Alexandra Henwood

Head of Participation (DanceXchange)

Alex has been a member of the DanceXchange team since 2015 and as Head of Learning and Participation, her role is to oversee the learning and participation programmes including the Centre for Advanced Dance Training (CAT), Generate Feeder Route, Class Programme, DX Summer School, Education Work, Community Projects and U.Dance West Midlands.

Amber Cahill

Support Worker

Amber is a support worker for the Critical mass project. Her role is supporting the dancers to ensure they can participate fully in the project. She graduated from university in 2020 with a BA honours in dance and community practice. Amber has experience teaching dance and supporting students in many community settings. She is looking forward to further her experience through working with the Critical Mass team. Amber wants all participants to feel welcome and enjoy this exciting project.

Andrei Roman

Dance Artist

Andrei-Stefan Roman, also known as Andrei or ‘Cool A’, is an artist with a Hiphop background in Breaking for the past 16 years. Having performed at various major events, such as Common Wealth Games Birmingham 2018, Sony PS4 X Star Wars launch, Breakin’ Convention and others. Andrei is also working behind the scenes building and developing the UK’s breaking community by organising workshops, classes, and platforms for UK dancers to showcase their skills on a professional level, nationally and internationally as one of the Artistic Directors of The Breaking League.

Anna Belyavin

Dance Artist

Anna Belyavin is a freelance dance artist based in Shropshire and working across the West Midlands. Anna trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and gained a degree in Dance Theatre in 2010. Anna works as a performer, choreographer, teacher and facilitator and works with children, young people, adults and older adults. Anna specialises in contemporary and creative dance and inclusive practice believing that dance is for everybody. She is currently youth dance lead for Shropshire Inclusive Dance, developing their youth offer and teaching Highflyers Youth Dance Company alongside performing for Infuse Dance.

Beata Bluj

Support Worker

In the past 6 years Beata continued her career as an independent dance teacher and choreographer in Birmingham and held a variety of classes for all ages at schools, community centres and dance studios. She is sharing her passion for dance to empower people from all backgrounds and abilities to improve mental and physical wellbeing.

Camilla Lloyd

Dance Artist

Camilla has worked as a performer, choreographer and dance teacher for over 10 years. She has performed professionally for many Midlands-based companies at venues such as The Hippodrome, The MAC, Symphony Hall and more. Alongside performing, Camilla has taught dance and gymnastics in primary, secondary, further education, higher education and private education. Camilla was a dance and gymnastics lecturer at The University of Worcester until she decided to go back to full-time work as a freelance dance artist. Camilla has been commissioned to choreograph professional works such as the European Wheelchair Basketball opening and closing ceremonies and multiple Ballets funded by Arts Council England and Google Rise. Camilla’s most recent work was on the Beyond Borders 2021 project.

Catherine Clissett

Dance Artist

Catherine Clissett, Community Dance Artist and Dance Movement Psychotherapist, delivers the bDance in-house and outreach program for the Brewhouse Arts Centre. Catherine has a huge passion for community dance, the therapeutic power of movement and the importance of providing arts and opportunity for creativity for all. She is a dedicated advocate of inclusive, integrated dance and runs iDance, a group for young people and adults with disabilities, which she set up with the support of Brewhouse Arts Centre and East Staffordshire Borough Council 6 years ago. Currently Catherine’s work has a focus on youth dance, inclusive dance, dance for older people and dance within education. Catherine is thrilled to be one of the selected dance artists for Critical Mass and is excited to provide this incredible opportunity to inclusive groups of young dancers.

Chanda John

Support Worker

Chanda is a freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher based in Birmingham. She has been involved in an array of projects and performances including Birmingham International Dance Festival's "Anywhere is a Dancefloor" film, "The Walk" in Coventry and more recently a few art exhibitions with local galleries like Ikon gallery in the city centre. With an active passion for and training background in street dance styles and martial arts as well as having a history in ballet and gymnastics, Chanda is often drawing from many influences as a dancer. She continues to train and perform with "Marshon Dance Company" a local dance collective as well as teaching classes and workshops herself. Above all she loves connecting and collaborating with people from all walks of life and being there to support others in their own self-expression inside and outside of dance.

