Barbican Theatre is excited to announce the members of its new FUSE Diverse Dance Movers & Shakers Company who will work closely with the FUSE Diverse Dance core team to share their different styles and fuse them to create innovative new performances.

FUSE Diverse Dance is a 4 year programme, funded by Arts Council England. It aims to create a new way of making dance by bringing together diverse communities, local dancers and guest choreographers as equal partners – to have fun, share dance styles and create mind blowing new performances for public audiences.

FUSE Diverse Dance is managed by Suzie West, Lead Practitioner and Choreographer on the project. Suzie project designs and manages the FUSE Diverse Dance residencies, events and workshops, in conversation with the local dancers and community groups in the city.

The aim is to offer platforms for people to dance, share and be creatively curious about fusing their own dance identity with others. The choreographic content of each project is carefully facilitated and guided by Suzie and her FUSE Diverse Dance Team to explore the possibilities of co-creation and exchange.

The ten members of Moves & Shakers all have something unique to offer the group and we’re excited to see the work they produce with other members of FUSE, including our Young Rebels company, and vising professional companies such as Alleyne Dance and Chhaya Collective.

Suzie says

“During the middle of September the new Movers & Shakers dance company and FUSE team joined Alleyne to dance, sweat, laugh and fill the Barbican Theatre and city centre with energy. What struck me most was being able to have all of these dancers that Plymouth holds in one space at one time. And then I realised… we get to dance together on a regular basis all year! The company looked amazing in their first show. I can’t wait for everyone in the city and beyond to see them.” 

Meet the Movers & Shakers plus our FUSE Diverse Dance intern

Charlotte Eaton

Charlotte trained professionally at Trinity Laban Conservative of Music and Dance (London) completing her BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance and MSc in Dance Science there. During her training, she worked with a variety of world renowned teachers and choreographers, performing and choreographing works during her studies which continued after she graduated.

Having grown up in Plymouth, she returned after completing her training where she now lectures at universities, offers professional class, delivers community/educational outreach work, features in photoshoots and music videos, and works in cross-disciplinary collaborations with other artists, researching and devising movement for performance. She recently worked closely and performed with Alleyne Dance in a project with the Barbican Theatre, and in Panoptic (2019), a piece of movement research exploring the physical states between stasis and kinesis, with her co-choreographers Lloyd Lovell and Harry Scott. The piece is an extension of the work of Molly Budd, a photographer and artist Charlotte collaborated with on their work The Blind Spot (2019).

I’m excited about the cross-pollination of people, energy and ideas, which makes being involved in the Barbican’s new dance company an enriching venture for Plymouth and the other artists involved with the company!” 

Lizzie Moulds

Lizzie began dancing at a young age, training with both The Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet associates before gaining her National Diploma in Professional Dance at The Hammond, Chester. She has since been performing with dance companies such as Spindrift, Fuse Diverse Dance and Dillon Dance and has enjoyed both the performing and choreographic processes of each. As a teacher Lizzie has been working closely for several years with local Primary and Secondary schools helping engage children in the arts as well as providing schools with new opportunities and knowledge in dance. Lizzie is also teaching both Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz full time for two of the local dance schools where she was once a pupil and enjoys regularly taking on new projects and opportunities throughout the year.

“I am really excited to be part of the new Movers and Shakers Company and to be able to perform and work with such a wonderful team. I am looking forward to being able to both learn and share with everyone we cross paths with and cannot wait to see everything come to life!”

Salinda Nichols

Salinda Nichols is an interdisciplinary artist creating dance, art and film. As a California native living and working in Devon, her work is driven by explorations of place and belonging. Tracing the boundaries where science, nature and art meet, seeking the human qualities found throughout. She holds her MA in Contemporary Dance awarded with Merit from the London Contemporary Dance School and has performed with artists such as Reckless Sleepers, Jorge Crecis, Xinxin Song, and Betzi Roe. Her video dance work has been featured in the Journal ‘Cinewomen’ which celebrates independent women filmmakers and has been shown at galleries across the UK, USA, and Europe.’

 “I’m really excited to get started! The arts community in the South West has so much to offer and I can’t wait to see what we make as a part of FUSE.”

Sophie Northmore

Sophie is a dance and circus artist originally from Devon. Working as a performer both nationally and internationally within indoor and outdoor works with companies such as Wired Aerial Theatre, Joli Vyann and The Cohan Collective. Her training began as an artistic and acrobatic gymnast which led her onto a Foundation Degree at the London Studio Centre and then completing a BA (Hons) Degree in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2014. This year she is looking to further her choreographic approach and performance skills she is excited to join the Movers and Shakers Team for a collaborative choreographic project.

Lauren Pomfret

  

Lauren Pomfret graduated with a First Class Degree in Dance Theatre from Plymouth University in 2016, working with artists such as; Adam Benjamin, Heather Walrond, StopGap and Candoco Dance Company. She is a dance practitioner working with Far Flung Dance Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Barbican Theatre, Fiona Fancy Feet. She has recently started to choreograph amateur musical theatre groups. Lauren has recently performed with Funky Llama Festival with Far Flung Dance Theatre,

Last year Lauren was involved with Barbican Theatre’s FUSE Diverse Dance ‘Put on Your Red Shoes’, playing Sarah Cinderella.

“After being involved with Fuse last year, I am very excited to see the progression of the project, through different Fuse team members with different styles, working with different professional companies and dancers and to see the responses from the audience and general public a year later.”

