Each year Dance City works with a diverse range of over 8,000 people in a variety of settings around the North East. They are an operator of a purpose-built dance centre off Waterloo Square in Newcastle where people can get together to participate in, experience and enjoy dance. In this cultural hub, both aspiring and professional dancers learn, train and hone their craft.
Now the organisation has received a ten year loan of £250,000 from the North East Social Investment Fund, run by Northstar Ventures alongside a grant of £37,500 from the Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
In operation now for almost 40 years, Dance City is foremost in the area for the development of dance. The organisation supports a vibrant dance scene and offers not only exhilarating performances of British dance but a broad and exciting range of international dance of all types and cultures with premieres of original works taking place in Dance City’s own in-house theatre.
The company also runs its own Training Academy, offering training par excellence to young people, starting at the age of ten, right through to postgraduate level, in dance and choreography, providing them with the skills they need to operate in the professional arena.
Cultural and creative sector organisations are important to society for many reasons including their economic footprint and the employment they offer. They also spur innovation across the economy as well as contribute to numerous other channels for positive social impact (well-being, health, education, inclusion, urban regeneration). The positivity of dance can bring in terms of a reduction in stress, feelings of isolation and a sense of connectedness, are just some of the reasons people keep returning to this art form, whether that is when they participate or when they simply watch and enjoy.
Anand Bhatt at Dance City says: ‘We are delighted to receive this investment from Northstar Ventures. This investment is a testament to the trust in our business plan, and unlocks resources to enable the organisation to develop. The culture sector has needed to adapt significantly in the post-pandemic era, and investment such as this enables Dance City to embrace the opportunities ahead.’
Ian Richards, Director, Northstar Ventures said, ‘We are delighted to be able to support this culturally significant enterprise which provides true social impact within the region.’
About Northstar Ventures
Northstar Ventures is a North East venture capital company investing in successful high growth SMEs and social sector organisations across the North East. The North East Social Investment Fund is one of the Funds we manage.
The North East Social Investment Fund invests in social enterprises with individual investments ranging in size from £100k to £1m. The Fund is targeted at organisations which exist primarily to deliver social impact and which reinvest the majority of their surpluses to further their social mission; including charities (limited by guarantee or CIO only), CICs (limited by guarantee or shares) and Registered Societies (previously known as ‘Industrial and Provident Societies’, for community benefit). NESIF is backed by Better Society Capital, the Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and The Northstar Foundation.
Northstar Ventures Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Northstar Ventures Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with company number 05104995. Registered office: 5th Floor, Maybrook House, 27-35 Grainger Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5JE.
Further information can be found at www.northstarventures.co.uk
Notes To Editors
Press contacts – Northstar Ventures Limited
Deborah Nixon Carr
Marketing / Investment Support
M: 07754 800 749
[email protected]
Emma O’Rourke
Finance Director
M: 07715 366 434
[email protected]
About Dance City
Established for almost 40 years Dance City is the North East’s leading development organisation for dance, which exists to lead and support a thriving dance ecology in the region. It presents a regular programme of dance performances from contemporary to ballet, world to breakdance bringing leading North East, British and International dance to Newcastle; and commissions original new works, which premiere in its theatre.
It offers weekly classes in many different styles of dance – open to all ages and for absolute beginners as well as more experienced dancers. From contemporary to hip hop, ballet to ballroom, belly dancing to Pilates, from bumps to 55+ and for adults with learning disabilities, Parkinson’s and dementia – providing an accessible way to stay fit and healthy, learn new skills, have fun and meet new people.
Every year Dance City works with 8000+ people of all ages in a variety of settings in the North East. Formal dance training is offered through the Training Academy for talented young people aged 10 to postgraduate level and professional dance artists and choreographers are also supported.
Dance City receives funding from Arts Council England, as a National Portfolio funded organisation.
About Better Society Capital (BSC)
Better Society Capital is the UK’s leading social impact investor. Our mission is to grow the amount of money invested in tackling social issues and inequalities in the UK. We do this by investing our own capital and helping others invest for impact too.
Since 2012, we have helped build a market that has directed more than £9 billion into social purpose organisations tackling issues from homelessness and mental health to childhood obesity and fuel poverty, a ten-fold increase in ten years.
Further information can be found at www.bettersocietycapital.com
About Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (EFF)
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK both now and in the future. It does this by funding the charitable work of organisations with the ideas and ability to achieve positive change.
The Foundation is one of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK. It makes grants of £30 – £35 million annually towards a wide range of work within the arts, education and learning, the environment and social change. It also operates a £26 million Finance Fund which invests in organisations that aim to deliver both a financial return and a social benefit.
Further information can be found at www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk
About Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is an independent organisation working to inspire social change through research, policy and practice.
For more information visit www.jrf.org.uk
About the Northstar Foundation
The Northstar Foundation is a registered charity (registration number 1158262) with wide charitable goals with a particular focus on supporting entrepreneurship and social enterprises that benefit excluded and deprived communities in the North East of England. Northstar Ventures Limited is committed to supporting our community and The Northstar Foundation has been set up to do this.
For more information contact: [email protected]
About North East Social Investment Company (NESIC)
North East Social Investment Company and its first social investment fund, NESIF, have been set up to provide an innovative, regional, strategic solution to developing the market for social investment in the North East and to reducing disadvantage, deprivation and social need in North East communities. The Board of NESIC will provide leadership regionally and nationally for the development of social investment.
About the Community Foundation Serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
The Community Foundation grows giving and philanthropy, enabling people and businesses to support vital causes across North East England. Every year, it awards millions of pounds in grants to hundreds of local charities and community organisations through funds set up donors. The Newcastle-based charity, the UK’s biggest community foundation, has built an endowment of nearly £90 million as a community asset to support people and places in its area in perpetuity For the North East Social Investment Fund, the Community Foundation took over assets and responsibilities transferred by the former Northern Rock Foundation, which had set up the initiative with Better Society Capital and others.
