Northern School of Contemporary Dance

(Redirected from New Synagogue (Leeds))

The Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) is a higher education institution in Chapeltown, Leeds, England specialising in contemporary dance. Students can obtain undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in dance, validated by the University of Kent. A programme of adult, youth and children's classes is also available for the local community. Its buildings include the grade II listed former New Synagogue.

Northern School of Contemporary Dance
TypeContemporary dance school
Established1983
PrincipalSharon Watson MBE
Studentsc. 250
Address
Chapeltown Road
, ,
LS7 4BH
,
England

53°48′48″N 1°32′00″W / 53.8132°N 1.5333°W / 53.8132; -1.5333
Affiliations
Websitenscd.ac.uk
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameThe Northern School of Contemporary Dance
TypeListed building
Designated22 November 1991
Reference no.1255639
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name98 Chapeltown Road
TypeListed building
Designated22 November 1991
Reference no.1255632
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameWall gates and piers to north east and west of Northern School of Contemporary Dance
TypeListed building
Designated22 November 1991
Reference no.1255641

History and buildings

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The 2012 unveiling of a plaque commemorating the former New Synagogue

The school is housed in a former Orthodox Jewish synagogue, a red-brick domed building that was completed in 1932. The Jewish congregation worshipped in the building until 1985, when the building was sold.[1]

The school was founded in 1985 by Nadine Senior MBE and in 1987 it moved into its current premises, located on Chapeltown Road. The building was listed as a Grade II building in 1991[2] as were the boundary walls, which date from c. 1835.[3]

Between 1987 and 1997, a series of phased developments were carried out which extended the site to include the adjacent Brandsby Lodge,[4] also a grade II listed building.[5] This £3.2 million redevelopment, which resulted in the creation of four new dance studios and additional teaching facilities, was completed with funding support from the National Lottery through the Arts Council of England and the Foundation for Sports and the Arts.[6]

In 1988, the converted former synagogue re-opened its doors as The Dome Theatre and in 1993 was renamed The Riley Theatre in dedication to the memory of Jeffrey Riley, who was the School's Technical Director between 1985 and his untimely death in Kobe, Japan in 1993.[citation needed]

Senior retired in 2001 and was replaced in 2002 by Gurmit Hukam. In 2012, Janet Smith MBE was appointed principal, having previously been the Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre.[7] In 2020, Smith stepped down from her role, and was replaced with Sharon Watson MBE, formerly the longest-standing Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre in Leeds. In 2022, NSCD left the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama to become an independently registered Higher Education Institution.[citation needed]

Vocational training

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NSCD offers full-time vocational training in contemporary dance at Certificate, Bachelors and Masters levels.[8] The training includes classes influenced by the techniques of Cunningham and Graham, the more modern hybrid, evolved techniques and release based techniques as well as complementary training in ballet, yoga and fitness.[9]

Centre for Advanced Training

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In 2004, with funding support from the Department for Children, Schools & Families’ Music and Dance Scheme, NSCD and Northern Ballet came together to establish Yorkshire Young Dancers (YYD), the first national dance Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) in the UK.[10] There are now a total of 10 dance CATs offering pre-vocational dance training to young people across the country.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Former New Synagogue". Jewish Communities & Records UK. JewishGen and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  2. ^ Historic England. "The Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Grade II) (1255639)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Wall gates and piers to north east and west of Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Grade II) (1255641)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  4. ^ "About us; History". NSCD. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  5. ^ Historic England. "The Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Grade II) (1255632)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  6. ^ "About us; History; Timeline". NSCD. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  7. ^ Brierley, Ceri (15 November 2011). "Janet Smith announced as new principal of NSCD" (Press release). NSCD. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Courses; Our courses". NSCD. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Courses; Our courses; BPA (hons) in Contemporary Dance; Technique and Performance Practice". NSCD. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Community Programmes; Yorkshire Young Dancers (YYD) National Centre for Advanced Training". NSCD. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  11. ^ "National Dance Cats". National Dance Cats. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
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