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Â鶹ƵµÀ Leicester (DMU) and strategic dance organisation , are collaborating on creating a distinctive research centre for dance in the Midlands.

DMU's Pete Shenton and Sally Doughty performing This is...

This will be the first research centre for dance in the UK that is jointly led by a higher education institution and an industry partner. It will be co-directed by Sally Doughty, Associate Professor of Dance and Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Dance (CIRID) at DMU, and Paul Russ, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of FABRIC.

The ambitious new venture will seek to grow a more visible, active and productive research centre for dance. It will develop an environment that places research in a more collaborative space to enhance the national and global reach and impact of the centre’s activity.

DMU Dance researcher and lecturer, Dr Funmi Adewole

CIRID will now begin building its programme, including the commissioning of research projects, supporting a range of doctoral projects, and developing public-facing programmes that platform practice research, lectures, discussions and more.

Paul Russ said: “Time has come to move beyond holding separate environments for artistic research and scholarly research. In fact, we believe artists, researchers and the field of dance and choreography require this change, a more porous and collaborative space for research and knowledge exchange.”

Sally Doughty said: “This new development marks the start of another exciting phase in our longstanding and productive relationship with Dance4 and now FABRIC. Activities and opportunities that have already emerged from DMU and FABRIC individually and collaboratively provide a solid foundation from which to grow our future potential. We are really excited to get that underway!” 

Photo credit: Becky Bailey, FABRIC

About FABRIC
FABRIC was formed in 2022 following the merger of two Midlands-based organisations - Dance4 and DanceXchange - bringing together more than 60 years of experience in the sector. FABRIC has a strategic role in developing the artform of dance. Working with many partners locally, nationally and internationally, it supports dance artists and choreographers to develop their practice. It also runs a range of education and training programmes, community, and health inclusion projects.

About CIRID
CIRID was launched in 2016, with the ambition to build on and continue to develop the quantity and quality of dance research activities and outputs. Dance research at DMU characteristically offers a range of perspectives and approaches to the exploration of dance. It harnesses diversity, emphasises collaboration and is ideally placed to connect research from different areas and disciplines.