Clare Wood / Dance Fest

Dance Artist

Clare Wood, Dancefest’s Dance Development Team Leader- Young People Clare has worked for Dancefest for 20 years devising and delivering dance projects and teaching regular classes. In her various roles at Dancefest, Clare has led work for all ages and abilities including GCSE Dance, GP referred adults, Parents and Wobblers, visually impaired and disabled participants. Clare began working in dance development as Worcestershire Dance Worker and also worked as Youth Dance Coordinator at Dancefest for Youth Dance England. Clare manages projects, performances and residencies in education and community settings. Clare has also worked as Dance Styles and Techniques module leader at the University of Worcester and Dance Worker in Residence for Malvern Theatres.

Dan Walsh

Dance Leader

Dan is a contemporary dance artist based in Coventry and around the West Midlands. Graduating from the University of Roehampton in 2016, he has worked as a freelance dance artist with companies such as ‘Wriggle Dance Theatre’ as an apprentice dancer on the National Tour of ‘The colour of me’. During his time at Roehampton, Dan worked with many choreographers on various projects such as Akram Khan and Jose Agudo for the ‘Big Dance Pledge’ with People’s Dancing, and with Liv Lockwood on her Project ‘Red’ which toured around the South of the UK. Dan is currently exploring movement and ensemble work for actors using Laban techniques and is also starting his masters in Movement Directing/Teaching in 2022 at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Danielle Marshall

Producer (Birmingham 2022 Culture Festival)

Danielle is a producer with 10 years of experience working with young people, communities and in the public realm. Previous roles have included Producer: Next Gen for Battersea Arts Centre, Apprentice Producer for The London 2012 Outdoor Arts Festival and Outdoor Arts Producer for Circulate Consortium where she spent 6 years producing outdoor performance with diverse artists and companies and developing audiences. Her broader work includes developing emerging and diverse artists through public realm, live art and outdoor work.

Emily Joyce

Support Worker

Emily Joyce is an Actor and Musician with a passion for community projects that are inclusive and for all backgrounds and abilities. She regularly works as a drama workshop facilitator for children and young people. In 2016 she graduated from The Arts University Bournemouth with a 1^st in Acting and achieved the graduate Paul Elliott award in Excellence in Acting. Emily loves to write her own folk music, and is currently in the process of recording and broadcasting her originals on online streaming platforms.

Emily Wilcox

Support Worker

Emily is an SEN teacher and has taught in a large special school in Birmingham for the past 5 years. She has a strong interest in education and inclusive practice. Emily trained in dance and spent several years as a free lance dance artist before completing her PGCE and teaching at Birmingham Ormiston Academy on the dance pathway. She has always been keen to promote inclusive dance and provide performance opportunities that are accessible to all. She is excited to be a part of the critical mass team and work alongside all its wonderful participants.

Jade Barnes

Participation Assistant (DanceXchange)

Jade is a professional Dancer, teacher and performer based in Birmingham. She spent 4 years of her time training and studying Dance in London at Kingston University. Her styles range from Contemporary to Jazz and Latin, but more recently has really found a love for commercial heels and now teaches every week for a Nationwide dance company alongside doing her own workshops when she finds time.  She also enjoys trying different forms of performance such as Aerial hoop and pole which really test her strength. Jade is really looking forward to trying out lots of classes at DanceXchange.

Jenny Marshall

Support Worker

Jenny is currently working for Monkeys in Motion and Amelia K Dance Academy where she delivers and assists dance and theatre classes to a variety of people. She has completed her Dance and Community Practice BA (HONS) degree at the University of Worcester and now is studying a postgraduate at the same institution. Jenny is super excited to be a part of a huge project and hopes to provide a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for everyone. She is also looking forward to engaging and learning from different people on this project!

