EVENTS
THE IGNITION PLATFORM
Platforming Emerging Choreographic Voices

4th March 2023 - An Evening with Kennedy Junior Muntanga
Zambian-born choreographer Kennedy Junior Muntanga and his London-based dance company Kennedy Muntanga Dance Theatre are teaming up with JAMIEL LAURENCE CREATION to launch a brand-new choreographic platform at London’s alternative dance venue – The Lanterns Studio Theatre.
JAMIEL LAURENCE CREATION sees how young artists must fight harder and harder for a chance to have their say in the UK arts scene, our response to this: THE IGNITION PLATFORM. A ground-breaking launchpad for new and emerging choreographers with the aim of staging exciting new voices, producing dance into revolutionary spaces, and paving the way for young choreographers to get their work seen by a live audience.
Says Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, Producer: “As the wider arts & culture sector faces a fresh challenge in the form of cuts to funding and budgetary restraint, the post-pandemic theatrical landscape is ripe with opportunities to try new things, and ensure that no artist is left behind. This is our time, and I want to take this chance to get new choreographic voices seen and build new audiences for dance in East London’s Docklands."

BALLET NIGHTS presents uniquely compered evenings of Classical Ballet, Neo-classical & Contemporary Dance.
Launching in October 2021, BALLET NIGHTS brings together international main-stage choreographers, performers, and musicians from across the modern dance landscape and presents their work up close and without compromise - hosted by the Lanterns Studio Theatre and set in the heart of London’s Canary Wharf district.
With something on the programme for everyone, BALLET NIGHTS presents the highest quality of Ballet & Contemporary dance, providing a platform for established world-class acts alongside experimental new works from emerging talents.
"Laurence is a dancer (former soloist with Scottish Ballet), choreographer and filmmaker and although he could be nominated in either of the latter categories, he is listed in my “Rising Stars” for his entrepreneurial credentials, having launched BALLET NIGHTS in October. Not only did Laurence and his team put together an excellent mix of classical music and dance (both classical and contemporary) in a remarkably modern format but he also introduced a new London venue with the massive stage of the Lantern Studio Theatre in London Docklands. Let’s hope it is the first of many such events." Graham Watts, BalletMagazine.ro

2021 - 2022
Jamiel Laurence was appointed the Creative Director of Rubicon Dance Company 2021-22.
Rubicon Dance Company was a brand-new professional dance company, formed in October 2021 by a trusted Welsh social arts organization, Rubicon Dance, in direct response to the crushing effect of the pandemic on talented dancers from Wales, all graduating into an arts sector blighted by the impact of COVID-19. Seven of the eight company members undertook full-time pre-vocational training at Rubicon Dance.
During his time at the organization, and working with the team at Rubicon, Jamiel achieved:
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The employment of 8 dancers born or based in Wales.
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Freelance opportunities for over 30 dancers, composers, designers, and other stage creatives.
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27 performance slate booked across 7 venues
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13 highly acclaimed school tour workshops delivered to over 800 pupils.
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Commissioned 5 international choreographers.
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Worked with 10 guest teachers across a wide variety of styles.
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Produced and premiered a culturally Welsh, full-length contemporary ballet The Nutcracker.
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Produced a TRIPLE BILL of new work fit for the world’s stage - a triple world premiere.
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Commissioned 16:1 – an immersive digital work for public display from a highly acclaimed digital dance creative.
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Successfully launched a choreographic talent incubator 'The Choreographic Toolbox'
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Performed for HRH Prince & Princess of Wales and family.
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Performed at the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations at Cardiff Castle.
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Performed for Cardiff City Council at the 2022 Age Friendly City launch.
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Achieved a council hero event status for our 2022/23 run of The Nutcracker at 2022's Cardiff Castle Spiegeltent Festival.