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Graduating from London Contemporary Dance School in 2017, Reece McMahon has enjoyed a successful career as a producer, leading to his appointment as the Executive Director of Chisenhale Dance Space in 2022.
Growing up in an all-female household on a council estate in the north of England, it was the role models in his life that led Reece McMahon to dance. Initially following in the footsteps of his sisters by taking ballet classes, he quickly realised that wasn’t for him. After his grandmother suggested Ballroom and Latin dancing when he was seven – ‘because they always need boys’ – he quickly felt at home with this style of dance, and competed nationally for the next 10 years, reaching fifth in the country for his age range.
He went on to take part in a Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) scheme at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) in Leeds, and attend CAPA College, a specialist performing arts college in Wakefield. At 18, he was unsure about whether to pursue musical theatre or dance. After auditioning at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS), he realised this was where he wanted to pursue his next steps. “It was a place that I could really see myself,” he explained. “I was excited by the course, and I liked the fact I could pursue a broader range of interests there, including more academically-rooted studies. It was absolutely the right choice. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if I hadn’t gone to LCDS.”
Alum Reece McMahon is the Executive Director of Chisenhale Dance Space
Exploring creativity
Around halfway through the course at LCDS, Reece realised he was drawn to a career in arts management and cultural policy, and not dance. “If I had that realisation at another institution, my next year and a half would have been very difficult and challenging. I probably would have been stuck in a structure that would really limit me,” Reece said. “But at LCDS, I had the opportunity to explore my creativity – in a way that wasn't through the lens of technique or dance. The rigour of the dance training was really brilliant. But the flexibility to go to the tutors and express an interest in other things was fully supported too.”
This created opportunities to soak up expertise and inspiration from people who had career paths that interested him, including Peter Laycock, Dr Samuel Wilson and Sasha Roubicek – all of whom he met at LCDS. As well as training at LCDS, Reece became a Duty Manager at the Donmar Warehouse in the West End, which added to his understanding of arts management. During his third year at LCDS, he also got a job at LCDS itself, working in marketing and social media for one day a week.
As Reece graduated, LCDS and The Place was launching its producing and touring strand of work, and Reece became an Assistant Producer for the next two years. “What's unique about LCDS is that it's not just a school,” Reece said. “It's got this incredible other thing that happens at the other side of the building at The Place. Over time, that has become wonderfully integrated. Being able to extend my journey at LCDS, and go from student to staff member, was incredible.”
Supporting marginalised artists
After that first job, Reece says he has “been producing non-stop.” He was involved in the Old Vic 12, and became the Producer at New Diorama Theatre. He also produced For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy, which was transferred to the Royal Court and then the West End. Gaining the position of Executive Director at Chisenhale Dance Space (CDS) at the age of just 26, Reece has worked hard to enjoy a prosperous career in arts management. He’s particularly motivated to develop more sustainable career paths for marginalised artists, which he’s able to do through his role at CDS.
“It was only when I joined LCDS that I really started to understand what my cultural and social background was, and how that affected who I was, my training and what I cared about,” Reece said. “Consequently, I’m now supporting marginalised artists and specifically looking at things like class, anti-racist and anti-ableist practice. This plays a really big role within the work I do now as a producer.”
Dance has no barriers
Although he has worked across dance, theatre, musicals, live art and more, Reece feels himself gravitating back towards dance.
“Dance is this incredible art form that transcends barriers,” Reece said. “It straddles the arts and sport. I’ve always really appreciated the physicality and the fact that literally anyone can do it too! When I was young, my involvement in the dance world opened up the broader arts to my working class family, and we started going to the theatre and becoming a more cultural family. I think I will always be a strong advocate for dance because of the impact it’s had on my life.”
Despite going off to enjoy a busy career so far, Reece still reflects on the influential years he spent at LCDS. “When you’re a student at LCDS, you become part of this rich dance ecology that spans across London, the UK and internationally,” he said. “Those three years were transformational for me, both personally and in terms of my career trajectory. That training still absolutely sits with me. My peers have all gone off on very different career paths, but we share this bedrock of training. There are many experiences and conversations I had during that time that really stay with me. Everyone says it – you never quite leave The Place.”
...at LCDS, I had the opportunity to explore my creativity – in a way that wasn't just through the lens of technique or dance. The flexibility to go to the tutors and express an interest in other things was fully supported too.”
