Top dance names gather for historic photograph
Top dance names gather for historic photograph to celebrate honours for services to dance
21 October 2015 - Dance UK / The Stage
Photo: Top Row Left to Right: Edward Watson MBE, Piali Ray OBE, Jeanetta Laurence OBE, Prue Skene CBE, Namron OBE Esq., Jeanette Siddall CBE, Fergus Early OBE, Peter Huggins MBE, Nadine Senior MBE, Linda Jasper MBE, Kiki Gale MBE, Deborah Baddoo MBE, Mark Baldwin OBE Middle Row Left to Right: Marie McCluskey MBE, Nina Yadavan Rajarani MBE, Lea Anderson MBE, John Ashford CBE, Janet Smith MBE, Dr Scilla Dyke MBE, Colin Nears CBE, Cassa Pancho MBE, Deborah Bull CBE, Anthony Van Laast MBE, Veronica Lewis MBE, Dame Monica Mason, Kenneth Tharp OBE, Mira Kaushik OBE, Valerie Bourne CBE Front Row Left to Right: Celeste Dandeker-Arnold OBE, Richard (Dick) Matchett MBE, Sheila Labhart OBE, Bisakha Sarker MBE, Lady Anya Sainsbury, Donald Whyte MacLeary OBE, Dame Beryl Grey, Dame Gillian Lynne, Robert Cohan CBE, Clement Crisp OBE, Janet Lewis MBE, Brenda Last OBE, Nilima Devi MBE, Douglas Squires OBE, Hazel Rayson MBE
Dance leaders unite in honours call for their peers
By Matthew Hemley
More than 40 of Britain’s most renowned dance professionals – from prima ballerinas including Beryl Grey and Gillian Lynne to local dance teachers and dance critics – gathered for a historic photograph featuring those who have been honoured in the Queen’s or New Years’ Honours lists for services to dance.
The photograph taken on Sadler’s Wells’ stage was organised by Dance UK and Dance Umbrella, and aims to raise the profile of dance and encourage more people to nominate outstanding dancers, choreographers, teachers and leaders to receive honours for their outstanding achievements in cultural life and local communities. The photograph is dedicated to David Drew MBE, principal dancer and former member of the Royal Ballet who died on 16 October 2015. David was one of the founders of Dance UK.
Others appearing in the photograph included former Royal Ballet dancers Monica Mason, Deborah Bull and Edward Watson, Mamma Mia! choreographer Anthony Van Laast, and Kenneth Tharp, chief executive of The Place.
Cindy Sugrue, former Scottish Ballet chief executive, who received an OBE for services to dance in 2013, said: “There are few opportunities to recognise and applaud long-term commitment. The honours system is one way of profiling those working in dance among peers across society; it celebrates the contribution to our sector alongside outstanding people in their respective fields.”
Photos: Elliott Franks
