Meet the Artists
Read about some of the artists Swindon Dance is and has supported through its Professional Artists Programme following its revamp 2016/17.
From newly graduated dancers just starting out in their careers to more experienced and mid-career performers, choreographers and artists, Swindon Dance is an artistic hub where artists have a free rein to experiment and grow their art unhindered by any constraints or pressures to produce finished works, read biogs, follow links to artists websites and on social media and watch some of those artists in action here – see some of our first artists supported through this programme from 2016.
See who we are currently supporting
Young Professional Programme 2024-26
JASON YIP
As a dance artist, I’ve always been driven by a desire to use dance as a platform to explore concepts of memory and play. My creative processes often involve the investigation of how past memories shape movement, and how ‘play’ can be interpreted through both conceptual narratives and physical exploration. I believe that the body is capable of acting as an archive of the past, serving to stimulate dialogues about the social-political issues that permeate our everyday lives. In essence, I view dance as a powerful medium of self-expression, a testament to the joy and groove inherent in movement. Learn more
Maea Morgan
Maea is an alumni of the Swindon Dance Centre for Advanced Training and completed her dance training at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance. She was an EMERGANCE 22/23 programme Graduate, an MA Dance: Performance and Professional Practices programme that is a professionally focused course (12-months), co-designed and delivered between Joss Arnott Dance and the University of Salford. Learn more
Joss Hoffman
Josh returns to this programme following time out to recover from a serious injury. We are so glad he has fully recovered and able to return to continue on his creative pathway with us. Josh is captivated by movement, art and creation. “The feeling I get when moving and making have helped me deal with moments in my life, have brought me joy and inspiration in immeasurable quantities.” Josh began his journey into dance through street dance. Learn more
Associate Artists Programme 2024-26
Sam Amos
Sam is a choreographer and filmmaker based in Bristol. Sam discovered dancing at the age of 9 – inspired by the freedom and expressive nature of Breaking. Sam has dedicated his time to developing a very distinct movement style for which he is known today. Learn more
Marie-Louise Flexen
Marie – Louise Flexen is a highly creative individual who is passionate about delivering work of outstanding quality within the arts and wellbeing sectors. She offers over 25 years of experience in the expert field of dance and performance, with a specialism in collaboration and combined arts. Learn more
Vanhulle Dance Theatre
Vanhulle Dance Theatre creates highly physical, emotive and thought-provoking shows, fusing contemporary dance and martial arts. Our shows tour nationally and internationally. Connecting to our audiences is at the heart of what we do. We deliver professional classes and workshops across the UK and Europe, helping to develop and nurture aspiring performers. We bring high quality dance performances and workshops to schools, libraries, rural communities and Theatres, introducing thousands of people to dance. Learn more
Second Hand Dance
Second Hand Dance is a disabled-led dance company driven with care by Artistic Director Rosie Heafford and Executive Producer Claire Summerfield. Established in 2013, the company create touring shows and digital dance experiences for children and adults. Learn more
Orla Hardie
Winner of our REVERSE PITCH 2024 and also of the South East Dance Brighton Fringe Bursary, where she presented SKUMO as part of the Brighton Fringe, a double act that delves into The Uncanny, that eerily familiar feeling. With a movement language inspired by animation and popping with texture, two clown-like characters teeter between despair and comedy, carving a window into the mangled unconscious. Orla Hardie started training at local dance schools before joining the Swindon Centre for Advanced Training where she was introduced to contemporary dance. In 2018 she joined National Youth Dance Company under the artistic direction of Botis Seva. She went on to continue her training at London Contemporary Dance School graduating in 2022. Learn more
Petronella Wiehahn
I am a dance artist making work between Cornwall and London. Growing up by the sea in Cornwall, I feel connected to the ocean, land, and sky and changing weather. My work explores themes of nature, light, space, and perception and Is inspired by my work as a performer. – I have worked with choreographers including Charlie Morrisey, Theo Lowe, Zoi Dimitri, Alison Curtis-Jones and Hubert Essakow. Learn more
See who we have previously supported (since 2016)
Young Professional Programme 2022-24
Dan Baines
Born in Wiltshire, Dan Baines began dancing at the age of 7 before joining Swindon Dance’s Centre for Advanced Training Scheme. He then joined the National Youth Dance Company. Dan then graduated from Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary in 2020.
Josh Hoffman
Josh is captivated by movement, art and creation. “The feeling I get when moving and making have helped me deal with moments in my life, have brought me joy and inspiration in immeasurable quantities.” Josh began his journey into dance through street dance.
