Dance

Contemporary dance is the most exciting cultural endeavour in London. The pace, the vision, the ethnic diversity, the energy and the commitment to bringing together high and low culture, classical and street, make it a particularly London art form. Eastern Europeans, South Americans, homegrown talents like Akram Khan from the classical Asian traditions, French prima ballerinas: all are coming together in the only world city with the ability to combine disparate artists and outlooks and create the conditions for inspired work. Feature continues

The process is accelerating, and at its centre are three key institutions: The Place, Southbank Centre and Sadler’s Wells that have now come together to jointly commission young Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter’s new work. The ambition is to fast-track Shechter and bring these very different institutions together to see if the things that divide them are stronger than the things that hold them together. We will only know how successful this unique endeavour has been when Shechter and his company have performed the final part of the series at Sadler’s Wells in September. But, if this is the city that can nurture him as it did Akram Khan, then we can be proud.

Does size matter?
Time Out's dance editor Allen Robertson asks whether size really does matter for the capital's most vibrant art form

Top dance venues
We size up the London's best dance venues and wonder whether star turn Hofesh Shechter can make the step up to the truly big stage

Best of the summer
This summer's dance highlights