Siobhan Davies Studios

Siobhan Davies Studios
Name	Siobhan Davies Studios
Established	1988
Location	85 St George's Road, London
Type	Dance studio and arts centre
Director	Siobhan Davies

Siobhan Davies Studios Siobhan Davies Studios is a contemporary dance centre and arts organisation based in London associated with choreographer Siobhan Davies, offering rehearsal space, performance venues, and training programmes. The organisation intersects with networks including the Arts Council England, British Council, Tate Modern, National Theatre, and Royal Opera House, engaging artists, producers, presenters, and funders across the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates within urban cultural infrastructure alongside institutions such as Southbank Centre, Barbican Centre, Wellcome Trust, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Jerwood Arts.

History

Founded in 1988 by Siobhan Davies following her work with companies such as Rambert Dance Company, Ballet Rambert, The Place, London Contemporary Dance School, and collaborations with choreographers like Trisha Brown, Pina Bausch, and Merce Cunningham, the organisation evolved from a rehearsal collective into a registered charity and arts producer. The site on St George’s Road was redeveloped after procurement processes involving stakeholders including English Heritage, Southwark Council, Greater London Authority, Design Council, and architectural practices that have worked on projects for Royal Festival Hall, Somerset House, and National Portrait Gallery. Across decades the centre has intersected with festivals and programmes such as Frieze Art Fair, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London 2012 Festival, Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, and initiatives supported by European Cultural Foundation and Creative Europe.

Architecture and Facilities

The building, refurbished and adapted for dance and creative production, involved design conversations with practices experienced on sites like RIBA, Foster + Partners, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Haworth Tompkins, and consultancies that contributed to projects at British Library and Royal College of Art. Facilities include sprung studios, a flexible performance space, gallery and exhibition areas, digital production suites and administration offices comparable to those at Sadler's Wells, Linbury Theatre, Almeida Theatre, and Plymouth Theatre Royal. Accessibility upgrades reflect guidance from Equality and Human Rights Commission, standards aligned with Building Regulations (UK), and partnerships with specialist fabricators who have worked on commissions for Barbican Centre and Tate Britain.

Programming and Activities

The organisation curates artist residencies, commissions, public performances, and research projects in dialogue with presenting partners such as Sadler's Wells, BBC Arts, Channel 4, Royal Exchange Theatre, and festivals including Latitude Festival and Cheltenham Festival. Regular strands include experimental choreography, interdisciplinary collaborations with artists from Ivan Hewitt-type critics to curators associated with Hayward Gallery, film and new media projects in collaboration with BFI, and digital archives aligned with initiatives from Victoria and Albert Museum and Wellcome Collection. It runs national and international exchange programmes connecting artists to networks like Danspace Project, Movement Research, DANCEUK, and producer development schemes similar to those funded by Arts Council England and Nesta.

Education and Community Engagement

Education work includes workshops, masterclasses, outreach, and participatory projects run with partners such as Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Academy of Dance, London Contemporary Dance School, University of the Arts London, and local schools supported by Southwark Council and Teach First-style programmes. Community initiatives have been delivered in collaboration with health and wellbeing organisations like Mind (charity), NHS England, and social inclusion projects modelled on collaborations between Jerwood Arts and Community Foundations. Youth engagement, volunteer schemes, and continuing professional development mirror models from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, City Lit, and cultural education partnerships funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Notable Productions and Artists

The studios have hosted rehearsals, premieres, and commissions involving choreographers and artists including Siobhan Davies, Wayne McGregor, Akram Khan, Richard Alston, Sylvie Guillem, Crystal Pite, Russell Maliphant, Jirí Kylián, Pina Bausch, Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, Christopher Wheeldon, Matthew Bourne, Shobana Jeyasingh, Boy Blue Entertainment, Joss Arnott, Hofesh Shechter, Les Ballets C de la B, DV8 Physical Theatre, Emma-Rosa Dias and companies that present at venues like Sadler's Wells, Barbican Centre, and Royal Opera House. International collaborations have linked the venue to touring producers and festivals including Lincoln Center Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Sydney Festival, Manchester International Festival, and European partners in Amsterdam Dance Event and Venice Biennale.

Governance and Funding

Governance is overseen by a board of trustees and an executive leadership team working with funders, commissioners, and sponsors such as Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, British Council, Trusts and Foundations, and corporate partners akin to patrons of Royal Opera House and Sadler's Wells. Reporting, accountability and strategic planning reference guidance from regulators and funders including Charity Commission for England and Wales, Companies House, Arts Council England funding frameworks, and evaluation methodologies used by Nesta and Clore Leadership Programme.

Category:Dance venues in London Category:Arts organisations based in London