Chair of the Board of Trustees

Thank you for your interest in becoming Chair of South East Dance.

Following three successful years as Chair of South East Dance’s Board of Trustees, which included overseeing South East Dance establishing itself in The Dance Space and successfully beginning to develop a new business model in a challenging economic climate, Maureen Salmon stepped down as Chair in October 2025.

We are now looking for a new Chair to lead us on the next phase of our development as we continue to develop a vibrant and varied programme of activities with and for artists and communities in The Dance Space and across the South East.

The Dance Space. Image: DFPhotography

About South East Dance

We are an arts charity that works with dance professionals and people across the region to make the South East a thriving home for dance.

Our vision is a world where everybody is inspired to enjoy, take part in and create bold, brave, pioneering dance. 

Our mission is to transform lives through dance. Dance that brings people together, dance that helps us make sense of the world we live in, dance that makes a difference.    

We support dance artists that specialise in all forms, from breakdancing to ballroom, with funding, tailored advice and networking opportunities throughout their careers. As passionate believers in the health and wellbeing benefits of dance, we also work hard to bring movement to as many people as possible too – particularly those who might not have had the opportunity or the confidence to give it a go before.

Our Board of Trustees bring a wide range of knowledge and expertise to South East Dance. They oversee our work, helping to ensure we maintain the highest standards in all areas of our activity and supporting our strategic development. 

To find out more about what we do, please visit https://southeastdance.org.uk/

We are seeking a Chair who is based in the South East, with the drive and experience to lead the Board and our strategic development.

ROLE PROFILE

Our Chair will be a big picture thinker who will champion and advocate for our work within and outside the arts locally and regionally, sharing our passion for dance and the contribution it can make to health, wellbeing and placemaking.

The Chair will be a strategist, excel in building relationships, enjoy advocacy, and share our determination to make a difference to the communities we serve. They will have experience of organisational leadership and understand the current working environment for Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations. They will seek to amplify our activities and to create the context for the Senior Leadership Team to achieve South East Dance’s goals. The Chair will guide Trustees’ involvement in key decision-making processes enable them to work to their individual strengths in the interests of the organisation.

The role of Chair is a voluntary (unpaid) one, responsible for leading the Board of Trustees of South East Dance, ensuring it fulfils its responsibilities for governance of the organisation. The Chair works with the Executive Director and Artistic Director (the Senior Leadership Team) helping them to achieve the strategic aims of South East Dance, deliver the agreed vision, mission and strategic objectives and to optimise the relationship between the Board of Trustees and the staff.

Responsibilities and Person Specification

How to Apply