The National Library of Wales and People's Collection Wales announce the launch of an important historical archive on the development of contemporary dance performance in Wales - from the inception of the artform in the 1970s through to the birth of National Dance Company Wales.
The launch date of 04 November 2023 celebrates a pivotal moment in the development of contemporary dance in Wales as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of the inaugural performance of Diversions Dance Company (initially known as Jumpers Dance Theatre), at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.
Curated by Karen Pimbley, the archive represents an influential time in the development of Wales as a hub of contemporary cultural relevance. Stories are told from the perspective of the people who made that history - the dancers, choreographers, artists, designers, composers and many other creative artists. It is their story of a great journey, which is now recorded for posterity with the National Library of Wales and online.
The collections are housed online with People’s Collection Wales and original documents and photography archive have been gifted to the National Library of Wales. The online resource will be of interest to anyone working in contemporary dance but is also a great destination point for dance students who are interested in the developing of the artform in Wales.
If any dance artists or companies would like to talk about their work or contribute to any of the collections please get in touch with karen.pimbley@rwcmd.ac.uk