A dance company is aiming to shatter misconceptions about contemporary dance and engage a new audience.

DanceEast, an Ipswich-based organisation, plans to focus its efforts on making performances more accessible, inclusive, and affordable to all.

The charity has initiated a project titled ‘Future Dance Audiences’ in an effort to widen its appeal and encourage newcomers to visit the Jerwood DanceHouse on Ipswich Waterfront.

Speaking on the initiative, Bryony Hope, head of communications and development at DanceEast, said: "It is important to us that everyone feels contemporary dance is for them, and knows they are welcome at this publicly funded venue.

Ipswich Star: As part of the project, the organisation has appointed Tim Wood as an Audience Development specialist As part of the project, the organisation has appointed Tim Wood as an Audience Development specialist (Image: Tim Wood)

"We are delighted to have secured funding from Foyle Foundation to help bring dance to a wider audience.

"We are proud of the work we have already done to grow a completely new audience for dance in Ipswich over the last decade and this project is intended as the next step."

DanceEast has appointed Tim Wood as an audience development specialist for the project.

Mr Wood will coordinate with three new Audience Ambassadors to reel in dance enthusiasts.

Discussing his new role, he said: “From Strictly to Tik Tok to Kitchen Disco — people everywhere love dance and dancing.

"I’m really excited to work on this project to understand more about how we can learn to build new and lasting connections between everyone excited by dance, and the exciting dance that happens at DanceEast.”

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The search is currently on for these Audience Ambassadors who will connect, network, and introduce under-represented groups to DanceEast.

The focused groups include families, 18 to 35-year-olds, and individuals belonging to the Global Majority which includes people who define as being of African, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Latin American, Black/African/Caribbean backgrounds, and other mixed ethnic backgrounds.

For more information regarding the Audience Ambassador role and the Future Dance Audiences project, one may visit DanceEast's official website.