Working with Dance Artists - Dance in Partnership - Biographies

Margaret Dunn OBE brought the work of Rudolph Laban to Yorkshire in the 1940’s when she was a member of Sir Alec Clegg’s Schools Advisory Services and, soon after, the first Vice-Principal of Bretton Hall College. She was intensely involved in dance in the north for over 40 years working with Cheshire Dance Workshop, Harehills Dance Umbrella, English Dance Theatre, Spiral Dance Company, Yorkshire Dance Centre, Yorkshire Movement and Dance, and Friends of Dance North. Nationally her work supported the Arts Council of Great Britain, The Laban Art of Movement Guild, The Council for Dance Education and Training, The Gulbenkian Foundation, Janet Smith and Dancers, Moving Visions and London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Both regionally and nationally her all-prevailing influence was profound. The Dance in Partnership Trust was founded in response to Margaret’s personal wish and vision.

Robin Howard CBE dedicated himself to developing contemporary dance in Britain, inspired by a visit to London in 1954 of the Martha Graham Company, he formed the London Contemporary Dance Theatre Trust in 1966 and for the next 23 years ploughed his time, energy and resources into making it a successful school, company and theatre. His professional partnership with Margaret Dunn brought dance theatre and education together. Their mutual respect and their admiration for each other’s work was apparent and was fundamental to the foundations of the Dance In Partnership Trust.