Inspirational new Programme Leader for dance degree at Derby

Innovative and passionate contemporary choreographer and performer, Alice Vale, has been appointed as the new Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Dance at the University of Derby.

Alice has already started teaching the 2015-16 student cohorts, having recently won the 2015 Derby and Derbyshire’s Inspirational Woman of the Year Award in the Arts. She won the accolade for her role as Artist in Residence, working with young dancers at Déda.

Her early training was in ballet with the National Association of Teachers of Dancing (NATD), before exploring contemporary dance at university. She achieved a First Class honours degree and went on to work with Elizabeth Chamberlain, Paul Bloom, Cathy Seago and Katie Green, to name a few.

Alice spent the past four years teaching at Lincoln University and has embraced her move to Derby, taking up the position of Derbyshire Dance Artists’ Network Co-ordinator, set up by the city council.

She aims to deliver a strong connection between all Dance Network members, provide unique opportunities and create an efficient and established network exclusively for Derbyshire.

Alice also works with her own company, Adaire to Dance, as a choreographer and performer, concentrating on accessible dance and combining other art forms with movement. She has recently secured funding from Arts Council England for the research and creation of new show, Icarus.

Speaking about her appointment, Alice said: “I’m excited to have started at the University of Derby, heading up a brand new dance degree, which was developed with Déda.

“I hope to bring energy, vibrancy and my professional practice to the forefront of teaching so that students and staff can benefit from the work I do and really appreciate the fantastic facility that Déda offers. “

Déda Head of Dance Development and Learning Clare Limb said: “We look forward to working with Alice to further develop the degree programme and help it to go from strength to strength.”

The BA (Hons) Dance course is the only programme in the East Midlands to be based at a professional dance house – uniting education with the dance sector. It is designed to mould students into dance artists, providing unique performance and networking opportunities over the three-year programme.