Jessica Barber

Dance Artist

Jessica is a freelance performer, movement director and facilitator specialising in physical theatre, ensemble work and multidisciplinary performances. Her background is in creating collaborative, movement led, immersive experiences for non-traditional theatre spaces, such as museums, art galleries and the outdoors. Jessica is passionate about working with young people, and with her infectious energy, she aims to empower young people to create, move and build memorable experiences. She has a wealth of experience of working as a creative facilitator for Stagecoach Theatre Arts, BE NEXT, Ikon Gallery and Secret City Arts. She has been based in Birmingham since 2013 where she studied Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham and achieved First Class Honours. After completing her degree in 2016, she co-founded a performance company: LYNNEBEC with a fellow graduate and creative. Since January 2018, LYNNEBEC has received commissions and created work with organisations such as the Attenborough Arts Centre, The Lapworth Museum of Geology, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, The Loco Klub (Invisible Circus), Tramshed, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Throughout her life, Jessica has always been connected to dance whether that be through performing, teaching or creating and believes that there is nothing that a good boogie can’t solve.

Katie Albon

Support Worker

Katie graduated from Trinity Laban and is working as a freelance dance artist in Birmingham. She has had the pleasure of dancing with companies such as Springs Dance Company, Sonia Sabri Company, Autin Dance Theatre and Ascension Dance. Katie also teaches and facilitates dance in a range of settings and is passionate about dance being for everyone. She is an Associate Artist for FRONTLINEdance and has delivered work in SEN schools with Open Theatre. Katie also enjoys rehearsal directing and was recently Movement Associate for ‘The Ballad of Maria Marten’, a play by Beth Flintoff. She is currently enjoying regularly performing on the children’s wards at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with eek & wild, a company she co-founded in 2021.

Kashmire Hawker

Birmingham 2022 Administrator

Kashmire has been part of the Birmingham 2022 Culture Team, as its Administrator since August 2020 and is also one of 27 Business Admin Apprentices on the Organising Committee. He combines his work with development and sees this as a strength, in both opening his eyes to the Cultural world and making his work as strong as possible. Outside of work, he sits on the West Midlands Young Combined Authority, which aims to amplify the voices of young people aged 16-25 across the region and unashamedly uses his Autism as a strength, in seeking to give further opportunity for disabled people, which is what Critical Mass seeks to achieve.

Natalie Haslam

Support Worker

I am a dance artist based in the West Midlands, with experience both supporting and leading projects. My purpose, as an artist, is to inspire all individuals, regardless of background, to engage with and explore dance, so that they may lead more fulfilling lives. I have experience working with children, young people and community groups, across a variety of settings, ages and abilities. I have recently been chosen to take part in New Adventures’ Overture Programme where I will attend a series of CPD and personal development workshops in community and youth dance. I also manage and produce dance projects and was recently appointed Area Creative Co-ordinator for People Dancing’s Live Well and Dance with Parkinson’s Programme.

Natalie Thompson

Communications Assistant (DanceXchange)

Natalie studied at the University of East London graduating with a first-class BA (Hons) in Dance: Urban Practice. She has taught Hip-Hop and Street Dance classes across London and is also a trained Inclusive Dance Instructor. During her time in London, she has worked at events within the artistic sector, such as: MOVE IT, The HotStepper UK and Collide Festival. She has also trained and performed in London with Just Us Dance Theatre. Natalie joined DanceXchange in 2019 as a Customer and Administration Assistant before progressing into her current role as a Communications Assistant in 2021. Natalie works as part of the marketing team, assisting with digital marketing and content creation for DX programmes, BIDF and Critical Mass.

Raidene Carter

Executive Producer (Birmingham 2022 Culture Festival)

Raidene is a theatre producer and combined arts programmer with 18 years’ experience of work rooted in young people’s arts and participation, artist development and community arts. Previous roles include Executive Director/Joint CEO for Theatre Centre, Head of Creative Programmes for the Albany, Deptford, and Associate Producer for Birmingham REP where she spent 4 years creating a series of outdoor and site-specific theatrical events with artists from a range of diverse disciplines and backgrounds. Raidene was an inaugural MOBO/London Theatre Consortium Fellow in 2016 and actively contributes her time and expertise as a trustee for National Theatre Wales and The Paper Birds Theatre Co. and as a board member and critical friend for performance artist, Mem Morrison.

Romy Ashmore-Hills

Administrator (DanceXchange)

Romy recently graduated from the University of Exeter with a BA (Hons) in Drama, which focused on physical theatre and movement performance. She is constantly creating and training in different styles of theatre, including physical theatre, mask theatre and clowning. Alongside this, in her spare time, Romy runs her own handmade jewellery business (Where Romy Roams) selling at local markets and online. Romy has always enjoyed dance from a young age, and she is passionate about the role of dance in creating a sense of community and increasing mental health. You’ll find her in a few of the dance classes at DanceXchange, trying out new styles each week.

