This autumn, Exeter based company Richard Chappell Dance continues its commitment to delivering high quality creative dance activity to people across the South West of England with workshop residencies across Exeter and Bournemouth as well as performances of Infinite Ways Home and Silence Between Waves at Pavilion Dance South West. 

Richard Chappell, Artistic Director of Richard Chappell Dance, said: "After the conclusion of our UK tour, our first tour since the pandemic, it’s a joy for us to lead a programme which immerses our work in communities across our home region of South West England. I’m excited for us to share our work in new contexts, reaching audiences in care homes and the city centres of Exeter and Bournemouth, alongside offering a range of free training and workshop experiences for dance artists, musicians and visual artists.” 

For its Bournemouth residency, Richard Chappell Dance presents its latest and most ambitious work to date, Infinite Ways Home at Pavilion Dance South West on Saturday 1 October. Ahead of this, the company’s seminal work Silence Between Waves will take to the beach at popup sites across the coastal town for a series of outdoor performances on 29 & 30 September. 

The week of the performances in Bournemouth sees Richard Chappell Dance deliver a series of free practical and creative workshops for young people with COAST Youth Dance and two local secondary schools. In addition, the company will perform an excerpt from Silence Between Waves at two local care homes, bringing moving dance experiences to both residents and staff.

In Exeter, Richard Chappell Dance builds on its work with local talent, delivering three workshops around the company’s interdisciplinary practice with MakeTank, aimed at local visual artists and dancers, Exeter Phoenix and The Hall, aimed at local musicians and dancers. On 10 September the Company will host a platform for the local community at the Princesshay Shopping Centre with performances of an extract from Infinite Ways Home alongside local community groups. Richard Chappell Dance also presents a sharing of its new work, commissioned by Dance City, at The Hall on the 9 October ahead of its premiere in Newcastle in 2023. 

This autumn also sees Artistic Director, Richard Chappell embark on the prestigious Clore Fellowship. One of 29 UK and international artists, curators, producers, directors and educators, Richard is this year’s Dance Fellow. To help support Richard Chappell Dance during this period the company has recruited Clare Parker as producer to oversee upcoming performances and activity, while Richard continues in his role as Artistic Director alongside his fellowship commitments. 

Funded by Arts Council England, The Linbury Trust, Exeter City Council and Pavilion Dance South West.