Sir Alistair Spalding CBE, Artistic Director and Co-Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells said:

We are terribly saddened by the news that Emma Gladstone has passed away. Emma was a true trailblazer in the dance world, in all her guises. She was a beautiful Dancer, programmer, advocate, leader, producer and friend. She was so dedicated to the art form she loved – always thoughtful, articulate and charming.

As Artistic Programmer and Producer at Sadler’s Wells from 2005-2013, Emma was instrumental in transforming the organisation from a receiving house to one that also commissions and produces new dance work. During her time here, she programmed the Lilian Baylis Studio and established groundbreaking artistic development programmes including the Jerwood Studio at Sadler’s Wells research programme, our Wild Card series and our New Wave Associates programme. She commissioned and produced performances off site everywhere from Tate Modern and Latitude Festival to Trafalgar Square. We continued to work with Emma when she became Artistic Director of Dance Umbrella and more recently, she helped us with the conception and organisation of the Rose International Dance Prize.

Emma meant so much to all the people she touched in and outside the dance world, and so many of us here at Sadler’s Wells. Her influence spread across many artistic disciplines and worlds. We will miss Emma so much. Our thoughts go out to her family.