Peggy Hawkins Fundraising Gala
An evening with Anthony Van Laast and Angela Rippon!
About Peggy Hawkins Fundraising Gala
Peggy had a passion for dance and dancers. She loved teaching and nurturing young talents and would be thrilled to know that there is a fund for developing dancers in her name.
Anthony Van Laast CBE
Fresh from the launch of her Let’s Dance campaign, join Angela Rippon and LCDS alum Anthony Van Laast CBE for a spectacular evening of performances from students, alumni and special guests, taking you on a journey through the student experience at The Place from their first class to graduation and beyond, in benefit of the Peggy Hawkins Fund at London Contemporary Dance School.
The programme is certain to sparkle, with the return of alumni and Choreodrome artists, Ekleido, appearances from pop and fashion choreographer Benjamin Jonsson and Olivier Award winner and alum Dickson Mbi, a piece choreographed by The Place CAT alum, André Fabien Francis, and two exclusive pieces from internationally renowned, award-winning choreographer, Anthony Van Laast.
Expect to be dazzled by dancers at the very peak of their journeys so far, as we celebrate the students of London Contemporary Dance School and the wonderful Let’s Dance campaign that Angela has been leading to get people across the UK moving and dancing.
Don’t miss this evening of contemporary dance at its finest!
Supporting the Peggy Hawkins Fund
You can make a donation as part of your ticket purchase or on the night of the event. If you are unable to attend the gala but would still like to contribute to the Peggy Hawkins Fund, you can do so below. The Peggy Hawkins Fund is a holistic student wellbeing support fund which continues to evolve to meet the challenges of the dance students of today.
About Anthony Van Laast
Anthony Van Laast CBE is a Patron of The Place.
Anthony trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, later joining the resident London Contemporary Dance Theatre company as both performer and choreographer. As a choreographer he has received international acclaim and work. In 2018, he was awarded the CBE for services to dance and choreography and in 2019 he became an Honorary Doctor of the Arts. Anthony is a close friend of The Place and LCDS, and has supported our students for many years, as a Co-Founder of the Peggy Hawkins Fund with Pernille Charrington and with the generosity of his time to advise and support young artists.
Theatre credits include: Tina The Musical – worldwide (Outer Circle Critics Award, Tony Award nomination); Mamma Mia! – worldwide (Dora Mavor Moore Award, Helpman Award nomination); Sister Act – worldwide (Olivier Award nomination); Side Show – Broadway (Hayes Award nomination); Hair – Old Vic (Olivier Award nomination); Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance – worldwide (Green Room Award); Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat – worldwide (Olivier Award nomination, Dramalogue Award); Bombay Dreams – London, Broadway (Tony Award nomination); Candide – Old Vic (Olivier Award for best musical).
Film work includes: Beauty and the Beast; Mamma Mia! Here we Go Again; Mamma Mia!; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1; Never Say Never Again; Excalibur; Hope and Glory.
About the Peggy Hawkins Fund
The Peggy Hawkins Fund supports our holistic student wellbeing support services which constantly evolves to meet the challenges of our dance students. These support services go beyond financial assistance and offer wide-ranging physical health and mental wellbeing support, financial support and learning support. All of this creates an environment where the next generation of dancers can truly thrive.
We want to empower our students so that when they move out into the world, they have the skills and tools available to ask the right questions and to develop their own support networks, so they can build fulfilling, life-long and meaningful careers. That's why our students go on to become the leading creatives in the dance industry and beyond, and the Peggy Hawkins Fund is a vital part of that story.
Your support is vital. 60% of our students applied for financial aid last year and we know the need is growing. Together, we have raised over £100,000 which has enabled LCDS to develop and deepen its holistic support services for the students, and we want to continue this wonderful legacy.
The Peggy Hawkins Fund was created by Anthony Van Laast CBE and Pernille Charrington, in memory of Peggy Hawkins, whose life was dedicated to teaching dance and choreography. Peggy was Anthony’s mother, and Pernille’s devoted friend and colleague.
An ex-Ballet Rambert dancer, Peggy was a follower of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze’s Eurhythmics method, which combines learning and experiencing music through improvised movement. Peggy lived and worked in many locations all over the world and taught dance and choreography.
She received the Dalcroze Specialist Certificate in Eurhythmics once back in London, and continued to teach and choreograph well into her eighties in her own school, founded with Pernille Charrington. An accomplished pianist, Peggy also played for classes at London Contemporary Dance School in her spare time.
If you would like to make a donation to the Peggy Hawkins Fund, please use the donation form at the bottom of this page or visit our Support Us page.
