It all started in 1996

Dance South West, the original organisation, was first incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in July 1996 and was registered as a charity in October 2005, when it was also awarded National Dance Agency status. It grew out of a consortium which included Dance in Devon, Dorset Dance, Gloucestershire Dance, Take Art! Dance Somerset and The Works: Dance and Theatre Cornwall. Until September 2010, our principal role was as the key strategic dance agency for the South West of England, networking with a larger group of dance development initiatives in the region, enabling a joined-up approach to delivery through working with venues, artists and other partners.

A new home by the sea in 2010

In September 2010, thanks to capital investment of £3.29m by Bournemouth Borough Council and the vision of founding director Kate Castle, Dance South West was able to launch Pavilion Dance – a new centre of excellence for dance with two dance studios and a well-equipped small-scale theatre. In 2011 we became an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and in 2013 we changed our legal name to Pavilion Dance South West.

We continued to innovate and drive change, becoming a lead partner in the Jerwood Choreographic Research Project in 2011, launching our successful Parkinsons Dance Science Method classes in 2012 (later rolled out to centres in Dorset and Hampshire), and partnering with Arts University Bournemouth to develop a BA(Hons) Dance Degree based in our venue from 2015.

Esmee Fairbairn were among the funders of our ambitious 2019-2021 national project Surf the Wave, which grew out of our experience of hosting the 2018 British Dance Edition national showcase. Surf the Wave incorporated a UK Dance Showcase but also aimed to bring about real change for the industry in providing a platform for artists, programmers and performers to speak to each other openly and honestly.

We are proud to continue our work with artists, partners and collaborators to bring the joy and benefits of dance to our communities.