony in the following categories: Best Costume Design (for Paul Tazewell) and Production Design (for Nathan Crowley).

The film will be added to the streaming service worldwide on 25 July 2025.

Looking ahead, Wicked: For Good will be released on 21 November 2025.

Welsh dance sector in ‘urgent’ need of investment.

   

Dance in Wales is in urgent need of “reimagining, rebuilding and reinvestment”, according to a review of the sector.

The results of the long-awaited analysis of the country’s dance provisions have now been published by the Arts Council of Wales, which has also revealed a plan of action to tackle funding inequities and infrastructure gaps.

As well as an additional £350,000 for dance development, the funding body has promised innovations, including a group of dance experts to advise artistic directors about programming at significant venues.

Drawing on conversations with dance artists, companies, educators and audiences, the Wales Dance Review highlights areas of the country that are “critically” behind in terms of access to the art form, as well as particular difficulties for the community dance sector.

Funding is concentrated in South East Wales, according to the report, which warns that opportunities are limited in other regions as a result.

Rural areas such as Pembrokeshire and Powys are facing particularly acute challenges”, it adds.

The review further claims that scarcity and uneven distribution of resources have led to a competitive atmosphere and a “protectionist” working environment.

New Dorian Gray musical in development – with first track released.

Funding for 10 dance centres across England has been confirmed for another year, following campaigning by the likes of Alistair Spalding and Matthew Bourne.

The National Centres for Advanced Training in Dance, present in cities including Birmingham, Newcastle, and Nottingham, will receive core funding to cover student bursaries for another 12 months.

The funding had been championed ahead of the government’s spending review by top choreographers and dance sector leaders.

Figures including Arlene Phillips and Anthony Van Laast had previously called upon the Department for Education to safeguard funding, after a £300,000 grant for outreach work was cut in December 2024.

There were fears the 10 National Dance CATs were at risk following the cut. While the outreach funding has not be reinstated, the core funding means student bursaries can be offered for 2025/26.

The National Dance CATS, as the scheme is also known, celebrated its 20th anniversary last year.

It trains approximately 900 students each year, with 68% of those training in the 2023/24 academic year receiving bursaries.

But despite relief that funding for student bursaries would continue for 2025/26, concerns persist about the future of the dance centres, without a guarantee of its long-term future.

The pre-vocational training is available for dancers aged 10-18 and is offered alongside mainstream education.

Bourne had called the national network of dance centres “the envy of international dance companies around the globe”, and said that without support for its work we faced “a world in which there can be no more Billy – or Betty – Elliots”.

Spalding, artistic director and chief executive of Sadler’s Wells, previously said: “The small investment required to fund this programme annually has a substantial impact in terms of the opportunities it provides to young people and the economic return.

“The future artistic director of Sadler’s Wells is very likely among the current cohort.”

Alumni from the scheme have gone on to perform with high-profile professional dance companies including Akram Khan Dance Company, Northern Ballet, and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures.

General News & Sighting

• Tiffany Theatre College will be closing at the end of the academic year. It only raised £30,000 of the targeted £200,000 needed to continue.
• 530 dancers auditioned this year for the Thursford Christmas Spectacular and 23 were selected.
• Strictly star Johannes Radebe will make his West End debut in “Kinky Boots” at the London Coliseum in 2026.
• Chris Marney of the London City Ballet will become Artist in Residence at the Baryshnikov Arts Centre in New York.
• Sir Matt Bourne has released the cast for the upcoming tour of “The Red Shoes”. It will star Ashley Shaw, Cordelia Braithwaite, Hannah Kremer and Holly Saw.
  The tour will open in Plymouth.
• The full cast has been revealed for the show of “The Little Dancer” that will premiere at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on the 27th of July. It will star Tiler Peck and Imogen Bailey and has choreography by Susan Stroman.
• Casting has been revealed for the UK premiere of “Saving Mozart”. The show will star Aimee Atkinson and Jack Chambers and have choreography by Taylor Walker. It will open at The Other Palace in London this summer.
• The cast has been revealed for “Miss Saigon” which will tour the UK later this year. It will star Julianne Pundan and have choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille and Chrissie Cartwright. Jasmin Colangelo will be the resident choreographer. The show will open in Newcastle on the 25th of October.
• The tour cast of “Fiddler on the Roof” has been announced. The show will have choreography by Julia Cheng and will star Jodie Jacobs. The tour will begin on the 24th of July in Bromley.
• STOP PRESS – Hope Mill Theatre is set to stage a production of “High School Musical”. It will run at the Lowry in Salford from the 21st of August until the 13th of September 2026.

