Coordinates: 51°30′55″N 0°02′46″W / 51.5152°N 0.0462°W / 51.5152; -0.0462

Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road. The area built up rapidly in the 19th century, mainly to accommodate immigrant workers and displaced London poor, and developed a reputation for poverty, overcrowding, violence and political dissent. It was severely damaged during the Blitz, with over a third of housing totally destroyed; and then, in the 1960s, slum clearance and development replaced most residential streets with tower blocks and modern housing estates. Some Georgian architecture and Victorian era terraced housing survive in patches: for example Arbour Square, the eastern side of Stepney Green, and the streets around Matlock Street.

The area has not yet experienced the levels of gentrification seen in nearby Bow, Wapping and Limehouse but some redevelopment has taken place. The former Arbour Square Police Station and the East End Mission building are also being redeveloped.

Phil Winston is an award winning English dancer, dance teacher and choreographer.

Phil Winston was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. He began training in dance locally, later attending the Royal Ballet School. As a professional dancer, Winston worked primarily in commercial styles, appearing in television and theatre shows, before deciding to pursue a teaching career and opening a dance school. As a choreographer. Winston has worked on numerous productions, both in the UK and internationally. He is a resident choreographer for Stageworks Worldwide Productions, which produces theatre and cabaret shows for various venues in Blackpool, most notably at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. In 1998, Winston was awarded the Carl Alan Award for services to dance.

In 1984, Winston was appointed as an Examiner of the International Dance Teachers' Association, a leading international dance examination board. In 1992, he was elected to the Modern Jazz Technical Committee, responsible for the redevelopment of the technique and syllabus for the IDTA Modern Jazz. He is also a member of the Theatre Council, which maintains standards across all the IDTA theatre dance faculties, which also includes ballet, tap and theatrecraft. As a member of the IDTA, Winton is a recognised authority on modern jazz dance, and frequently lectures at dance schools and colleges, seminars and summer schools.

Charles Stepney (March 26, 1931–May 17, 1976) was a producer, arranger, songwriter and musician famous for his Orchestral Psychedelic soul sound with Chicago's Cadet/Chess records in the 1960s/1970s and afterwards with Earth, Wind & Fire.

Charles and Marshall Chess (son of Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess) in the mid ’60’s created the band Rotary Connection for the new experimental Cadet Concept label and between 1967 and 1971 produced six innovative studio albums for Rotary Connection (receiving a Grammy nomination in 1968):

Between the creation of the Rotary Connection albums, Charles also produced, arranged & co-wrote with Rotary Connection singer Minnie Riperton’s 1970 debut album Come to My Garden.

Commenting on Minnie at the time he said that she"has a soprano range of about four octaves, a whole lot of soul, she's good-looking and she's got the experience of Rotary behind her."

During this time Charles wrote, produced and conducted a Classical Jazz Symphony in 5 parts entitled Cohesion. Cohesion was performed in Minneapolis, MN by the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Ramsey Lewis Trio and Minnie Riperton. It was his first opportunity to Conduct live before an audience.