Anand Bhatt, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Dance City, the North East’s leading development organisation for dance. Bhatt is slated to take up the position on July 1st 2020.
He was most recently the Executive Producer at Aakash Odedra Company in Leicester, which he jointly founded in 2011 with Aakash Odedra. He will lead Dance City, as it emerges from the challenges of coronavirus, into the next stage of its development, aiming to build a sustainable business model that successfully serves all the leading dance organisation’s audiences, communities and stakeholders. Commenting on his appointment, Bhatt said,
“I know that over the coming months Dance City will have to scrutinise all areas of our business, make savings and efficiencies, change the way we operate and think carefully about how we deliver our mission, vision and charitable purpose.
“The challenges we face with this pandemic are unprecedented but I’m looking forward to working with the talented team at Dance City so that we can continue to make a difference to the lives of people in the North East and contribute to the regional economy.”
With venues in both Newcastle and Sunderland Dance City also works in communities throughout the region, ensuring that people in the North East have the same or even better cultural opportunities as the rest of the country.
During the pandemic, 75 staff have been furloughed after the buildings had to close on March 17th 2020. However online dance training has been available to support current students, virtual auditions have taken place to assist next year’s intake of students, and other online activities and classes will be offered over the summer as Dance City adapts to the current social distancing rules. Dance City is part of Newcastle Gateshead Cultural Venues (NGCV), a consortium of non-profit distributing cultural organisations, operating visual arts, performing arts, music, dance, film, writing and literature, heritage, archives and museums and science communication venues in Tyne and Wear.
Dance City is the North East’s leading development organisation for dance and the biggest dance employer in the north of England. Established for over 30 years Dance City exists to lead and support a thriving dance ecology in the region.