Samantha Lane

Support Worker

Sam has worked in dance for over twenty-five years. After graduating from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Sam worked as a freelance dancer, performing with different London based dance groups, performing in different venues including The Place as part of Resolutions, Wembley Conference Centre and also the Bloomsbury Theatre. Sam worked with Kent based dance company Urban Dance as a dancer, choreographer and teacher, participating in theatre and street arts performances and teaching as part of community and school-based projects, whilst teaching regular fitness and dance classes for adults. Post performing, Sam completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the Royal Academy of Dance and has taught dance full time in further and secondary education taking on the role of Head of Dance, which brought her to live in the West Midlands. Sam is excited to work with the Critical Mass project and in supporting the participants on their dance journeys.

Tara Lopez

Senior Producer (Birmingham 2022 Culture Festival)

Tara is a Creative Producer who has been working in and around the arts and cultural sector for the past 10 years. Previous roles include Creative Producer for The Spark Arts for Children where she led ‘Vital Spark’ – a movement addressing the lacking diversity in the Performance for Young Audiences sector, and Tour Manager for East Midlands Caribbean Carnival Arts Network (EMCCAN) where she managed two strategic touring projects taking mid to large scale Caribbean Carnival workshops and performances to rural areas and seaside towns across the UK. In 2017, Tara was awarded a place on the Extend Cultural Leadership Programme where she undertook a 12-month research project around the impact of unconscious bias on the Arts and Cultural sector. She currently supports Bedford Creative Arts as a Trustee, and Baby People (music and arts development organisation) as an Advisory Board Member.

Sophie Humphries

Participation Producer (DanceXchange)

Sophie studied at the University of Surrey, graduating with a first-class BA (Hons) in Dance with a year in industry at Motionhouse Dance Theatre as their Education Assistant. She has worked in arts organisations ever since, firstly at Birmingham Royal Ballet coordinating the large-scale mass participation project Swan Lake Dreams, and more recently as Production Co-Ordinator for Coventry Moves, the city-wide opening event for Coventry City of Culture. Sophie loves to expand her confidence and knowledge of arts & culture and has been on the Youth Advisory Board for Spirit of 2012 and is now a Board member for Birmingham Creates (BCEP). She has a keen interest in community dance for both younger and older generations and has experience leading seated dance classes for older people, as well as assistant teaching on the Dance to Health programme with Aesop. Having attended DX classes for years, Sophie is so excited to be back in Birmingham working for DanceXchange on Critical Mass, and you may spot her at weekly classes re-living her dancing days.

Stefania Catarinella

Dance Artist

Midlands-based freelance Dance Artist, Movement Director and Facilitator with a multi-disciplinary background. Highly skilled dancer, performer and aerial artist with extensive touring experience on international stages, festivals and venues across Spain, France, Malta, Greece, Italy, UK, Tunisia, USA, India, and more, as well as an independent dance maker and author investigating social, cultural and humanistic topics. As a dance artist and practitioner, I use dance as a catalyst for wellbeing, good mental health and community cohesion, rooted in a desire for inclusion, sustainability and accessibility through delivering high-quality work. I truly believe in the importance of empowering people through creativity to produce a positive global change, providing hope and equal opportunities, starting by nurturing the growth of the younger generations.

Stephanie Sandy

Support Worker

I am a dance artist with quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, being among the first in the UK to graduate from Coventry University in Dance and Professional Practice.

I have worked with a number of integrated dance companies including Foot in Hand, with whom I danced and delivered workshops in the Place Prize in 2004, for 5 years. My time spent working with Velcro Dance Company gave me the pleasure of collaboration with choreographers such as Marc Brew. I also worked with Blue Eyes Soul and for Warwickshire County Council delivering workshops to integrated classes of able bodied and disabled children.
I took a break from dance to get married and become a mum to my two children when my disability restricted how much I could dance, but my passion didn’t leave and and now I’m working as a member of Coventry Dance Board, Dance Development Leaders Board, working alongside Ascension Dance as a peer support group member, as well as being an associate artist for Off Balance Dance.

