Past projects and collaborations
Take a look at my choreography, performance and community arts initiatives which have been devised with theatre companies, festivals, and diverse communities across the UK and internationally.
Movement Direction & Choreography
I have worked as a movement consultant and choreographer with a local arts company based in Hebden Bridge called Verd de Gris Arts over the past 15 years, devising project work and delivering a range of sessions to diverse groups. My most recent collaboration and choreography was on an International Women’s Day ’25 project WE BELONG working with women from One Voice Collective and girls from Beech Hill Primary School in Halifax. The projects I have delivered and collaborated on over the years have had significant impact including;
INTERCULTURAL; Using the arts to promote cultural diversity as a positive, collaborative solution to community issues and concerns.
WELLNESS; Using the arts to identify and address adverse circumstances affecting physical and emotional health.
MAKING CHANGE; Developing creative projects that bring generations together to share and learn from each other.
Photo credit Geoff Brokate
Improvisation & Clowning
I have studied clowning in Puglia, Southern Italy at “La Luna Nel Pozzo” over the past decade and also ventured up to Venice and Padua to play with some very cheeky Northern Italian clowns.
I enjoy weekly improvisation classes in Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and most recently Peebles which helps me to keep playful, develop new skills and have a face achingly good laugh.
My first clown project was in 2024 with a group of fantastic community circus performers at Skylight Circus in Rochdale as part of an Extraordinary Bodies project called “Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror.” This project involved me creating and delivering an 8-week clown course in which I used playful clown techniques and improvisation games to help build confidence and joy within each group member and the outcome was the creation of a photo “Gallery of Yes!”
Inspiration for the workshops was taken from the touring show which performed at various venues in the UK including The Lowry in Salford.
Performance & Street Theatre
One of my latest outdoor theatre projects was choreographing a brand-new community re-enactment of the Slaithwaite Moonraking Legend as part of the festivals 40th Anniversary celebrations.
I worked in collaboration with my colleague and co-creator of “Kerfuffle Street Theatre” Gil Burns. We integrated clown, improv and parade choreography to come up with a fantastic performance and also equipped the community group to take part in walkabouts and parade choreography.
Kerfuffle Street Theatre was created in 2013 and Gil and I have a fun-filled act called Tooti-Fruity which has entertained many a local crowd and festival. We are currently developing two new acts so check out our website!
Photo credits: Point of View Photography, Leimonade Photography, Neil Terry Photography and Sarah Collins Photography.
Inclusive Dance Initiatives
In 2012 I began delivering a weekly Movement with Music (MwM) session to a young man called David who has severe autism. Working alongside David and his dad Pete Ruse, MwM has grown into something very special and has given us a way of forming meaningful connections not only between him and his family members but also within our local community and beyond. We have run sessions to celebrate birthdays, Christmases, local arts festivals and most recently his brothers wedding! The work is deeply moving and meaningful. It’s legacy continues to grow and develop each week.
In 2014 I set up and ran the first Parkinson’s
dance class in West Yorkshire for the Halifax and district branch of Parkinson’s UK. I worked with the group for 8 years during which we performed a sell out show called “Here Comes The Sun” at the Square Chapel in Halifax. The group regularly welcomed family members and school groups to our weekly sessions and we became one big family. I also visited Pune in India to build links with Hrishikesh Pawar who was leading the way for people living with Parkinson’s. During Covid the class passed on to a new dance artist but continues to thrive. In addition to this success I have taught dance sessions to people living with dementia and Multiple Sclerosis.
Photo credit: Paula Solloway