This is what Dance Umbrella's about: top quality, contemporary dance in unexpected places. It's such a shame Riverside hadn't sold out Studio 2 last night. We thought this UK premiere would be good and we were so right. It doesn't have a story. It doesn't really mean anything - choreographer, Ohad Naharin apparently just like the sound of the Hebrew word Mamootot (mammoth) - but the hour long piece for 9 dancers, all clad......

Autumn is a time for changes, and things are a bit odd in the world of cheap London fun this week. The audience is playing the music, our insides are on the outside, activists are stuck in the wrong century, and people are dancing where they shouldn't. Get your shallow pockets out there and enjoy the season of flux. Friday: Dance Umbrella remains as good as ever at providing something bonkers for your lunch......

Kids in rehearsal with Royston Maldoom by Camilla Panufnik Dance Umbrella is well underway and fittingly the skies caved in over the weekend but the diverse programme is making splashes of its own. Amid the professional programme lies the obligatory nod to the Olympic Games. Overture 2012 is one for the kids and the Arts Council (increasing accessibility, participation: tick) but funded from a plethora of sources and donors. 120 young Londoners, some experiencing contemporary......

Contemporary dance has come a hell of a long way in the 30 years that Dance Umbrella has been running and that's reflected in this year's programme with the once pioneering and avant garde, now established, respectable big hitters opening the season: Merce Cunningham dance company presents new work alongside classic at the Barbican and Richard Alston celebrates his 60th birthday at Sadlers Wells. As usual, "brief encounters" with emerging choreographers precede the big......

Londonist spent all of its money this week getting drunk at its 3rd birthday party. Hopefully, you were one of the many people who decided to join us. As a thank you, London On The Cheap is back (hurrah!) showing you what fun and fabulous free stuff you can entertain yourselves with next week: Sunday: We had an extra hour today so you get an extra day of news from us. Out to Lunch......

If our enthusiastic dance previews didn't inspire you to go as far as actually parting with cash for contemporary dance then perhaps you could cut your teeth on free events happening as part of London's International Festival of Contemporary Dance: Dance Umbrella. If you work near Liverpool Street then, this lunchtime or any lunchtime in the next 29 days, you can stumble across Paul-Andre Fortier performing "Solo 30x30" whilst you nip out for a......

Sometimes, you've got to wonder how they do it. The ballet dancers, the orchestras, the actors, singers, directors and conductors - what does it take to get them into the state we see them in for the final product? Are there hissy fits, tiaras and tantrums or lots of tea breaks and group hugs after each scene is rehearsed? Open Rehearsal is the weekend to find out and be as nosey as you like......