November 1, 2016
David Massingham says goodbye to DanceXchange after 17 years
After 17 years as Artistic Director and CEO of DanceXchange, David Massingham has decided it is now time to move on. He will be leaving next year.
David has played a pivotal role in the growth and development of dance in the West Midlands, connecting people with great dance, nurturing talented young dancers and creating the conditions for artists to flourish.
Under David’s leadership, DanceXchange has championed and supported some of the UK’s best artistic talent – and led national initiatives that have helped to propel some of the country’s biggest dance stars onto the international stage.
His commitment to creating dance that is accessible, entertaining and engaging has been at the heart of DanceXchange’s produced work for well over a decade – encompassing dynamic touring work from in-the-round company Bare Bones, stunning productions for children, exciting performances on the city streets, and spectacular large-scale outdoor events.
Co-founded by David in 2008, International Dance Festival Birmingham, DanceXchange’s most prominent project, has enabled the organisation to be ever more ambitious and creative in its collaborations, productions and public engagement. IDFB is now a signature festival for Birmingham and a highlight of the international dance calendar – and exciting plans are in development for 2018.
David Massingham says:
It has been an incredibly rewarding experience helping to make this a dance city and establishing International Dance Festival Birmingham over the years. DanceXchange is much more than just a festival organisation. Every week dx is providing great dance experiences in our class programme whilst our Centre for Advanced Dance Training prepares some of the most talented young people for careers in contemporary and South Asian Dance. Seeing the growth of talented artists living and working in Birmingham has been a major reward for me and getting behind some amazing outdoor shows that have toured the globe means that the work that dx does is an ongoing success. I can look back at the high quality work we have been responsible for with great pride.
Peter McHugh, DanceXchange Chair says:
Under David’s leadership and direction, DanceXchange has become a key player in the dance sector. It has made Birmingham a dance destination. The relocation of One Dance UK to the city is evidence of this. In addition, David’s vision and determination to make International Dance Festival Birmingham a mainstay of the city’s cultural calendar can’t be overstated. Nor can the dedication and hard work he and his team put in to bring the festival to Birmingham’s theatres, streets and open spaces. He leaves DanceXchange in a strong position to continue its work as a force for dance.
The DanceXchange Board will soon begin recruitment for a dynamic new Director to take forward the work of DanceXchange and International Dance Festival Birmingham 2018.
David remains passionate about producing great dance and making it accessible to as many people as possible. He is now looking forward to exploring ideas and opportunities, taking his work in new directions.