One of the most universally renowned artists in pop musical history, Annie Lennox, has agreed to lend her name to the charity Dalcroze UK.

It was at Aberdeen High School for Girls, Primary Department that Annie was first taught Eurhythmics by her dance teacher, and so encountered the pioneering method of experiencing music through movement developed by the Swiss composer, musician and music educator, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze.  Later, whilst training as a classical musician, she was immersed in the Dalcroze Spring Course of 1974 and the band Eurythmics was formed with collaborator Dave Stewart in the early 1980s.

Dalcroze UK is one of the oldest music education charities in the world. It exists to promote and support the philosophy and teaching method devised by Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, who emphasized training the whole body to participate in musical experience and expression.

Kathryn Templeman, Chair of Dalcroze UK, is a musician and educational leader:

“Dalcroze UK is a small charity with enormous potential to influence the way music is taught and experienced.  We know that a Dalcroze education isn’t just a wonderful and life-long musical gift, but it is also a way, through music, to develop good mental health and wellbeing.  We couldn’t be more thrilled that Annie Lennox has agreed to be our Patron; it is truly an honour for us and will support and celebrate the wonderful work that all our Dalcroze teachers do in the UK.”

Professor Karin Greenhead, Director of Studies for Dalcroze UK, is one of the world’s leading practitioners and researchers in the Dalcroze Eurhythmics method:

“I was recently appointed Professor of Music (Dalcroze Eurhythmics) at the Royal Northern College of Music following a lifetime of work as a Dalcroze practitioner and researcher: I am probably the first professor anywhere to carry this title. Now to be able to celebrate the influence of Dalcroze Eurhythmics through this announcement is exceptionally exciting. The international Dalcroze Community work very hard to bring the pedagogical and therapeutic benefits of Dalcroze Eurhythmics practice to artists and educators.  We believe that Annie Lennox as Patron of Dalcroze UK will bring an exceptional level of awareness of the method, to a degree and to an audience that we could not otherwise hope to achieve.  Thank you Annie.”

 

For further information contact:  Christine Wardle, development@dalcroze.org.uk

Tara Paterson, XIX Entertainment, tara@xixentertainment.com

Annie Lennox

As one of the most universally renowned artists in pop musical history, Annie Lennox’s iconic career spans over 40 years.

In the early 80’s, EURYTHMICS was formed with collaborator Dave Stewart, rising to international success with the classic song, “Sweet Dreams are Made of This,” followed by a succession of hits, including  “Here Comes the Rain Again,” “There Must be an Angel (playin’ with my heart),” “Would I Lie to You,” “Sisters Are Doin’ it for Themselves,” “Missionary Man,” and many more.

In the early ‘90’s Lennox embarked on an acclaimed solo career with two consecutive platinum-selling albums, “Diva” and “Medusa.” Over the years Lennox has won four GRAMMY Awards with fifteen nominations, winning an Academy Award and four Ivor Novellos, as well as becoming a “Fellow”…26 ASCAP Awards, with an ASCAP Founder’s Award…the Billboard Century Award and a Golden Globe for her recording of “Into the West,” a song she co-wrote for the film “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” In the UK, she has been named the best British Female Artist at the Brit Awards six times.

Over her career, Lennox has sold over 83 million albums worldwide. In 2022, Eurythmics were inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Over the years she has worked tirelessly on behalf of many organisations, including Oxfam, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, The British Red Cross, Comic Relief and Mothers2Mothers.

She became known as a passionately committed HIV/AIDS activist and advocate.

Lennox is the founder of “The Circle”, a nonprofit Global Feminist organisation working to achieve equal opportunity for women and girls in a fairer world. In 2011 she was named an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her humanitarian work.

Annie Lennox’s work in the visual arts includes an exhibition, “The House of Annie Lennox,’ which was launched at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

In 2019. she presented a conceptual installation at MASS MoCA, entitled “ Now I Let You Go.”

Dalcroze UK

Dalcroze UK delivers all training in the UK for the method known as Dalcroze Eurhythmics.  It is a registered charity and a membership organisation with 140 members.  These are practitioners, teaching in a variety of education and welfare settings, who access professional development, networking and further training through the charity’s connections with the International Dalcroze community.   Intensive training is supplemented by annual in-person training courses and regular on-line CPD sessions.

The charity’s primary purpose is to bring the benefits of the Dalcroze Eurhythmics method to the public through training teachers and raising awareness of how the method is being used.  We do this through social media and connections through our members, Trustees and partners.

Training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics is governed by the Institut Jacques Dalcroze in Geneva following the method developed by pioneer musician Emile-Jacques Dalcroze in the first half of the 20th century.  The Dalcroze method was followed by, among others, Rudolf von Laban, Serge Rachmaninoff and Marie Rambert.  Now, it is recognised, through research and practice, for its transformational effects beyond the conservatoire, and classroom, specifically in the areas of Early Years education, choral training, music therapy, drama and wellbeing across all age groups.

Over the years, a number of professional musicians, researchers and dancers have championed the method.  Currently, these include Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Dame Monica Mason and David Sulkin.

Those that know and have experienced Dalcroze Eurhythmics acknowledge that it has changed their lives.