Moving East is staying put – and going from strength to strength

Going with the flow: Moving East

Moving East – the interdisciplinary martial arts and contemporary dance centre – has been attracting high caliber teachers from the dance and martial arts worlds to Stoke Newington since it was founded by Paul Douglas 14 years ago.

Over the years it has nurtured young talent and played host to the likes of renowned choreographer Hofesh Shechter, who made his first programme there.

The once derelict church hall where the centre is based was spruced up by Mr Douglas, members of his aikido practice and his partner Sasha Roubicek when he started the Moving East, which has survived the vicissitudes of funding regimes.

In late April Mr Douglas struck a deal that will allow Moving East to remain open in its longtime base for the foreseeable future – it had been hit by a rent hike at the same time as its grant funding was reduced.

This is good news for all who benefit from its courses and activities, including classes for children in dance, judo and aikido.

Mr Douglas’s aikido practice is also based there, and Moving East offers an  aikido elective to postgraduate students from dance centre The Place, which it has a partnership with.

Rehearsal space is often hired out to professional dance companies.

Mr Douglas said: “Our funding problems are not solved forever but ever since we announced we are staying open we have had a fantastic response from the dance community. We have firm and penciled in bookings until the end of January next year.”

He is now working to increase membership of his aikido practice and the centre hopes to begin hosting a new youth dance company soon.