The Jane Attenborough Dance in Education Fellowship (JADE)
In November 2005 Rambert dancer Simon Cooper was awarded the first JADE Fellowship, inspired by the life and work of Jane Attenborough. JADE was set up following the tragic loss of Jane (Arts Manager at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation from 2000-2004) in the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004. Supporting and nurturing artists and enabling a creative dance experience for young people were a passion for Jane and therefore JADE focuses on dance education.
The core objective of JADE is to provide a period of bespoke and intense professional dancer in career transition. Following a 17-year career with established companies like English National Ballet, Adventures in Motion Pictures and Rambert, JADE arrived at a time when Simon was considering his future.
Simon worked full time with Rambert's Learning and Participation team until December 2007 when his Fellowship came to an end. Simon has taught a series of one-off workshops in schools, as well as on core projects Moved and Fused and this autumn is working on a new programme of Swansong workshops for vocational schools across the UK.
Since completing his Fellowship, Simon has worked as a Rehearsal Director for the Company as well as teaching on projects with the Learning and Participation team.
Photo: © Mykel Nicolaou