Sam Amos
Sam is a choreographer and filmmaker based in Bristol. Sam discovered dancing at the age of 9 – inspired by the freedom and expressive nature of Breaking. Sam has dedicated his time to developing a very distinct movement style for which he is known today.
Associate Artists Programme 2022-24
Anusha Subramanyam
Beeja was started by Anusha Subramanyam – dancer, choreographer, teacher and dance movement therapist – who is seen as one of the most exciting exponents of Bharatanatyam working ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ of its tradition. Anusha aims to make Bharatanatyam accessible.
June Yuen Ting
June is a movement researcher, cultural worker and community organiser. June is interested in movement making as community organising, or the devising of collective choreographic situations as the building of embodied relationships toward social transformation. Gestures and momentums give forms to liberatory possibilities in June’s work.
Oluwaseun Olayiwola
Oluwaseun is a Nigerian-American dancer, choreographer, poet, and critic based in London. His work has been commissioned by Spread The Word and Studio 3 Arts. He recently completed an MFA in Choreography from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music in Dance
Young professionals 2020-2022
Becky is a freelance dance artist working as a performer and researcher. Curious about the body Becky invests her time in improvisational practices. Exploring site-specific work and studio-based research.
Physicality, efficiency and stillness and three areas that captivate Becky’s focus. Becky trained at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Later she went on to complete an MA in Dance Performance. This was as part of Transitions Dance Company, funded by Mercers’ Arts Award. Since Becky has worked as a freelance performer. Working with practitioners and companies such as; Marina Collard, Dora Frankel, Ben McEwen, Jane Harrington, Hannah Cameron, Bicycle Baller and Ella&C.
Imogen Reeve is a choreographer and artist who works across art forms. Imogen creates politically motivated performance work, that defies characterisation. Since graduating from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2018, Imogen has created work with experimental musical performance groups ‘Shoal’ and the ‘Larissa Trio’. She went on to collaborate with composer Adam Łukawski. Imogen and Adam worked to pioneer a new way of using movement to compose music, using aleatoric scores.
Lady Moth is a dance artist, character and an alter-ego making small dance pieces, often with a whimsical fantasy theme. Her work is cosplay-inspired and has a focus around famous, pop-culture clowns. Lady Moth trained in Ballet and Contemporary Dance and gained her BA honors degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Lady Moth has performed Chinese Dance for a Lifestyle and Fashion brand in Trafalgar Square. Currently, her focus is on making her own small dance film inspired by her love for the Stephen King clown Pennywise.
Young professionals 2018-19
Amy was a member of the Swindon Dance Centre for Advanced Training before going on to complete her training at the Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance. Since graduating Amy has been a dance graduate assistant for Rosie Kay’s 5 Soldiers, model/dancer for Nur Na, choreographer/performer at the Emerge Festival, The Edge in Bath, Resolutions, Footprint Dance Festival and dancer/leader for Lush’s Creative Showcase. Amy is currently teaching contemporary dance at the New Performing Arts Centre and runs a contemporary youth dance company as well as creating her own works and dance company.
Dan has taught, lectured, choreographed, mentored, performed and consulted for numerous companies and organisations across the UK leading me to become a high calibre artist representing the south west. “The ability to capture moments to keep is real magic. Four years into this craft as a professional media creator it still blows my mind that I get to do this as my job.”
Isobel was a member of the Swindon Dance Centre for Advanced Training. From there she went on to train at the London Contemporary Dance School. Isobel returned to teach on the Centre for Advanced training and work with students at Exeter College. She has performed with PunchDrunk, Traceworks Dance Company, music video for ‘Obvious’ by Belgian band High Hi and with The Yonis and band Don’t Problem at Brainchild Festival in Sussex.
Isobel’s creative work included; directing, choreographing and performing ‘Rip It Up’s screen dance film in collaboration with Harvey Cash. This was accepted to Paris Short Film Festival and Vancouver F-O-R-M Festival. Isobel also devised and performed an interdisciplinary installation piece ‘perimeter’ for InterArts at The Place in London.
Raised in the southwest of England, Jack started dancing with Swindon Dance Centre for Advanced Training Exeter programme. He graduated in 2015 from the London Contemporary Dance School and continued further movement research at Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance (AUT), Espacio (ARG) and Dance Unity Space (THA).
Jacks performance experience includes; ‘Illuminations’ repertory by Richard Alston and staged by Liam Riddick and Jennifer Hayes. ‘Luxuris’ repetory by Liv Lorent and staged by James MacGillivary and Baptise Bourgougnon. ‘Frienemies’ by Alex Broadie performed at Resolution. Dance film ‘Heading to Hades’ by Lewis Wheeler. ‘Flow’ by Debbie Tiso, Lauren Potter and David Hinton. ‘Feeti off the Ground’ summer tour. ‘Threshold’ reconstruction work by Jelka Milic and ‘Waiting Room’ by Ryan Mason both performed at SEAD Theatre in Austria. ‘Egree’ by Daniel Perrson at Resolution. ‘One, then two, then three’ dance for film, Argentina and much much more.