It’s now my privilege to be working with Critical Mass as part of the Birmingham 2022 festival, on the board and support worker as a specialist in inclusive dance.

Zara Portlock

Audience Engagement Manager (DanceXchange)

Moving from Gloucester to Birmingham in 2001, Zara has worked in the arts sector for over 14 years. She has worked for a number of Birmingham-based organisations such as Creative Alliance, Friction Arts, Punch Records, Aspire Youth  and The Drum Arts Centre. She has worked in a wide variety of roles such as Operations Co-ordinator, Youth Project Manager, Marketing Manager and Assistant Festival Producer with a particular passion for audience development and partnership projects. Zara loves Birmingham and it’s people in equal measure!

Zoie Golding

Lead Artist

Zoie Golding is an Artistic director, Producer and Choreographer with 21 years of extensive experience in the events and dance sector across the UK and worldwide. She is the founder and Artistic Director of FuzzyLogic Youth Dance Company and ZoieLogic Dance Theatre, both nationally recognised for challenging the perceptions of dance, who its for, and how its shown. She specialises in bringing people together for exceptional and innovative dance experiences, and reaching those least likely to take part in the arts, with a focus on men and dance. Zoie’s artistic practice is about taking risks, breaking down barriers and communicating ideas clearly and boldly. She is passionately committed to creating significant social change through dance. Zoie is proud to be Associate Artist at Mayflower Theatre, Discover Artist at Pavilion Dance South West, an Honorary Fellow of University of Winchester, and Resident Company at MAST.

Ashley Jordan

Dance Artist

Born, raised and now living in Coventry, Ashley Jordan (known widely as AJ) is a professional dancer and performer who is now using his skills to inspire the next generation of Coventry based young people by giving them the opportunity to experience dance and movement-based activities. AJ is the director of Ascension Dance Company, the company that co-created “Sent to Coventry”. “Sent to Coventry” was a dance film made in 2017 in support Coventry’s successful bid to be City of Culture 2021. To date, “Sent to Coventry” has over 150,000 views on social media.   Since then, Ascension Dance has continued to push dance/movement opportunities, hosting free workshops and creating eye-catching performances across the city. In 2020/2021, Ascension Dance become a “supported by” organisation at the Belgrade Theatre, choreographer of a outdoor duet for the Coventry City of Culture 2021 launch event and received a Arts Council England grant to tour a new work titled ‘The Other Side’ during Summer 2021. As well as directing, performance and choreographing for Ascension, AJ as a freelance artist has also been part of a number of performances created by Coventry based companies and showcased in Coventry such as HOME (Highly Sprung & Upswing Aerial, 2019) and Read All About It (Mercurial Dance, 2018).

Reece Lewis

Support Worker

Hello I am Reece, a performance dance artist that graduated from De Montfort University in 2016 with a BA Honors in Performing Arts. I have experience in creating interdisciplinary art; as well as teaching and choreographing different dance styles including commercial, street dance and contemporary art. Having worked as a support worker within an arts environment for 4 years, I look forward to diving in and bringing the best out of the participants, whilst delivering pastoral support with the Critical Mass team.

Sara Macqueen

Dance Artist

Sara Macqueen is a contemporary dance performer, choreographer and teacher. After graduating from Northern School of Contemporary Dance with a First Class Honours, she performed around the UK and Europe with companies such as SEH, M Dance Company, Earthfall and is currently a company dancer for ME Dance Company and Sterran Dance Theatre. Sara has choreographed and performed at Agitart Festival (Barcelona), Birmingham Weekender and Birmingham International Dance Festival. In 2020 she co-founded Linden Dance Company with Christopher Radford, focusing on positive mental and physical wellbeing in professional and youth contexts. To date, Linden Dance company has been funded by Arts Connect, HomeGrown31 and Arts Council for performance practices, continued research and youth engagement programmes, including their youth company Linden Youth. Between 2018-2020 she coordinated and delivered DanceXchange Schools Program and is the Lead Artist for Dance Generation, DanceXchange CAT program. She works as a freelance teacher for other schools and settings in the Midlands, including DanceXchange, Autin Dance Theatre, Sense Charity, Nicholson School of Dance and Mercurial Dance.