Loop Dance Company, Kent’s principal professional dance company, produces original works for public performance. The touring programme aims to benefit the regional dance ecology and foster national appeal for the art form of dance and dance education.   Dance pieces are created both by Loop’s artistic director Nina Atkinson and by external choreographers selected for their artistry and creative processes to create works accessible and marketable to Loop’s audiences. Loop aim to commission choreographers regularly, to keep the repertoire fresh and constantly updated. Choreographers are recruited using Loop’s equal opportunities guidelines, and are sought through consultation with Arts Council England, in addition Loop have received ‘go and see’ funding to see cutting edge choreographers work in Europe. Loop also advertise in, local and trade press and arts marketing websites and listings.

Loop Dance Company is a story of dedication and determination. Built on an ethos of native excellence and creative connectivity, the company has sustained its core belief in the transformative value of dance during a decade of continuing cultural shift.  It’s founding vision to 'loop' together contemporary dance training, performance, participation and appreciation remains special and distinctive. 

The past 13 years has seen Loop Dance Company go from strength to strength, gaining a reputation for ambitious, imaginative and compulsive work created by high profile, cutting edge national choreographers.  The company’s dancers possess individual talents, which vary from choreography and directing dance film to training in fitness and injury prevention and treatments. In 1998 Loop was made resident dance company at the Brook Theatre where it now leads a weekly professional technique class open to the public. In 2006 Loop were excited to reveal its new patron Alan Danielson – Director of the Limon School in New York who regularly visits to work with the company.

Loop Dance Company is an ambitious, innovative, well-governed and managed arts organisation, with tried and tested management structures in place and a proactive and involved board of directors. Loop has led and managed a number of large scale projects including nine site specific dance installations, made two dance films and in 2006 received funding to launch LoopEd a new education resource which will consolidate the company's ability and track record of delivery as a regional model of excellence in dance and learning through the formation of a new partnership between Loop Dance Company, local authorities and key schools.

LoopEd is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, East Kent Local Authority Arts Partnership and the Big Lottery. LoopEd supports and underpins the company’s touring work through one off workshops, residencies and master classes based on the company’s repertoire as well as provide a regular programme of dance activity across the south east region which includes child, youth and adult dance classes, dance and disability, performance groups, continued professional development and community and professional performance opportunities.

Management
The Board, Artistic Director and company have a collective track record of expertise in providing high-quality education activity. The company adopts research into models of good practice, keeps pace with equal opportunity, health & safety, child protection, diversity, disability and access legislation and debate, and reviews its written policies on a continuing basis. Extensive consultation for Loop's business plan (written by Colin Marsh 2003-2006) demonstrated the crucial financial and operational case for separating the company's educational objectives from its artistic programme.

A key plank of the company's future growth and sustainability is now to build a distinct dance and learning resource that will provide specialised participation programmes for specific groups in schools and in the community, training and vocational development for teaching professionals and pathways for aspiring dance practitioners. As with commissioning choreographers work, it is Loop’s policy to employ on an equal and fair basis, Loop have advertised the LoopEd post in, local and trade press and arts marketing websites and listings and will adhere to its equal opportunities guidelines laid out in the company policy.

 “Dance as dynamo for the human spirit”