I completed my training with a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from Laban and then a City and Guilds Level 3 in Teaching Certificate Adult Education. After many years teaching contemporary technique and choreography in higher education, in 2014 I decided to focus full-time on teaching dance in a freelance capacity, specialising in contemporary dance and creative movement within community settings. I have completed training in teaching dance to people living with Dementia and Parkinson’s.
Emily is a freelance community dance artist working across Surrey and West London, specialising in contemporary and creative dance for early years and older adults. Her sessions take place in a wide range of settings such as schools, community centres, care homes, sheltered housing, libraries and hospitals. She believes that dance is for everybody and works inclusively with all ages and abilities, with participants ranging from 6 months old to 96 years old!
Emily currently collaborates and teaches with many arts organisations and charities including Dance Woking, DanceWest, English National Ballet, The Place, Stopgap Dance Company, Polka Theatre, Age UK Richmond, CoDa Dance Company, Zambesi Dance Company and Inclusive Intergenerational Dance (iID).
She is really pleased to be one of Dance Woking’s Supported Dance Artists 2021/22 and is looking forward to developing her work with early year and families in Surrey later this year.
Sarita is a choreographer and movement director following the success of over 20 years in the dance profession including extensive works as a performer and teacher. As a multidisciplinary movement creative, she has worked on productions for theatres such as The National Theatre, West End’s Trafalgar Studios and some of her work is currently present on Netflix (Musical Film: Been So Long). From 2016-2019 Sarita was an associate creative director and choreographer for Union Dance working on a range of multimedia projects and education programmes. In 2019-2020 Sarita founded Surrey Dance Connect in Guildford, whilst also delivering as a Module Leader for the BA Dance degree program and as a movement teacher for Guildford School of Acting (Surrey University), where she continues to work as an associate.
Sarita trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and established her professional career for seven years as a resident dancer for leading British contemporary dance companies Wayne McGregor | Random, Henri Oguike and The National Dance Company of Wales. Following this and with her past experiences of Dance in Jazz, Street, Latin and styles of the African diaspora, Sarita expanded her work into the commercial dance industry for TV productions, TV commercials and pop music artists. Other experience includes supporting GCSE Dance, teaching yoga and mentoring.
Ellie Marsh trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. She then went on to work as an apprentice with National Dance Company Wales performing works by Nigel Charnock, Ed Myhill and Fearghus Ó Conchúir. Ellie is a dancer for Fertile Ground most recently working with Renaud Wiser and Malgorzata Dzierzon. Ellie is also a company member of Roisin Whelan Dance based in Ireland. Ellie is a choreographer and rehearsal director for National Youth Ballet of Great Britain with her work premiering at Sadler’s Wells at the age of 17. Ellie has taught for Leeds University, Roisin Whelan Dance, National Dance Company Wales Associate Program, Dance United and Northern Dance School. Ellie is also a sports masseuse and yoga teacher.
I have worked as a dance artist for a variety of companies and choreographers including, DRIFT, FRONTLINEDance, Rees Dance, iiD, Sarita Piotrowski and R.W.D. This included performing in a number of different environments such as in theatres, site-specific locations and in dance films. I am also passionate about creating my own work, I like creating work that has socio-political themes and that resonates with those who watch it. Previous works I have created have explored themes including flooding, fair pay, abduction and fast fashion. In 2020 I joined-up with fellow dancer, Hannah Woodliffe, to create H&T a company which shares work that portrays issues and topics through dance and is accessible to a diverse range of audiences through outreach workshops. I have taught for a range of age groups and in variety of settings such as in schools and youth centres. I am also a dance and movement photographer where I have worked for 2Faced Dance, FRONTLINEDance, Jona Dance Company, Excessive Human Collective and Transcend Dance. In addition to my artistic practice, I have experience in marketing and communications including the use of social media.
I have been working in the dance entertainment industry for 15 years across stage, tv and film as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and creative director. I run The Urban Dance School across Surrey Est 2004 and Ombrascura Dance Company. My credits include X-factor, Brit Awards, Chris Brown, One Direction, A League of their Own, Spotify, ASDA, L’Oreal, Paco Rabanne, Burberry and many more.
I am an experienced dance teacher and lecturer from primary school age up to degree level. I teach and choreograph in the styles of contemporary, ballet and jazz, and also teach dance fitness classes. Previously I taught mainly at BTEC and AL standard and currently I teach at degree level at PPA and as an outreach dance artist for both Reside Dance in Reading and for Dance Woking.
Lucy McCrudden, aka Dance Mama, is dance entrepreneur and advocate. She is Founder of dancemama.org – a community, ACE funded activity programme and platform profiling significant parents in dance and the arts. Lucy has dove-tailed her own work with holding key positions in learning and participation over the last 18 years. These include: Dance Artist in Residence for DanceXchange (2004), Manager for London Contemporary Dance School, The Place, Centre for Advanced Training (2005-11), Expert Panel member of the DFE Music and Dance Scheme representing the National Dance CATs (2007-2010), Vice-Chair of Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Arts Grants Panel (2006-2009), Learning & Participation Manager, Rambert (2014-16), Chair of the Board of Trustees Dance Woking (2014-16), Head of Learning and Participation, Rambert (2016-18), Project Manager, Chance to Dance, Royal Opera House (2019-20), Mentor & Lecturer, ISTD DDP course (2021). As an independent specialist she has taught over 19,000 people across the UK and has engaged with a wide variety of dance and arts organisations in many other capacities; consultant, management, choreography, and presenting/public speaking. She is Ambassador for the Parents in Performing Arts Campaign and Secretariat to the Scientific Advisory Board, Active Pregnancy Foundation.
Hannah is a professionally trained dancer (University of Chichester, mapdance), working freelance in performance, teaching and project management roles (BEEE Creative CIO, Emily O’Shea Company, Springs Dance Company, Dance Equation and others).
I am a choreographer and facilitator interested in the movement and communication between all things; body, art, text and thought, focusing on using the human form we exist in, in connection with technology to better understand ourselves and our relationship to the world and others. I am preoccupied with creating innovative artistic structures to tell, explore and reveal people‚ stories, thoughts and experiences, creating intimacies; through shared moments and 1 to 1 and high functioning open participation spaces. I am curious about how to approach these interests in new and accessible ways. I thrive on creating imagined and real worlds for people to become part of, to explore their creativity, whilst discovering their uniqueness and power to contribute positively to communities. My work takes many forms; dance films, live work, participatory and audio works. I have additional experience choreographing movement for plays and mentoring and supporting emerging artists.
I have been recognised and supported by Studio Wayne McGregor through the QuestLab Network programme and The Point as Associate Artist. Additionally, I have facilitated workshops for various community groups, across all levels of the education system and in nine UK counties. I also work as an inclusive dance practitioner and producer.
Below:
Picture 1 – Virtual You at Adjustments Nov 2018 — Photo by Jane Russell
Picture 2 – Questlab Empa Resarch – Photo by Sophie Newton
Picture 3 – Dance Digital Tattoo – Photo by Ellie Kelly 2018
Picture 4 – Virtual You at ~Adjustments Nov 2018 – Photo by Jane Russell
