Susan Kempster nominated for National Dance Award

9 May 2025

Susan Kempster, renowned choreographer and head of Central’s MA Choreography programme, has been nominated for a National Dance Award 2024 for Best Modern Choreography for her newly created work Mother. The choreography was commissioned by Sadler’s Wells, funded by Arts Council England and supported by several partners including Central School of Ballet. Mother is an intimate and sensitive work that questions assumptions we make based on appearance, gender, or age.

Susan said: “It is an enormous honour to be nominated for the National Dance Award for Best Modern Choreography. I’m proud to be part of a team who is as passionate about human storytelling in dance as I am. Mother has allowed me to explore issues that are often overlooked in the artform.”

Mark Osterfield, Central’s Executive Director said: “Central is proud of its specialist teaching and Susan is a great example of our world-class contributors to dance. The MA course that Susan runs at Central has become a recognised route for professional choreographers to develop their skills and advance their careers. Successive MA alumni from Central have made a significant impact on the dance profession.”