The Dance Band' was formed at the beginning of 1986, when it toured with the 'Extemporary Dance Theatre' in 'Pierides'. 'Pierides' was a music/theatre/dance piece devised by Kate and Mike Westbrook in collaboration with choreographer Emilyn Claid. The music and words are by the Westbrooks but the track 'Air Mail Special' is by Benny Goodman, Charlie Christian and Jimmy Munday.
Mike Westbrook is internationally known as a piano and tuba player, as well as a bandleader, composer and arranger. Over the years he has fused jazz with poetry ,theatre and the visual arts and has enlarged the jazz concept by utilising a rich concoction of influences: rock, folk and world music. Mike was awarded the OBE in 1988.
