Fabric

09/10/2026

We’re looking for a freelance Project Manager to support the planning and delivery of Talking, Thinking, Dancing (TTD) 2027.

TTD creates space for dance industry professionals to come together, share ideas, experience extraordinary choreography, build relationships and imagine what comes next for dance.

Working collaboratively with the Fabric team, you’ll coordinate the programme’s delivery, including scheduling, contracting, technical liaison and duty management. You’ll also be a key point of contact and care for the artists, companies and contributors involved.

We're looking for someone with strong project management, coordination and communication skills, who can bring people together and help deliver a programme that supports connection and exchange across the dance sector.

Key details:
- Fee: £4,620, based on a day rate of £150
- Location: Birmingham, B5 4TB (one day a week)
- Application deadline: Monday 2 November, 10am

Find the full role details and how to apply: https://buff.ly/5SlFVRN

09/10/2026

📣 As we open our 2026 festival, we’re delighted to announce our Guest Curator and Curatorial Fellow for 2027

🌟 2027 Guest Curator ➡️ Amy Louise Lawrence
🌟 2027 Curatorial Fellow ➡️ Ray Young

Sightlines: Diversifying Curatorial Stewardship is Dance Umbrella’s major multi‑year initiative designed to transform curatorial leadership within the UK and international dance ecology.

🔗 Read all about Sightlines and what Amy & Ray will be getting up to over the coming year: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/2026/10/08/dance-umbrella-announces-guest-curator-curatorial-fellow-for-2027/

Sightlines partners: Aerowaves, DanceEast, Dance Umbrella, Fabric, Lowry

Sightlines funders: Arts Council England, British Council, Fonds Podiumkunsten / Performing Arts Fund NL, Backstage Trust

From left to right

Top row: Rachel Evans, Sightlines Project Manager; Freddie Opoku-Addaie, Artistic Director & Co-CEO of Dance Umbrella; Antonia Beck, Senior Producer: Artist Development at The Lowry; Anthony Missen, Chief Executive & Creative Director at DanceEast; Paul Russ, Artistic Director & Chief Executive at Fabric; Tania Wilmer, Executive Director & Co-CEO at Dance Umbrella.

Seated: Ray Young, Curatorial Fellow; Amy Louise Lawrence, Guest Curator; Betsy Gregory, Aerowaves board member and Startup Forum Director.

📸 Roswitha Chesher

09/10/2026

🍁Join Dance Leaders Group (DLG) for the Autumn Summit🍁

There will be some great speakers, with lots of opportunity to network, share and connect.

Dance Leaders Group is you! So please come along, bring colleagues, invite anyone you know who should be in the room - new faces are always welcome!

🟠Dance Leaders Group Autumn Summit
🗓️ Wednesday 11 November
⌚️ 10am-4.15pm
📍 Midlands Arts Centre
🎟️ Free
https://www.danceleadersgroup.co.uk/summits

A new consortium of Dancefest, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Fabric and People Dancing have recently come together to convene and support DLG.

09/10/2026

Step into the foundations of Breakin’ with Jamaal O’Driscoll on Sunday 18 October, for a one-day intensive exploring the essential skills, techniques and culture behind one of Hip Hop’s most dynamic dance forms.

From top rock and footwork to freezes, transitions, rhythm and musicality, you’ll build your confidence, coordination and movement quality in a supportive space.

No previous experience needed. Just bring your trainers, comfortable clothes, water and a willingness to learn.

Everyone taking part will also receive a Breakin’ Fundamentals Workbook to support your practice beyond the day.

📍 Fabric, Birmingham Hippodrome
⏰ 11am–4pm
🎟️ £15 / £5*
👟 Ages 16+

*Access for all tickets, limited availablility
Book your place: https://bit.ly/4ehTdgX

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

Applications are now open for the Applause Youth Dance Festival (AYDF) 2027 Marketplace!

Join us at The Albany Theatre, Coventry, on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February 2027, and connect with young dancers, teachers, parents and youth dance leaders from across the East and West Midlands.

We're inviting dance artists, groups, organisations, companies, services and industry suppliers to showcase their work, share opportunities and connect with the next generation of dancers.

