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Michaela Collings

I graduated from Trinity Laban in 2013 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dance and have since been working as a freelance dance practitioner across London and Surrey.

I have experience in working with a variety of ages and abilities, including babies, toddlers, primary school children and older adults as well as children with physical and/or mental disabilities.

Originally from Germany, I choreographed, performed and toured my own dance piece ‘Zu zweit’ and was involved in several stage performances with the My Way-Ensemble, a German dance company for dancers aged 60 to 90. I also worked on their intergenerational dance project with primary school children in a deprived Hamburg area.

Since living in England, I have taught contemporary dance technique, creative dance & movement and performing arts for various organisations including Laban, Artis, ABC Ballet, Louise Klarnett and Stratford Circus. I have also worked as a project manager for the creative arts charity Create. Most recently I joined Dance Woking to work in their outreach team.

Now based in Staines, I recently set up ‘Impulse Dance’, my own community dance company currently teaching contemporary dance classes for adults with the aim to extend my classes to more age groups in the future.

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Diana Louise Towe

I have gained many performing experiences; my biggest achievements being on the Tap World Championships stage in Riesa Germany (for the past 6 years 2014-2019) and BGT TV experience! I’ve also performed at big events such as Move It & corporate/charity events. My teaching experience is very broad, teaching ages from 3 yrs to adults. I teach various styles such as; Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Street Jazz, Commercial & Contemporary. I feel teaching many age groups and styles allows me to be creative with my choreography and makes my teaching technique versatile. Teaching at Tap Attack is very intense and fast pace as the students are at such a high level which presents a good challenge for me, I also train at Tap Attack as part of the main company which keeps me up to date with changing styles within tap! I think I should add as many strings to my bow as possible so I also have some cheerleading and gymnastics experience, with gymnastics I have been a coach in training previously.

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Dance Woking

Established in 1994, Dance Woking is an innovative dance organisation that provides high quality opportunities to watch, perform and take part in dance, providing new experiences that inspire artists, audiences, participants and communities.

WHO ARE WE FOR?

Our work is primarily for Woking and the surrounding Surrey towns and villages.

We serve and support networks across the age spectrum from schoolchildren to students and recent graduates, to young people outside training and education, and the perennials.

Dance lovers across the county and into London rave about our regular live public performances.

And our pop-up and festival appearances in shopping centres and local parks bring our public spaces to life.

WHY DANCE WOKING?

Our work brings unexpected and lasting benefits through dance to real communities at grass roots level where it has lasting impact.

We are a thriving and nimble business firmly rooted in Woking and Surrey, soon entering our fourth decade of inspiring dance.

We’re alert to local collaborations and equipped to offer more, especially with our funding partners at the Borough Council.

We work with other regional agents in housing and health, in sport and in schools; and we have successful alliances with independent dance artists and choreographers, and with specialist dance schools and mainstream education providers.

To find out about our latest programme visit the Inspired Programme here

The Urban Playground Team at Party in the Park 2016 with STEAM

The Urban Playground Team at Party in the Park 2016 with STEAM

The Urban Playground Team at Party in the Park 2016 with Rotate taking a bow

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Cherie Brennan

My background is in Contemporary and Traditional African and Caribbean peoples dance and my expertise is in teaching inclusively and facilitating classes for dancers with and without disabilities. Starting my dance journey at the age of 16 I know the feelings of anxiety and not feeling confident very well. Therefore I strive to create all my classes for whatever group I teach to be open, down to earth, welcoming and accessible.

Most of my teacher training has been with Stopgap Dance Company where I have worked for them in a number of roles since 2015 but am currently their Community Engagement Artist and mentor Stopgap’s apprentice company Sg2 in all things creative learning and outreach work. I am also lead facilitator and choreographer for THRIVE Youth Dance Company. An intervention dance programme for young people living in Surrey who are aged 14-24 and not in employment, education or training, are young cares, challenging life circumstances and have additional support needs. The company provides a nurturing learning environment for vulnerable young people to thrive by using physical dance training and creative dance as a tool to develop key life skills; build trust with adults, their peers and themselves; implement stability and routine into their lives; and consider and reflect upon their ability to achieve and succeed. I regularly facilitate outreach education projects and have performed for various companies including; DAiSY, Casson and Friends, UNiT and The Dance Movement before it closed. I was also on the Artist Exchange Programme 2021 run by Danielle Teale.

WHO ARE WE FOR?

WHY DANCE WOKING?

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