Kenneth Tharp
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp is a dance artist and Chief Executive of The Place
. Born in London to English and Nigerian parents, he trained at London Contemporary Dance School. His 25-year performing career included working with London Contemporary Dance Theatre
(1981–1994) and Arc Dance Company (1994–2005). He has worked extensively as a choreographer, teacher and director and as Lead Artist & Artistic Advisor for The Royal Ballet School
’s Dance Partnership & Access Programme and Assistant to the Head of Contemporary Dance at Millennium Dance 2000. With composer Simon Redfern he co-founded Artyfartyarts, a multi disciplinary arts group, and he is on the Board of Trustees at the Royal Opera House. In 2003, he was awarded an OBE for services to dance, and he undertook a NESTA
funded Fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme
in 2005/6. He was appointed Chief Executive of The Place in June 2007.
The Place
The Place is a dance and performance centre in Duke's Road near Euston in the London Borough of Camden. Originally the home base of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre from the 1970s, it is now the location of the London Contemporary Dance School, the Richard Alston Dance Company and the Robin...
. Born in London to English and Nigerian parents, he trained at London Contemporary Dance School. His 25-year performing career included working with London Contemporary Dance Theatre
London Contemporary Dance Theatre
The London Contemporary Dance Theatre was a contemporary dance company, based at The Place, founded by Robin Howard with Robert Cohan as its Artistic Director....
(1981–1994) and Arc Dance Company (1994–2005). He has worked extensively as a choreographer, teacher and director and as Lead Artist & Artistic Advisor for The Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
’s Dance Partnership & Access Programme and Assistant to the Head of Contemporary Dance at Millennium Dance 2000. With composer Simon Redfern he co-founded Artyfartyarts, a multi disciplinary arts group, and he is on the Board of Trustees at the Royal Opera House. In 2003, he was awarded an OBE for services to dance, and he undertook a NESTA
NESTA
The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts is an independent endowment in the United Kingdom established by an Act of Parliament in 1998....
funded Fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme
Clore leadership programme
The Clore Leadership Programme provides professional training and personal development for current and future leaders in the cultural sector. It was founded by the Clore Duffield Foundation in 2002 in response to its own research into the state of leadership in the cultural sector.-The...
in 2005/6. He was appointed Chief Executive of The Place in June 2007.