Rachel Priest 

Rachel Priest is a site specific performance artist and recent graduate of University of the Arts London. Rachel has a history of working on projects alongside artists and dancers. In Plymouth, she studied and worked with Attik Dance to produce Circadian Rhythm which was performed in the Plymouth Young Contemporary Open (2016). She has also performed in works such as FULL OF GRACE (2018) by Jessye Curtis and Acts / Re-Acts 4 (2017) by Lucy Algar & Kirill Burlov. Her work has been exhibited in Germany, London and Plymouth. She is currently working on Everything’s been moving all this time, a site specific performance outside the Reel Cinema, which will be shown as part of the Plymouth Art Weekender 2019.

“I feel excited and privileged to become a member of the Movers & Shakers. I’m looking forward to the exchanges with fellow dancers and the community of Plymouth. I can’t wait to see how we will fuse our styles together and where our collaboration will take us.”

Charlie Ranken

 

Charlie’s career within the dance and theatre industry spans over 12 years. As a freelance artist Charlie has had the privildge of being part of a diverse range of projects; teaching from primary to degree level, performing in dance companies, platforms and festivals and choreographing commissions to co-designing and leading on theatre programmes, working as a Youth Worker, TA and Learning Mentor. Charlie has worked as Assistant Director and Movement Practitioner for the Young Company, Theatre Royal Plymouth Brainstorm and recently, for a production at Plymouth Conservatoire, Stoning Mary as well as performing this summer in Citizen for the People’s Company at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. She works hard to blend movement with other creative professions and is currently working with Laura Wall, an author and illustrator to deliver a movement based storytelling workshops to primary schools in other countries. In-between projects, Charlie is finishing her MA in Contemporary Performance Practices and developing her scriptwriting and theatre-making skills.

“I massively enjoy interdisciplinary arts and bringing lots of styles, methods of movement and communication to the table. I am extremely excited about being part of Movers & Shakers. I believe, it’s an opportunity to bring my blend of styles which I endearingly call mishmash to the company and the range of skills from physical theatre and dance. If it’s about collaboration, creating a shared language that everyone can be part of, I’m in!”

Harry Scott

Harry completed formal training at Falmouth University, graduating in 2016 with First Class Honours in Dance & Performance. He has since performed regionally and overseas in works by Exim Dance Company, Spindrift Dance Company, Alats Dance Circus Company and Callous Affection Dance, as well as working on array of collaborative dance films. As a teacher Harry regularly leads classes and workshops for training institutions, dance organisations and community groups, including Sussex Dance Network, Plymouth University, Barbican Theatre and Exim Dance Company. Harry is also Assistant Practitioner for Barbican Theatre’s COMPANY b Dance.

“I’m overjoyed to be joining the Barbican in a collaborative and performative role, the fact that this project gives myself and so many other local artists the chance to share, explore and create together is something truly exciting not only for us but for Plymouth, I can’t wait to see where it goes!”

Hannah Saunders (Intern)

Hannah began training in contemporary dance at 14 while at secondary school. She has danced with Chhaya Collective Youth Dance from age 17, going on to teach and choreograph for them. Hannah has also performed with Spindrift Dance Company, Chhaya Collective, Still Paint Dance Theatre, as well as performing in Barbican Theatre performances for their FUSE Diverse Dance project over the past 12 months.

“Having worked closely with the FUSE project so far I am excited to continue my involvement whilst also developing my own skills as a dance artist. Movers & Shakers will offer me the opportunity to explore my own creative potential and continue to find my own choreographic voice, something which I am constantly looking to develop.”

Nadje Shaefer

Nadjeschda Trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance. Within her studies she performed in works by various artists such as Shobana Jeyasingh and Charles Linehan.

During and since her time at Laban she found a keen interest in teaching and exchanging dance around the World. She has spent time in Kenya and Cambodia teaching, sharing, Performing and choreographing dance, doing workshops and classes with both children and adults. Whilst there she also participated in local classes to learn their dance styles.

She is currently a freelance Dancer, Massage Therapist, and Teacher based in the South West and dances professionally with local companies.

“I am excited for the opportunity to have the time and space to explore, play and have fun with dance as a community of local performers. I am looking forward to seeing what we will create!“

Luke Wilton

 

Luke, originally from Cornwall, started to dance and put on shows for his family at a young age. He started formal training in Ballet, which lead him to completing the Post-Secondary Bridge Training Program at Victoria Academy of Ballet in Victoria, BC, Canada. Luke has performed works by Allysa Pires, John Alleyne, Jorden Morris and Constance Cooke (among others).

“I’m excited to be joining Movers and Shakers this season and learning new movement styles from each company member. The possibilities are endless and I’m looking forward to the work that is created out of this.”

Following an incredible day performing and creating at Plymouth RESPECT Festival 2019 on 14 September the Movers & Shakers Company are now working with the FUSE core team, Alleyne Dance and Chhaya Collective.  These partnerships and residencies will fuse create pieces for inclusion in the next FUSE Diverse Dance performance; fierce an evening of dance celebrating the work of female artists at The Plymouth Athenaeum on Saturday 26 October (7:30pm) Tickets are on sale now at £6/£8. Book tickets here

For updates and details of FUSE Diverse Dance and Young Rebels projects and performances follow @FuseDiverseDance on Instagram, or visit barbicantheatre.co.uk/fuse-diverse-dance If you’d like to get involved with FUSE Diverse Dance  please email fuse@barbicantheatre.co.uk