Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) is delighted to announce – as part of its 40th anniversary – a year-long programme of events and celebrations taking place to deliver “Kaleidoscope”. “Kaleidoscope” is a very special and unique heritage project, supported by The National Heritage Lottery Fund, which NSCD are proud to be spearheading. The project will honour and celebrate, the diverse people, stories and heritage of NSCD’s community dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, as well as to commemorate the multitude of communities, creative voices and history that have made NSCD what it is today.
It is an emblematic project for NSCD alumni, staff (past and present), and local communities who have spent time in the building itself and the Chapeltown and Harehills area. Marking NSCD’s 40th Anniversary with “Kaleidoscope” provides an exciting opportunity to wander back through time, remember, and reconnect with NSCD’s early roots, which remain a driving force in the school.
The official launch event of “Kaleidoscope” took place on the 21st January with the Harehills Middle School Alumni Reunion. Students who attended the school in the 1970s and 1980s gathered at Shine in Harehills, formerly Harehills Middle School, to reconnect, remember and celebrate lived memories, creative talent, collective ambition and influential individuals that were the catalyst for NSCD. Nadine Senior MBE, a pioneering and dedicated educator at Harehills Middle School who taught those in attendance at the event, founded NSCD in 1985 – the first conservatoire dance school within the public sector.
Over the course of the coming year, “Kaleidoscope” will work with a number of community groups including: NSCD Alumni & Students, Black Elders Association, Hillcrest Academy, United Hebrew Congregation, BOHEMIA and other local groups to co-creatively develop new heritage works to represent local history and identity, and ensure its preserved and cared for in years to come.
Sharon Watson MBE DL and CEO and Principal of NSCD said:
“The Harehills Middle School Alumni Reunion celebrates an extraordinary era of dance and dancers whose lives were shaped by creative education, led by the pioneering vision of Nadine Senior MBE. For many, that experience changed the course of their futures. Opening this reunion to Harehills alumni is a vital way of honouring our shared heritage, 40 years on, and recognising the powerful legacy of this place. As a Harehills Middle School alumna myself, I feel a deep personal connection to the school. It is a privilege to return, to honour our collective memories, reconnect with our roots, and reflect on the enduring role dance has played in shaping our lives and journeys.”
She continued:
“Today, the NSCD building is used by local communities for dance and a wide range of creative activity, contributing to a powerful shared memory of place and time. Through Kaleidoscope, we are creating space for communities to come together, celebrate our collective history, and embrace the diversity, passion and care that defines our heritage.”
NSCD has also created a 40 Years/ 40 Seconds trailer to introduce “Kaleidoscope” and capture the spirit, energy and commitment of the people who have shaped the school over the past four decades. The film will continue to evolve throughout the project, weaving together found narratives and community contributions to form a living, growing portrait of NSCD’s 40-year history.
Alongside focused community events through the year and the historical trailer, NSCD will also be conceptualising, compiling and producing a digital archive and publication to preserve the early stories and heritage of the school in a meaningful, celebratory and future-facing way. The publicly accessible archive will include forgotten stories, individual thoughts and memories of the diverse people and communities who have been impacted by, and left their mark on, the school.
Sharon Watson MBE DL and CEO and Principal of NSCD said:
“The trailer, digital archive and publication are being developed as tangible expressions of the co-creative work we are undertaking with our community and alumni partners. Shared memory and participation sit at the heart of these works; without them, we would not be able to fully articulate where NSCD is today. I am immensely proud to be leading the school at such a pivotal moment in its history, and I look forward to continuing to celebrate NSCD’s role both within our local communities and in the development of internationally renowned dance artists for years to come.”
One of the most significant moments of the anniversary programme will take place this July, when NSCD hosts a Party in the Park — bringing together local communities to celebrate dance and creativity across cultures and backgrounds. The event will be a vibrant celebration for Chapeltown and Harehills, highlighting why the area’s creative energy and sense of community are so vital to Leeds and Yorkshire.
Sharon Watson MBE DL and CEO and Principal of NSCD said:
“While the party itself is a one-off event, it is designed to deepen our connections with local communities, showcase the breadth of what we do at NSCD, and reflect the central role dance plays in the North. It is also about inspiring future generations of dancers to come and study here in Leeds. We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to host this event and to share in the dance, food and rich flavours of our wonderful city and local area.”
As Leeds City Council prepares to mark the 400th anniversary of its first Royal City Charter, NSCD is proud to contribute to this city-wide moment of celebration through the delivery of “Kaleidoscope”.
How to get involved:
