‘One of the highlights of the year’: NSCD to host free family arts festival to mark 40 years in the community
The Northern School of Contemporary Dance is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a party for all the community 🥳
The Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) is inviting local communities, artists, and students past and present, to join their free community party next weekend which will feature live dance and music, creative workshops, food and drink, and more.
Party in the Park will be a family-friendly arts festival taking place in Norma Hutchinson Park, Chapeltown on July 11 from 11:30am-5pm.
The celebration plans to bring together local communities to celebrate dance and creativity across cultures and generations to celebrate 40 years of serving the people of Chapeltown and Harehills, and beyond.
The event, which will highlight the NSCD’s rich heritage and its ongoing commitment to making dance accessible, inclusive and relevant to local people.
Sharon Watson MBE DL, CEO & Principal of NSCD said: “For forty years, NSCD has been an important cultural institution in Leeds, educating generations of dancers and artists while remaining deeply connected to the communities around it.
“Party in the Park is a chance to celebrate not only the school’s anniversary, but the shared story of creativity, ambition and resilience that has grown from Harehills and Chapeltown over four decades.
“We look forward to recognising the many residents, students, alumni, families, artists and partners who have helped shape NSCD’s journey and impact, and will undoubtedly have a role to play in our future.”
The Party in the Park is part of ‘Kaleidoscope’, the NSCD’s year-long anniversary project to recognise the communities who have shaped the dance school’s journey.
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, community groups from across Chapeltown, Harehills and Leeds – including NSCD alumni and students, Black Elders Association, Hillcrest Academy, United Hebrew Congregation and BOHEMIA – have worked alongside local artists to explore local history, personal memories and shared experiences.
Their stories will be honoured and commemorated at Party in the Park through live dance and music performances, participatory activities, creative workshops, heritage installations, family activities, and food and drink.
As well as this, memories from the party will be collected and placed in a time capsule which will be closed until 2126.
Councillor Jane Dowson commented: “Northern School of Contemporary Dance is an internationally renowned Contemporary Dance Conservatoire who remains rooted in its community. Now celebrating 40 years of excellence in Dance, giving students the skills and confidence needed to forge wonderful creative careers.
“Bringing together memories from the past, celebrating the vibrant community of today and looking forward to the future. Using dance, theatre, art, food, carnival, craft and so much more, crafted by NSCD and generously funded by the Heritage Lottery this will be one of the highlights of the year and something we will all be talking about for many years to come.”