Dance Touring Partnership?

Dance Touring Partnership - after deciding to tour a MUSICAL this autumn - have now dropped the word 'dance' entirely from their name and 'About' description - they are now simply DTP.

The poor grammar in the text below (my bold) may indicate the speed with which this has been done. They have yet to obtain a new web address however: http://www.dancetouringpartnership.co.uk/

DTP is a network of theatres working together to bring exciting and engaging productions and companies to audiences around the UK. The network aims to build and retain audiences by increasing the range and diversity of work available on the regional touring circuit and encourage attenders to try something new by presenting productions from across art form and by extending access to high quality UK and international artists and companies.

From 27 April  2018

While many of the 20 shows they have previously toured might have been classed as dance, they have all had a strong sense of theatricality and storytelling. In autumn 2018, DTP will take a step up to widen its reach by touring 2b theatre company’s music theatre production, OLD STOCK: A Refugee Love Story...

So what seemed like a blip now appears to be a decisive step to diversify from dance. Clearly this does not rule them out from supporting dance productions in the future but this seems a dark indicator of the state of touring dance in the country and just disappointing, as DTP generally supported medium-sized work as a nice compliment to Dance Consortium, who generally support larger-scale companies: although DTP also pulled out the big guns occasionally.

If Dance Consortium follow suit (and there is currently no suggestion that they will) you can pretty much say farewell to seeing much in the way of international dance outside London.

DTP have previously toured companies as diverse a Jasmin Vardimon, Hofesh Shechter, Fabulous Beast, Danish Dance Theatre, Ultima Vez and Australian Dance Theatre.