Laban Timeline
1879
Rudolf Laban, born in Austria - Hungary
1938
Flees from Germany to the UK to join Kurt Jooss and Lisa Ullmann,
his students.
1948
Laban begins its life as the Art of Movement Studio in
Manchester.
1953
Studio moves to Addlestone in Surrey due to expansion.
1958
Rudolf Laban died.
1973
On the retirement of Lisa Ullman, Marion North becomes Head of
School (Principal and Director).
1974
Bonnie Bird, Artistic Director, joins the Art of Movement
Studio.
The three-year vocational Diploma in Dance Theatre Course (Now
known as the Undergraduate Diploma Dance Theatre) is founded.
The One Year Course in Dance Studies (now known as the
Professional Diploma in Dance Studies) is established.
1975
The Art of Movement Studio is renamed Laban Centre for Movement and
Dance which moves to new premises in New Cross, South East
London.
1976
First BA (Hons) Degree is presented at the Centre.
The building of the Studio Theatre at Laurie Grove
1977
Validation of the three-year BA Hons Dance Theatre.
1980
Laban offers the first MA Dance Studies. Research Degrees are
validated.
1981
The Community Dance and Movement Course (now known as the
Professional Diploma in Community Dance Studies) takes its first
students.
1982
Transitions Dance Company (Graduate Diploma In Performance) is
established.
Foundation of Dance Theatre Journal.
1985
Collaboration with Hahnemann University Philadelphia to introduce
the first MA Dance Movement Therapy.
Expansion of the New Cross site. Formal opening by Sir Roy Shaw,
the then Secretary General of the Arts Council for Great
Britain.
1989
MA Dance Movement Therapy receives validation in Britain.
Completion of the Laban complex. Formal opening by Sir John
Drumond, the then controller of BBC Radio 3
1992
Validation of the BA, MA and Research Degree programmes (City
University).
1997
New visual identity and change of name to Laban Centre London.
1998
Development and validation of MA Dance Management &
Development.
1999
Establishment MA Scenography Dance.
Validation of the Undergraduate Diploma Dance Theatre and
Professional Diploma in Community Dance Studies by City
University.
Laban is successful in its bid for capital lottery funding for a
new building to open 2002.
2000
Dr Marion North is awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire)
in the New Years Honours list in recognition of her outstanding
contribution to dance.
2002
Graduate programmes extended to include, Choreography, European
Dance Theatre Practice, Dance Performance and Dance Science
Foundation of Discourses in Dance
New building in Deptford opens
New corporate identity launched
2003
Awarded RIBA Building of the Year
2004
Anthony Bowne becomes Director of Laban on the retirement of Dr
Marion North
2005
Laban mergers with Trinity College of Music to form the first
conservatoire for music and dance in the UK.
If you would like more information about any aspect of our
history email library@trinitylaban.ac.uk
This page was updated on: 02/08/2011