Future Dance Events News

• “Barnum” will be touring the UK from February 2026. The show has choreography by Oti Mabuse and Matt Nicholson and will star Lee Mead.
• “Mean Girls The Musical” will open on tour in Manchester on the 23rd of February 2026. The show has choreography by Casey Nicholaw.
• The cast for the new Steps musical “Here and Now” has been announced. It has choreography by Matt Cole and will tour the UK from August until May 2026.
• A musical version of “10 Things I Hate About You” is officially in the works. It will have choreography by Christopher Wheeldon.
• The National Theatre’s “Ballet Shoes” will return over Christmas. The choreography is by Ellen Kane.
• “Prescilla Queen of the Desert” will embark on an International tour from February 2026, opening at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. The choreography is by Matt Cole.
• “Young Frankenstein” will receive its regional premiere at the Hope Mill theatre in Manchester from the 10th of October until the 30th of November. It will be directed and choreographed by Nick Winston.

Auditions & Vacancies

• Jerry Reeve of Kutes is looking for contemporary dancers with “unique movement”. You can DM Jerry on his Instagram account for more details.
• Josie Pocock is looking for 9 ballerinas for a job on the 4th – 6th of September. You can contact Josie on her Instagram account.

Dance Classes

• Synergy has a Summer Intensive with Gaz Davis and Sam Stanley at the Base dance studios in London on the 8th of August from 1.00 – 5.00 pm. You can book your place on: synergydancechampionships@outlook.com
• Crystal Hantig and Hannah Levitt-Collins have an intermediate / advanced Heels class on the 9th of July at the Manor in London at 12.00.
• Adrian Gas has a Jazz class at the Manor on the 10th of July from 6.30 – 8.30 pm.
• Strictly star’s Jowita and Pasquale have a dance workshop on the 27th of July at the Du Boisson dance studios from 1.00 – 5.00 pm.
• Dollie Henry MBE and her BOP present a 2 day convention called “Jazz Art ReWired” at the Place in London on the 13th and the 20th of September.
• Abbie Brown has a Summer Intensive in Glasgow on the 31st of July. You can book your place on: abbiebrownworkshops@gmail.com
• Lizzie McConachie has a commercial class at Pineapple Studios on Mondays at 7.30 pm.
• Dollie Henry has her weekly BOP Jazz class every Friday from 12.30 – 3.30 pm. Sign up at: info@bop.org.uk
• Josie Lee has an Intensive training day on the 29th of August at the Base Dance Studios from 12.00 – 5.00 pm. You can DM Josie to book.
• The Lukas McFarlane Intensive will take place from the 16th of September until the 25th of September. For more information visit: Lukas McFarlane | Choreographer & Creative
• Kira Malou, star of “Dirty Dancing” in the West End, has an adult ballet class at St Marks School in Southampton on Mondays from 8.15 – 9.15 pm. You can direct message Kira on her Instagram account to book.
• Gaz Davis is running his annual “The Programme” on the 4th, 5th & 6th of August. You can apply via Gaz’s Instagram account.
• Laura Jane Fenney has a Jazz class at Pineapple every Saturday at 6.00 pm.
• Cora Jay has new dance classes at Dance City in Newcastle on Mondays and Thursdays. You can contact Cora on her Instagram account.
• The TGS Summer Intensive will take place this year from the 28th of July until the 1st of August.
• Wallis Pipe has a Heels class at Pineapple on Mondays from 7.00 – 8.00 pm.
• Natalie Twist has a Sexy R n B class at Pineapple every Wednesday from 8.00 – 9.00 pm.
• Jenny Thomas is holding 2 workshops (Charleston and Salsa) at the Berkshire Ballroom on the 9th of July. You can book places via: http://www.berkshireballroom.co.uk
• David Anderson is teaching at the Base Dance Studios on Tuesdays from 5.30 – 6.55 pm.
• Lucy Jane Adcock is doing regular classes at the Manor in London at 11.00 am on Wednesdays and at the Base Studios on Sundays at 11.30 am.
• Amy Ireland has a Beginners Tap class at Pineapple Dance Studios on Fridays from 10.00 am – 12.00pm.
• Christina Andrea has Commercial classes at Pineapple on Tuesdays from 5.00 – 6.00 pm and on Wednesdays from 7.30 – 8.30 pm. Christina also has a class at Base Studios on Thursdays from 2.30 – 4.00 pm.

Film & TV

• We spotted the following dancers performing with Dua Lipa at Wembley: Alexandre Novelli, Ben Hukin, James Mulford, Joy Duckrell, Remi Black, Robyn Rae Laud & Li Li Hodge. The choreography was by Charm La’Donna and Sharon June. The dance captain was Sammi Lee Jayne and the contract was with AMCK.
• We spotted the following dancers performing with Busta Rhymes at Glastonbury: Darcey Simmons, Joel Gooding, Kamira Samuel, Lewis Mitchell, Renette Wesley & Tia Gribben. The contract was with AMCK.
• We spotted Honey Makwana, Rosalina Holmgaard & Summer Villiers performing with Zara Larsson at the Summertime Ball. The contract was with AMCK.
• We spotted Katie Priest dancing on the TV show “Outrageous”.
• We spotted Kiera Brunton teaching the public to Cha Cha for Lipton’s Ice Tea.

Pro Dancer News Published by the Dincwear Pro Dancewear Team.

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