FEDORA

Presentation

At this critical moment for sustainability and for our industry it is vital we respond to the environmental crisis by making radical changes to working practices, whilst continuing to deliver the highest-quality artistic work for audiences at venues and on tour.

The Sustainability Dance Network responds to the need to create a shared space to find solutions to environmental challenges, sharing these outcomes so we can collectively benefit as a sector. The majority of dance companies do not have staff resources to dedicate to researching sustainability and the learning required to take tangible, meaningful action on tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. Rambert, having recently appointed our first Environmental Sustainability Manager, now has the resource and expertise to lead on, together with our partners, the creation of a digital ‘home’.

Our aim is for the Sustainability Dance Network to grow to create long-term transformational change across the dance sector. Starting with Rambert and our UK partner Scottish Ballet we will benefit large and mid-scale dance companies in the UK. Our partnership with Ultima Vez and Tero Saarinen Company will enable us to expand the network to benefit dance companies across Europe. In the future we will aim to expand this reach further; to small scale companies, HE, dance schools and independent dance practitioners.

The network will be a crucial means to communicate sustainability across the industry. We will ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all, including actively reaching out to dance companies who do not have dedicated in-house resources. We will share best practice sustainability findings, create new industry standard digital resources, education and training tools, such as hosting webinars and question and answer sessions for dance sector colleagues and create a space to develop sustainable projects.

Project Team

Rambert implementation team: Lucy Bird, Environmental Sustainability Manager Lucy will lead on developing the network with our partners from the R&D stage to creating a long-term sustainability programme, bringing her extensive experience of creating sustainable practices and training for arts organisations and charities. Helen Searl- Deputy Chief Executive Helen will will disseminate the learning from the network to contacts in the theatre sector (Home, Manchester, Theatre Royal, Norwich and Edinburgh Festival Theatre Trust) as well as through reporting structures to Arts Council England. Helen Shute Chief Executive and Executive Producer of Rambert Helen's previous role as co-creator of Hofesh Shechter Company means she has major national and international connections with high profile venues in the UK and in many international dance capitals. She is a board member of the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) and European dance network Aerowaves and a previous board member of New Movement Collective. She will use these connections to disseminate learning. Working with: Steven Roth- Executive Director, Scottish Ballet, Iiris Autio- Managing Director, Tero Saarinen Company, Kristien De Coster- General Manger, Ultima Vez. Each company will also involve Artistic, Technical and Production directors.