Jeanette Sidall

Jeanette lives in Ipswich. She is a regular participant and attender at DanceEast classes and performances and a member of the performing company EncoreEast (www.encoreeastdance.co.uk). The company was established by DanceEast, becoming independent in June 2020. Since then, it has continued to work closely with DanceEast and created works with Edd Arnold and Alethia Antonia of Russell Maliphant Dance Company, Luca Braccia, Hannah Rudd, and Paul Smethurst and will be working with Luca Silvestrini in 2023. In addition to dancing with the company, Jeanette is instrumental in applying for funds and managing projects.

Her professional career included being Director of Dance UK and Director of Dance for Arts Council England. As a freelance consultant in dance strategy, development and evaluation, she has facilitated Rural Retreats for the Artistic Directors of International Dance Companies for DanceEast, where she was Interim Director in 2012 and later helped develop the BA (Hons) in Dance for DanceEast and the University of Suffolk. 

Jeanette is a trustee of Ipswich-based Gecko Theatre Company and was Chair of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures until 2021. In 2013 she received the DanceUK Industry Award and a CBE for services to dance.