Union Dance was formed, in 1985, by Artistic Director Corrine Bougaard, whose distinguished career, includes work with Rambert Dance Company, training with London School of Contemporary Dance and the legendary Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, in New York.
Union Dance has been the pioneer for culturally diverse dance in the UK. The Company promotes inclusive perceptions of identity and culture through exploring diverse dance cultures.
Productions weave a rich tapestry of musical, visual and movement influences from across the globe into an integrated whole. Collaborators — choreographers, dancers, musicians and designers — are drawn from a number of ethnic groups, all sharing a similar passion for breaking barriers, from direct experience of being minorities in today's multicultural societies.
Union Dance's eclectic mix of Contemporary Dance, Street Dance and Martial Arts, also forms the basis of their educational provision.
The Company is a catalyst for the delivery of creative equality for artists of all backgrounds, a platform for intercultural understanding and strives continuously to extend the boundaries of contemporary dance practice.
Over the years, Union has collaborated with a range of artists including dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah, composer/musician Steven Williamson, Kora player Tunde Jegede, and major choreographers such as renowned Afro-American Bill T Jones, and associate choreographer Doug Elkins, from Europe, Laurie Booth and most recently Bloomberg Place Prize winner Rafael Bonachela.
The objective is to also facilitate creativity by engaging and interacting with technology in the virtual and in reality with the performing moving body. It enables the presentation of challenging projects reflecting the past, existing and potential realities.
Multimedia artists include: Michael Joseph of Union Dance, Thomas Gray of Graycircle , Derek Richards of Hyperjam, video director/producer Peter Emina, and YeastCulture.
Over the past 23 years, The Company has performed in major London venues such as Queen Elizabeth Hall, The South Bank Centre and The Linbury Theatre at The Royal Opera House, and has toured the regions extensively and internationally to venues in Italy, Spain, Germany, Bosnia, Austria and South America. Its inspirational education projects and co-collaborations have been delivered in partnership with major organisations such as, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera, The Serpentine Gallery, The ICA, The Tate Gallery, The South Bank Centre and The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.