Meet our Propel Teaching Team

Tell us a bit about yourself 
Hello, I am Josie and I am an original Brightonian, which is often rare to find! My introduction to Contemporary Dance was in Brighton and Hove Youth Dance Company many moons ago so it feels wonderful to be leading on this project for South East Dance, back in my home town. 

I am a dance educator, having spent many, many years facilitating for some brilliant community organisations, professional companies, schools, colleges and in so many varied settings and spaces. Before returning to the south coast, I taught for many years at The BRIT School for Performing Arts and as a Animateur for Rambert Dance Company. I am passionate about the delivery of high quality dance education for all and believe in the importance of allowing space for individuality and creativity. When I am not teaching dance, I can be found leading yoga classes in and around the community, walking my rescue dog up on the beach or running around after my wildly imaginative toddler… who has just started attending his first creative dance sessions at The Dance Space!

What do you enjoy about leading participation work and working with young people? 
I often reflect back with huge gratitude for the opportunities I had as a young person that led me to where I am now and feel so strongly about the arts and dance being accessible and inclusive. Young people are the future and safe spaces to explore, express and push boundaries through their chosen art form is crucial to their development. I find this age group and their growth and potential really exciting as a dance teacher and educator. 

I love the unexpected in community dance spaces and participation work. I have a plan A and B but usually a project, workshop or class can take a completely different route which is wonderful. I facilitate. Therefore, I always work with those in the room to hopefully allow them the best experience possible and meet them wherever they are at.

Why do you think Propel will be great for young dancers to take part in? 
It is going to be fun. Explorative, welcoming, inclusive and educational. As it is a fairly long term project my hope is that the group really get to know each other and that all the participants will be eager and engaged in enhancing their dance training, as well as choreographic and performance skills. 

What are you looking forward to most about Propel? 
Meeting and getting to know the young people. Learning about them, their current dance training and interests and then planning alongside the team some really brilliant performance work for them to get stuck into. Lucy Clark and I both truly align with the ethos at South East Dance and I hope the young people feel excited to train in such a beautiful, professional studio space and have some great opportunities to get involved with. 

Who is your favourite dance artist or company?
I love the work of Ohad Naharin and the encouraging and inclusive nature of his movement language and movement classes. Pure joy for the body and encouraging everyone and anyone to move! I also am a long term fan of Hofesh Shechter and seeing the company perform Political Mother at Brixton Academy back in 2015 was one of the most memorable performances I have ever been to as the whole audience were on their feet throughout, dancing and grooving like at a gig space.

Which song always gets you on the dancefloor?
Far too many to choose from! If in a studio space, currently I am dancing to a lot of Ezra Collective and the newest Jungle album but if I am kitchen dancing, it will be to some original late 80’s New York House or Funk! 

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a disabled dance artist and co-founder of fuse collective, an interdisciplinary collective that creates collaborative performance art. As part of fuse collective, I have choreographed, performed, and co-produced works that have been performed across London and South East England in theatres and arts venues such as The Place, Theatre Deli, Camden People's Theatre. We were commissioned by Dancin' Oxford and Pegasus Theatre to create a new work that premiered at their Moving With The Times Festival 2023.

I am a graduate from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where I gained a First Class Honours degree in Contemporary Dance, working with a number of industry professionals including Joel Brown (Candoco Dance Company), Daniel Squire, and Stephanie Schober. I have since performed in works by Boy Blue Entertainment, Communitas Dance, and Amy Mauvan, and was part of Studio Wayne McGregor’s PEER cohort 2023. 

My practice prioritises well-bring, care, and inclusivity in order to create safe spaces to experience and get involved with dance. This is informed by learning and involvement with Stopgap Dance Company and Candoco Dance Company, alongside producer development training with Yewande103 which prioritises access-led practice and the ethics of production.

I am currently a trainee facilitator with Vincent Dance Theatre and assist Chichester Festival Youth Theatre’s dance strand, where I have experience in working with young people from a diverse range of backgrounds, abilities, and ways in to dance. 

What do you enjoy about leading participation work and working with young people? 

I really enjoy seeing how each young person grows in confidence, not only in themselves, but in their ability to dance and express their individual creativity. I enjoy finding ways to help each young person develop their skills and artistry, whether that be by giving small challenges to those who are more experienced or thinking of new ways to explain movement for those who learn differently. I genuinely enjoy finding ways to support young people to thrive, to have fun, and to create a space where it is ok to get things wrong! 

Why do you think Propel will be great for young dancers to take part in? 

Propel is an excellent opportunity for young people as it provides a fun, inclusive, and supportive environment to learn new skills and technique. You don’t need a lot of experience, just a willingness to want to dance, to learn, and to be part of a community of young dancers. It is a great stepping stone for those interested in progressing on to pre-professional training or for those just wanting to gain more experience in contemporary dance.

What are you looking forward to most about Propel? 

Propel is something I would have loved to have been a part of when I was younger! It is great that there are so many more opportunities for young dancers to learn contemporary dance locally from experienced artists. I’m excited to meet the young people and to be part of the first year of this programme. I’m looking forward to the little things - seeing friendships form, confidence grow, and skills develop as they form a community of young dancers.

Who is your favourite dance artist or company?

There are so many – its hard to choose just one! I would have to say Stopgap Dance Company stands out for me as I really value their ethos and their innovative ways of working which have inspired my practice a lot. 

Which song always gets you on the dancefloor?

Any cheesy songs from the 90s - YMCA, Conga , and Cha Cha slide always get me moving!