Jasmin Vardimon Dance

The Jasmin Vardimon Company opens its new creative space at the town’s Stour Centre

An internationally renowned dance group has moved to Ashford.

The Jasmin Vardimon Company has created a production space at the town’s Stour Centre.

The company, formed by Jasmin Vardimon in 1997, has made its name by staging theatrical dance performances incorporating modern technology and new choreography to create a unique style.

The Israeli born choreographer has been an associate artist at Sadler’s Wells since 2006.

The company hopes its new creative home, adjoining the sports facility, will be a hub for dance in the south east and build new links with the wider community.

The production space will house three strands of the company, a rehearsal and performance space, a professional development certificate for dancers and a centre for artistic research.

Funding for the move has come from Ashford Borough Council and the Arts Council.

Jasmin Vardimon said: “Ashford council have the ambition to develop the region and the borough with the arts. We felt they would be an amazing partner for us because we have very similar ambitions, not just to develop our work but to develop links with the community and the people that work around us.

“Ashford has many things that are good for us. It is in between London and Europe. It has the countryside around it and the isolation that artists sometimes need to research and create and it has a community that we felt was hungry for culture.”

The company’s dancers are moving to the town so they can be closer for rehearsals. The group also hopes to attract other international artists to the space.

It hopes to premier its latest work at the Stour Centre in October after it finishes its current tour.

Ms Vardimon said: “There will be performances here both from us and other artists and there will be a lot of education work and other activities here that will be open to the community.”

Cllr Bernard Heyes, portfolio holder for culture and recreation, said: “This has amazing potential. This is high-class art but at the same time accessible. Jasmin Vardimon is international, they are successful and they’re going to help put Ashford on the map. I think everybody identifies with dance and this is the high echelon of creativity in dance.”

Cllr Heyes said this was the first step towards a new cultural quarter being developed in Ashford.

He said: “Jasmine Vardimon is going to have connections with the new K College in the town and links with schools as part of its education programme. There is no end to the potential.”

Sally Abbott, regional director, Arts Council England, said: “Ashford, which has traditionally been an area where there has been a low level of engagement with the arts, is a great place for the company to grow. Their increased funding supports a newly expanded education programme and helps to develop the potential for the company to reach new audiences through dance.

“The new residency is anticipated to make a significant contribution to the growth of Ashford economically, culturally and educationally and it will encourage regeneration, which will have long lasting benefits for the community.”