Watch again - Things I Wish I'd Known with Abi Mortimer

Join Director, Choreographer and Performer Abi Mortimer as she shares her experiences of starting her own dance company. 

Abi graduated with a passion for making dance and with all the naivety in the world about what was ahead of her. In this session she will tell you all about her successes, failures, a few embarrassments and the things she wish she had known! 

Abi co-founded Lîla Dance with Carrie in 2005, and worked collaboratively to develop the languages and style of the company. She assumed the role of Residential Director to make eight works that have undergone national and rural tours, international performances and festivals.? 

Abi danced in company repertoire between 2005- 2012 and following a (short!) seven year break from performing, returned to dancing for Lîla in The Hotel Experience in 2019. Amongst others, she has also danced for Yael Flexer and Nick Sandiland (YFNS), Charlie Morrissey and Detta Howe.  

As a freelance choreographer Abi has extensive choreographic experience making work across a variety of settings including immersive theatre (The Deluge), non-theatrical spaces, dance for screen (Living is a Doorway, a part) outdoor work (My Bit) and promenade performance for Gay Pride Parade. She makes work on people of all ages and abilities. Her work has been shown in high profile theatres including Sadlers Wells, The Place, Trinity Laban, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Brighton Dome, The Point, Greenwich Dance, The Gulbenkian.  

Abi received choreographic mentorship from Hofesh Shechter and has collaborated with a range of international artists and companies, working on projects with Gary Clarke, Simona Bertozzi, writer for the BBC Nick Walker and StopGap. She is a senior lecturer at The University of Chichester and has a passion for extending her practice to creatively engage the community.