Young Professional Programme 2017-18
Charley is currently working with Black Box Dance Company which is a company of 8 dancers at the beginning of their professional careers based in Holstebro, Denmark. I was introduced to this company during my apprenticeship with Danish Dance Theatre (Dansk Danseteater) in Copenhagen in 2015. The apprenticeship was part of my Postgraduate Diploma through London Contemporary Dance School where I graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in 2014.
“My interest in movement started from around the age of 8 as I became involved with the Bristol Capoeira scene. The use of movement and rhythm intrigued me, as it looked at a balance between functionality and aesthetics. I joined various extra-curricular sessions in order to learn more about the way I move, which lead me to successfully audition for ‘Kinesis’ (a Bristol-based youth dance company). To further my training I decided to audition for the Swindon Dance; Youth Dance Academy (Centre for Advanced Training), initially to be a part of the urban strand. Through the Youth Dance Academy, I found I wanted a career in dance. I transferred to the contemporary strand and then went on to train at London Contemporary Dance School, where I received the Duke of York scholarship in my first year.”
“I am a contemporary dancer who recently graduated from Northern School Of Contemporary Dance. I started dancing at an early age at school and was later introduced to Swindon Dance where I studied for 4-years at the Swindon Dance; Youth Dance Academy (Centre for Advanced Training). During my last year at Northern, I chose the teaching module in order to start to develop my skills as a teacher, this is something that I would like to pursue further. Throughout my training, I have worked with James Wilton, Douglas Thorpe, Jennifer Lynn and Avatara Ayuso all practitioners in contemporary dance with a variety of different styles and teachings.”
“I started training at the Swindon Dance; Youth Dance Academy (Centre for Advanced Training), from here I continued onto the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. I have previously worked with choreographers and contemporary dance companies including Alexander Whitley Dance Company, Protein Dance, Saju Hari Dance and Hubert Essakow. I have also performed in gallery spaces including Dulwich Picture Gallery and in Pablo Bronstein’s piece at the Tate Britain.”
Associate Artists 2020-22
Adrian studied Dance Theatre at the Fokwang University of the Arts in Germany. Following graduation, he became a soloist for Tanztheatre Bielefeld, for three years. For the next two years dance took the form of freelance projects. Working in Germany, Switzerland and the UK. During his career Adrian has worked with several dancers from Tanztheatre Wuppertal Pina Baush. Including Dominique Mercy, Malou Airaudo, Rainer Behr and Stephen Brinkham.
Body Politic are the first independent female-led Hip Hop dance theatre company to have toured outside of London in 2019. “Body Politic’s Father Figurine should be celebrated as one of the first full-length Hip Hop theatre works from a Hip Hop company based outside London that has multiple tour dates across southern England.” – Ian Abbott, Writing About Dance. Emma-Jane Greig is the Artistic Director of hip hop theatre company Body Politic. Founded in Oxford in 2012, Body Politic are committed to creating issue-based work. The company create through performance and participation.
Edd was born in Bristol and began to dance through B-boying, guided by Jôel Daniels and Wilkie Branson. From there Edd joined the Centre for Advanced Training at Swindon Dance. Also, joining the National Youth Dance Company where he worked with Jasmin Vardimon and Akram Khan, before completing his training at Rambert School. After graduating, Edd has performed various repertoires within the UK and internationally; working with TJ Lowe, Jose Agudo and Pascal Merighi before joining Balletboyz in September 2017. Edd now dances with Russell Maliphant Company, touring the production Silent Lines and assisting Maliphant with the 2020 creation on the National Youth Dance Company. Based between London and Lisbon Edd is also working on projects with Michael Keegan-Dolan and Thick And Tight.
Thomas is a contemporary dance artist from Oxford and the Artistic Director of Thomas Page Dances (TPD). During their final year of training at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Thomas became a FreeSpace Artist of Studio Wayne McGregor. Thomas was also nominated by Laban to be part of The Place’s Open Borders Project 2019. Thomas is currently an Associate Artist of The Old Fire Station Theatre, SPARK Artist in Residence at The Pegasus Theatre.
Since founding Thomas Page Dances in 2016, the company has rooted choreographic practice around sociopolitical ideas in movement. Using choreography as a form of aesthetic activism and universality of dance as a language seeks to create connections between people who are often separated by very specific ideas, beliefs or experiences. This practice is seen both in Thomas’ work with professional company and youth company, TPD Young Artists.
