Meet our Creative Movement Class Teachers

Tell us a bit about yourself
Since graduating from Laban in 2012 with a First Class Honours degree in Dance Performance, I have worked as a performer for a wide variety of companies in the UK and internationally. These include: Pina Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal, Luca Silvistrini’s Protein, Hagit Yakira Dance, English National Opera, and Goldfrapp. I have also toured my own work to UK venues such as Sadler’s Wells Lilian Baylis Theatre, The Place, and Tramway. In 2021 I was commissioned by Ballet Boyz to create the film work YES on their company, which was premiered as part of an online broadcast in tribute to the life of Sir Ken Robinson. In addition, I received a Distinction in Performance Design and Practice at UAL in 2016, and have recently finished my City and Guild Carpentry and Joinery Level 1 course at Brighton MET. I am interested in finding ways of adapting my work to outdoor less conventional performance settings.

I have taught a wide variety of people of different ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience - From professional classes at venues such as Tripspace and The Place, to online sat down classes at elderly care homes and sheltered accommodations in South East London (during the pandemic). Teaching challenges me in a way that nothing else does, and allows me to meet and connect with individuals from all walks of life. Teaching is my main source of inspiration when creating work.
 

What do you enjoy most about your work with children and young people?
One of the things I enjoy most when working with children and younger people is their creativity, and how each child can connect to an idea in a slightly different  and original way. I also enjoy seeing how different young people can develop self-confidence and relationships with other class members - and in doing this become more bold and daring with their movement and creative choices.

What can the children who take part in your creative movement classes expect?
Children taking part in my classes should expect plenty of props, storybooks, drawing and colouring in, made up games, and (of course) some movement as well. They should also be prepared to engage their imaginations, and have a bit of a laugh at themselves, but mainly me, along the way.

Who is your favourite dance artist or company?
My favourite dance artist/maker is Jerome Bel. His works are both bold and delicate, funny and tragic, bizarre and relatable, and spectacular and mundane - all at once. The Show Must Go On, is the best show I have ever seen live.

What is your favourite dance film?
My favourite dance film is Save The Last Dance, partly because it’s so bad, and partly because my sister taught me one of the dance phrases in it when I was 12 years old. 

Which song always gets you on the dancefloor?
The song that gets me onto the dance floor is Rasputin by Boney M. I’m also a big fan of Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa.

Tell us a bit about yourself 
My name is Annie, I am a community dance artist based in Brighton. I have been working in community dance since 2012, I love working with a variety of different people in differing contexts which this work allows me to do. I feel strongly that the arts should be for everyone and so work hard to ensure my sessions are accessible for all. I have worked with inclusive organisations since 2012 when I began my career, Magpie Dance in Kent and now Parable Dance who are based in Brighton and run classes at The Dance Space. Both companies provide dance classes for people with learning disabilities. 

What do you enjoy most about your work with children and young people?
In my classes I like to create a safe space where children and young people feel empowered to be their most creative selves. I enjoy facilitating their ideas, trying to provide them with as much ownership and choice as possible so that all involved feel like they have artistic ownership over what is being created in classes. I enjoy being part of children and young people’s amazing creativity and being able to nurture their ideas to create dance together, feels like a wonderful privilege. 

What are you most looking forward to about your creative movement classes? 
I’m very much looking forward to coming with some creative ideas and starting points and then seeing where these ideas organically grow, through ideas shared by the children and young people in the class. 

Who is your favourite dance artist or company?
Hard question! I don’t have one favourite in particular I don’t think, but I do have favourite pieces that have spoken to me at different times in my life - Ghost Dances by Christopher Bruce, Infra by Wayne McGregor, I recently saw Jungle Book Reimagined by Akram Khan and Kizlar by Ceyda Tanc Dance both of which I enjoyed. I also love watching African and Caribbean Dance, I studied it for three years at university and have recently taken part in a workshop, but unfortunately haven’t managed to see any live pieces for some time. 

What is your favourite dance film?
So many! Centre Stage, Save The Last Dance, Honey, Step up, I could go on! 

Which song always gets you on the dancefloor?
My all time favourite song is Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, I love singing and dancing to it!