Sadler’s Wells has announced the appointment of acclaimed choreographer Arlene Phillips to its Board of Directors.

As a Director of Sadler’s Wells, Arlene becomes a member of the Board which is responsible for the governance of the theatre as a whole and acts as an ambassador for the organisation. The appointment becomes effective with Arlene’s first board meeting on Wednesday 25 November.

Artistic Director Alistair Spalding says “I am very pleased to welcome Arlene to our Board of Directors. Arlene has always shared our passion for dance in all its forms, and has recently been working with us as a judge on our online dance competition, the Global Dance Contest. I have no doubt that her expertise and enthusiasm will be an invaluable asset to our Board, and that she will help us in our mission to bring dance to the widest possible audience.”

Arlene Phillips comments “I’m delighted to be continuing my involvement with Sadler’s Wells by joining their Board of Directors. The quality of work programmed by the theatre is exceptional, and the range of work presented truly reflects the spectrum of what dance has to offer. I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Sadler’s Wells to support their aims at this incredibly exciting time for dance.”

Arlene Phillips is one of the judges for Sadler’s Wells online Global Dance Contest, a four-year worldwide competition launched in March 2009 that offers an annual winner a cash prize and the chance to perform on the main stage during Sadler’s Wells Sampled, the theatre’s critically acclaimed yearly showcase of the best of international dance. The judging panel, which also included broadcaster and journalist Miranda Sawyer and Sadler’s Wells Artistic Director and CEO Alistair Spalding, shortlisted 10 finalists from over 170 applicants from 34 countries across the world. The public is now called upon to cast their vote before 13 November, and the final winner will be announced on 18 November.

Arlene Phillips’ illustrious career spans film, television, and choreography and direction for theatre and music videos. A former dancer who first came to prominence as the choreographer of dance group Hot Gossip, she has choreographed numerous West End and Broadway musicals and has received theatre award nominations including a Tony and two Oliviers. Awards include an MTV, a Bafta, and an Emmy for best choreography.

She was awarded an OBE in 2002 for Services to Dance and in 2004 a Companionship Award from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, for her contribution to dance, presented by Sir Paul McCartney. She appeared as a judge on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2008 and she judged the follow-up series, Strictly Dance Fever. Now a Dance Expert for The One Show, Arlene is also a member of the Government’s newly appointed Dance Champions Group and will be a judge on the forthcoming series of So You Think You Can Dance.

Sadler’s Wells also appoints Marco Compagnoni to its Board of Directors. Marco is a leading Private Equity lawyer, joining Weil Gotshal & Manges as a partner in May 2006 from Lovells, where he was head of the firm’s international private equity team. Until recently, he was a Trustee of the Royal Opera House, Governor of the Royal Ballet Company and Chairman of the Friends of Covent Garden. He remains a member of the Friends of Covent Garden’s Advisory Council and is a Trustee of the Serpentine Gallery. He is involved in a range of public art and related programmes and initiatives and is a founding supporter of Morphoses / The Wheeldon Company.