The online catalogue for the Dancers Anonymous Archive is now online, and the material available to researchers in the Archives Research Room.

Dancers Anonymous were an independent dance company formed in 1973 and managed by Bridget Crowley, then Head of Theatre Training at Arts Educational Schools in London. The aim of Dancers Anonymous was to ‘be a stepping-stone into the dance world for talented students who needed a professional environment in which to perform to enable them to grow as artists’ (DAS/1/1/1). All students came from the Arts Educational Schools, and were selected because Crowley and other staff involved felt they would benefit most from the experience. Students had to be strong modern as well as classical dancers to suit the repertoire of the company.

Dancers Anonymous performed annually at Edinburgh Festival, and toured nationally. Performers went on to be employed in professional companies such as Ballet Rambert and Extemporary Dance. The company received funding from private and public bodies, but ceased activities in 1987 due to financial difficulties.  

The collection comprises management and administrative records, performance and production records, and publicity material for Dancers Anonymous. Photographs, videos, music and costumes, as well as programmes, posters and reviews document the company’s appearances at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and papers and correspondence record how the company operated. We look forward to welcoming researchers who wish to use this newly catalogued collection. Please email archives@surrey.ac.uk for more information or to book an appointment.