John Ashford
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John Ashford is a theatre director,[1] who has been instrumental in the burgeoning of contemporary dance's popularity in the UK over the last 20 years through his role as Theatre Director at The Place in London.
John Ashford was the first theatre editor at Time Out. He subsequently became Manager of the Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre, at a time when it was producing the early plays of Sam Sheppard and Caryl Churchill, and Richard O'Brien’s Rocky Horror Show. He was subsequently appointed Director of the Theatre at the ICA, promoting seasons of experimental theatre, performance work and new rock bands. In 1985 he brought the Canadian dance company La La La Human Steps to London.
He was appointed Director of The Place Theatre by Robin Howard in 1987. He has established the theatre as Britain’s busiest dance venue, promoting the early works of companies includingDV8, Adventures in Motion Pictures and Random Dance, and creating the annual Resolution! platform season, which in 2006 presents 105 new works over six weeks.
He has also developed a vibrant international strand to the programme, including the first UK performances from artists such as Wim Vandekeybus, Sasha Waltz and Rui Horta.
In 2004 he created The Place Prize, a new biennial choreography competition which is the UK's richest and most prestigious dance prize.
He received three nominations for the Digital Dance Premiere Award, winning it in 1993, and won both a London Dance and Performance Award and an International Theatre Institute Award for Excellence in International Dance. In 2002 Ashford was awarded a CBE for services to dance.
