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We are a home for artists, both in our imperfect East London building and beyond, prioritising those who lack support elsewhere.
We reject traditional ideas of quality in artmaking, embracing all performance disciplines and styles. We advocate for positive change in our work, communities, and the arts sector.
The CDS Artist Community works in ways that are respectful, transparent, ethical, anti-racist, environmentally-conscious, and non-discriminatory. We explore positive change through the lens of the following ideas: collectivity, autonomy, process, generosity, equity, accountability, and accessibility.
These ideas are explored further in our Community Culture document, which everyone signs when they join. This is a working document, and we will take time to rework it together in 2024.
CDS has been located in our current home on Chisenhale Road for over 40 years. Prior to this, CDS’s founders were based in a previously disused warehouse in Butlers Wharf known as the X6 Dance Space.
After facing eviction, they found a new location in an old veneer factory, the former Chisenhale Works. They surgically removed the magnificent old maple floor from
Butlers Wharf and grafted it onto the new location, where it still remains as the floor in the Performance Studio.
CDS’s founders aimed to challenge existing hierarchies in dance and society at large by adopting new approaches to organising rooted in their collectivist political beliefs. Across all of their work, they aimed to integrate a critical perspective on racism and sexism. Read more on our website.