Whether you offer training, dance classes, wellbeing support, resources or career pathways, the Marketplace is an opportunity to raise awareness of your work and become part of the AYDF community.

Interested in taking part? Read our Application Guidance Pack for full details on eligibility and how to apply.

The deadline to apply is Monday 7 December, 9pm
🔗 https://bit.ly/4hXtZ9X

28/09/2026

Open Class for the next 2 weeks, 28th September and 5th October, will be led by a brand new artist on this term's scehdule Claire Lambert 🙌

Join us 6 - 7.30pm Fabric Nottingham the link to book is below where you can also read more about Claire and her class 🤗⬇️

https://fabric.dance/event/east-midlands-dance-network-open-class/

Claire graduated from London Contemporary Dance School with Postgraduate Diploma in Performance, having completed her BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre at Trinity Laban.

Claire has devised and toured new works nationally and internationally; Olivier award-winning Angels in America at the National Theatre, Beyond Words, CoDa Dance, Lila Dance, Laura Booth, Tavaziva Dance, Highly Sprung, Four Hands, Filskit Theatre, Beautiful Thing for GDIF18, Casson & Friends, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Aerial work; CastAway (gyroscopic flying rig), aerial rugby player (Robby Graham), R&D for concept film vertical dancing on cliffs (Kate Lawrence) and vertical dance piece with Upswing Aerial for Coventry City of Culture 2021.

Claire has received ACE funding for a DYCP & NLPG grants & teaches for Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Performer’s College, Brum Pro Class, Coventry Pro Initiative, Birmingham CAT Scheme, BRB, Hippodrome, ACE Dance & Music and Dance Co-operative Birmingham.

Claire will lead an open level full-bodied, expansive class with a mixture of detailed content and moments to explore your own physicality. Expect a blend of taught sequences, improvisation and joyful playlist! Claire's class encourages personal expression whilst building connection, strength and articulation in the moving body.

📷 Tim Dunk

28/09/2026

We’re hiring! Join our Producing team as Assistant Producer.
Salary: £27,935 pro rata | 7 hours per week | 12-month fixed-term contract

You’ll help deliver performances, artist development projects and dance events, with a particular focus on our schools’ programme, youth dance platform and classes. Working closely with artists, partners and participants, you’ll help create inclusive opportunities and support the development of dance across the sector.

Whether you’re a freelancer looking to be part of an organisation or a professional seeking a flexible role alongside other commitments, this one-day-a-week opportunity could be for you.

Join our optional online information session on 12 October to find out more. Register via our website.

Apply by Wednesday 21 October, 10am

Find out more and apply here: https://bit.ly/4z2vTff

17/09/2026

🎉 Derby Festé is back for 2026!

On Saturday 26 September, Derby city centre will transform into a vibrant playground of creativity for a day of spectacular, family-friendly outdoor arts.

From high-energy dance to playful performance, the streets will become the stage for an exciting programme of events — and this year, Festé continues into the evening so you can experience the magic after dark. ✨

Fabric is proud to be co-presenting Dance in the Midlands with , bringing an incredible line-up of dance performances to the heart of the city.

Expect movement, music, colour, creativity and plenty of surprises along the way.

Best of all? It's completely free.

📍 Derby City Centre
📅 Saturday 26 September
⏰ From 11.30am

Find out more about the festival and the performances we're co-presenting here: https://bit.ly/4yqyHm6

Credit: Sound Board by Zest Theatre. Image by Beki Doig

14/09/2026

Applications are now open! 🎉
We're excited to be taking Applause Youth Dance Festival (AYDF) to Coventry for 2027!

AYDF is the Midlands regional platform for U.Dance, bringing together young dancers from across the region to perform, connect and celebrate their love of dance.

Whether you're part of a school group, youth company, private dance school or applying as a soloist, AYDF is open to young dancers aged 11–19, or up to 25 for dancers with disabilities.

All dance styles are welcome.

📍 The Albany Theatre, Coventry
📅 Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 February 2027

🌟 Selected groups and dancers will perform as part of AYDF, with the opportunity to be considered for the U.Dance National Festival.

Ready to take the stage?

Download the guidance pack and submit your application on our website: https://buff.ly/GnkisoM