Grant for Northern School of Contemporary Dance

The Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds has been awarded a £250,000 National Lottery

Heritage Fund grant to "discover, capture and share" 40 years of local dance history and

culture.

The grant is part of the NSCD's 40th anniversary celebrations and will support a year-long programme of community events across Leeds - including Harehills and Chapeltown, where the school was first established.

The project will bring together residents of Chapeltown and surrounding Leeds communities, including local dancers, faith groups, schools, and NSCD students and staff, to share in the school’s creative journey. Events and activities will reflect the many communities who have contributed to the life of the building.

In the long term, this initiative will build on community connections, while expanding opportunities for aspiring dance students from across the UK. The celebrations will also pay tribute to the legacy of Nadine Senior MBE, the visionary educator who began introducing dance to pupils at Harehills Middle School over four decades ago, a movement that ultimately became the NSCD - one of the UK’s leading

conservatoires for contemporary dance.

Current principal at chief executive, Sharon Watson MBE, said: “We are thrilled to have received this financial support. This project is an incredible opportunity to honour the people, places, and creative movements that shaped the school’s history, while building new connections.”

She continued: “This feels like a pivotal moment to preserve our stories, reflect on the people and communities who shaped our 40-year journey, and look forward as we continue to inspire future generations.”

More info here