Robert is a dance artist and creative practitioner working between the UK and France.
He started dancing at Swindon Dance (Centre for Advanced Training), before going on to study at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Currently, he collaborates and performs with Emanuel Gat Dance.
Robert has performed and toured worldwide with companies including the National Dance Company of Wales, Alexander Whitley Dance Company, Protein Dance and Peter Schaufuss Balletten. He has created works with choreographers including Marcos Mourau (La Veronal), Mark Baldwin and Christopher Bruce. Within a gallery context, he has performed in Pablo Bronstein’s, Historical Dances in an Antique Setting at the Tate Britain and Olafur Eliasson’s, Ice Watch at the Tate Modern.
Associate Artists 2018-20
Carys started dancing at a young age at Swindon Dance joining both the Centre for Advanced Training. She completed her training at the Rambert School for Ballet and Contemporary Dance. In her final year, she toured nationally with the Rambert Company performing Itzik Galili’s A Linha Curva. Upon graduation she joined Russell Maliphant Company and toured internationally with the company for four years performing in The Rodin Project, Still Current, and Broken Fall as part of the Conceal / Reveal bill.
Renaud was born in Lausanne in 1979. A recipient of the Migros scholarship for young dancers, Renaud trained with the Ballet Junior in Geneva. In 2000, after completing his training, he joined the Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve before continuing his career as a dancer with the Ballet National de Marseille, The Gothenburg Ballet, Rambert and Bonachela Dance Company. Since 2010 Renaud performs as a freelance on selected projects.
Victor is an award-winning choreographer based in London and Hong Kong. He has been hailed as ‘born to be different’ by The Standard, praised by South China Morning Post as a choreographer with real talent and recognised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council as a dance artist who ‘thrives on being creative, performing and exchanging ideas with a relentless drive’.
Wayne is a director, choreographer and movement director with over fifteen years of experience working in the dance and theatre industries. Wayne graduated from London Contemporary Dance School before embarking on a performance career that has spanned thirteen years working for some of the world’s leading dance companies and choreographers. Throughout his performance career, Wayne sought every opportunity to create, beginning his choreographic experience at National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales) creating on the company and touring his works across Wales. Since establishing Wayne Parsons Dance he has been awarded the Enterprise Ideas Fund from East London Dance, the Lisa Ullman Travelling Scholarship Fund and been a finalist at the Copenhagen International Choreography Competition.
The Associate Artists Programme 2017-18
Anna is the longest standing dancer for Tavaziva Dance of 10 years, previously working with Motionhouse, Shobana Jeyasingh, and Neville Campbell. Anna is a guest teacher & choreographer all over the UK for various dance organisations including Rambert Dance Company, English National Ballet, BalletBoyz & the Centres for Advanced Training.
She formed Watkins Dance Company in 2011, receiving Arts Council funding, and Grants for the Arts for three projects. Work is shown in the UK and internationally including venues such as The Place -Resolution!, Teatro Civico – Italy, St Paul’s Church – Covent Garden, The Hawth Studio, Africa Centre – Covent Garden, Arts Theatre London West End, Bernie Grant Arts Centre and Rich Mix. Recently funded by Arts Council England & East London Dance as part of a Triple Bill collaboration including choreographers Salah El Brogy & Neus Gil Cortes.
Thomasin Gulgec & Estela Merlos
Thom trained at Swindon Dance and Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. He joined Rambert Company as a dancer in 2003. Role creations with the company include Fin Walker’s Reflection, De Frutos’s Elsa Canasta, Kim Brandstrup’s Songs of a Wayfarer, Darshan Singh Bhuller’s Stand and Stare, Doug Varone’s Scribblings and Aletta Collins’s Awakenings. Further engagements include the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony with Akram Khan, numerous works with Russell Maliphant, including Afterlight (Part One), Rodin Project and the film Erebus, in Macbeth at the Young Vic, directed by Carrie Cracknell and Lucy Guerin, and with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui on the 2012 film Anna Karenina, directed by Joe Wright
Estela trained at Escola de Dansa Madó and at Central School of Ballet, obtaining the Solo Seal Award and touring with Ballet Central. Before graduation, she performed with Northern Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake and took part in the site-specific performances of DV8’s The Cost of Living at the Tate Modern in London. After working with Cannes Jeune Ballet (France 2004-06) and IT Dansa (Barcelona 2006-08), she joined Rambert Dance Company from 2008 to 2014.
