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. |
Service: Performer
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Michaela Collings
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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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Woking Dance Space
We are a non profit organisation, providing dance and exercise classes for adults, no matter what their age, experience or previous training. Woking Dance Space is unique in that classes are offered for all age ranges, from young adults to senior citizens. We run classes in many dance disciplines, hold special events and performances and provide a forum for people to meet and explore what is both a creative and beneficial interest.
With ages ranging from seventeen to seventy, every ability is covered from complete beginner through to examination standards.
The studio also serves as a place for dance lovers to meet and arrange visits to local and London shows, master-classes and other performances. We offer a friendly environment for all, maximising the opportunity to enjoy dance. Whether it be to learn a new skill, revisit old times, or just get some exercise. With friendly, experienced teachers our studio is supportive and most importantly, fun! We run a biennial show and other opportunities for performance, with fantastic costumes and buzzing back stage atmosphere, but no pressure to take part.
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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.
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Ema Thomas
I have been dancing for 20 years now. I have graduated a three year degree in professional dance and musical theatre at Bird College where I covered jazz, contemporary, Musical theatre, African contemporary, urban contemporary, ballet, commerical and many more. I have been training contemporary dance for 8 years, I have studied the techniques of Alvin Ailey, Horton, release, Limone, flying low and Cunningham. As a professional artist I have experienced some incredible opportunities for example being a lead actress/dancer KITKAT advert, Understudy ensemble Puss in Boots Panto at the Belgrade Theatre, a dancer for BRITAINS GOT TALENT: THE CHAMPIONS, a dancer for Burberry – London Fashion Week Performance, Conor Maynard & Jack Maynard – FRIENDZONE and dancer in the feature film MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN.
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Wesley Bingwa
I have a qualification In dance all the way from GCSE to Masters degree level, dance Is something I care about a lot and want to progress in to the highest level. I came to Dance Woking’s attention in 2014 when I was a student at Woking College and took part in their first Boys Platform and outreach project with ZoieLogic Dance Theatre. Since then, I have graduated from De Montfort University, Leicester and recently completed a scholarship funded MA from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and I took centre stage at Dance Woking’s Boys Platform in March 2020. Now back in Surrey I am a Dance Woking Associate Artist.
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Isha Nandra
Self-taught, however worked alongside many artists from the West End, Broadway and alike having grown up in the field.
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Sarita Piotrowski
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.
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Ellie Marsh
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.
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Matilda Maginnis
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.