A leading Ipswich-based dance company has received a prestigious arts award for its career-spanning collection of work.

Russell Maliphant Company, which is the company in residence at DanceEast, Ipswich, took the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Dance this month for its maliphantworks collection.

The collection of contemporary dance works, curated by choreographer Russell Maliphant, won acclaim from critics who descried it as “fluid, elegant and self-possessed”.

Maliphant said he was “very happy” to receive the award and honoured to have it presented by the “one and only” Sylvie Guillem.

“A big thanks to the brilliant cast, Dana Fouras, Daniel Proietto, Dickson Mbi and Tommy Franzen for their commitment and artistry,” he added. “To my wonderful collaborators Michael Hulls for lighting and Stevie Stewart for costumes. Thanks also to the crew at RMCo, Andy Downie and MJ Holland for their patience and professionalism.”

“Without the team this would not have been possible and I appreciate each person’s part in the whole season. Thanks to Anda Winters for inviting us to put this first maliphantworks evening together and for having us back again for a maliphantworks 2 in 2018.

“Thanks also to Southbank Sky Arts for appreciating the work that goes into these programs - this particular one contained creations made between 1997 and 2012 and all the pieces were danced by the original performers.

“Thanks to everyone that made this possible, came to see the show or helped spread word of it.”

The Russell Maliphant Company became one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations in April and Company in Residence at DanceEast, Ipswich. It will be touring a brand new production, titled Silent Lines from April 2019.