Commissions Programme 2020-2021
Dan has taught, lectured, choreographed, mentored, performed and consulted for numerous companies and organisations across the UK leading me to become a high calibre artist representing the south west. “The ability to capture moments to keep is real magic. Four years into this craft as a professional media creator it still blows my mind that I get to do this as my job.”
Richard Chappell is an internationally renowned choreographer. Since 2013, Richard has led his own ensemble Richard Chappell Dance. The ensemble has provided a platform for his choreographic research and performance work.
Based between Wales and the South West of England, Richard is currently a commissioned artist for Swindon Dance and Associate Artist at Exeter Northcott. Prior to this, Richard was a Resident Artist for Dance in Devon and Discovery Artist at Pavilion Dance South West. Richard’s creative processes are rooted in collaboration, co-authorship and emotional connectivity. Richard loves to work in community settings, creating ambitious choreography for large inter-generational community casts. Previously working with organisations such as Dance Blast, Dance in Devon and Torbay Culture.
Founding Joss Arnott Dance in 2010, Joss is an international award-winning choreographer. Joss has been supported and commissioned by leading UK dance agencies, venues and funding organisations.
Recently shortlisted for OneDance UK’s People’s Choice Award, Joss is in demand as a choreographer. Joss has been commissioned to create work for professional companies including Rambert and for other leading dance Conservatoires.
Wayne is a director, choreographer and movement director with over fifteen years of experience working in the dance and theatre industries. Wayne graduated from London Contemporary Dance School before embarking on a performance career that has spanned thirteen years working for some of the world’s leading dance companies and choreographers. Throughout his performance career, Wayne sought every opportunity to create, beginning his choreographic experience at National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales) creating on the company and touring his works across Wales. Since establishing Wayne Parsons Dance he has been awarded the Enterprise Ideas Fund from East London Dance, the Lisa Ullman Travelling Scholarship Fund and been a finalist at the Copenhagen International Choreography Competition.
Commissions Programme 2018-19
Yael is an award-winning choreographer based in Brighton, UK. Israeli born, Yael trained at London Contemporary Dance School completing a BA(Hons) in 1992 and an MA in 1995. In 1992 Yael was awarded a research bursary from The University of Chichester and completed her practice-based PhD in 2013. Yael also directs mapdance the University’s postgraduate touring company.
Her work is primarily concerned with interaction, connecting with an audience on a human and visceral level. The work has a subtlety that is apparent in the movement choices, wry humour and informal on-stage dialogue between performers and the audience.
James is quickly becoming known as one of the UK’s leading choreographers, renowned for creating breathtakingly physical choreography.
Since forming his company, James Wilton Dance has toured extensively both in the UK and Internationally to critical acclaim, winning numerous awards including The Sadler’s wells Global Dance Contest, third prize at The International Choreographers Competition in Hannover (2012), winner of the Audience Prize at 16Masdanza, third prize at The Berner Tanzprize, being nominated for the Dance Award at the Manchester Theatre Awards with Leviathan.
Jean is a choreographer and performer born in Brazil. Jean choreographerd his first work on 2003 and later that year was honoured with the Jerwood Choreography Award. Since then, his work has toured throughout the UK, Europe and Brazil including performances for London Dance Umbrellas, the Royal Opera House and the Southbank Centre.
His work in theatre includes choreography for the Young Vic’s Amazonia and The Red Room’s Oikos and Protozoa productions. He also collaborated with Mavron String Quartet to create Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Jean has been as Associate Artist at The Place, Swindon Dance, South Hill Park and the Hat Factory and an Artist-in-Residence at Dance East.
Commissions Programme 2017-18
The Dance Makers’ Programme 2017-18
Heather trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD). After graduating Heather worked with Fiji’s leading professional dance company ‘Vou Dance Company’ for four months making work and teaching company class. The work toured Auckland and New Zealand and her piece with the company called ‘Undaunted’ was premiered in Nadi, Fiji in 2014. She then returned to the UK to undertake a research and development period to develop ideas including Fijian dance and cultural influences. Heather successfully gained a £12,000 award for this and completed 2 informal previews to audiences in London and Plymouth.
Jamaal trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) where he gained a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance & Foundation Diploma. He has worked with ACE Dance and Music – working with professional artists including Luyanda Sidiya, Jose Agudo, and Gail Parmel as well as on the company’s outreach programmes working in schools and with their youth company. Jamaal has taught workshops with the students at NSCD, professional classes in Leeds and Birmingham, ACE dance and music, for ‘Prodance’ Leeds, and first-year students at ‘The Place’ as part of their special projects weeks as well as students on the Yorkshire Young Dancers summer school. He currently teaches and has taught in different capacities at Edge Hill University, NSCD and Salford University
