One Dance UK Awards 2025 programme by One Dance UK

PROGRAMME

Cover image: Amelia Bickley by One Dance UK, Dani Bower

This page: Anaya Vasudha by One Dance UK, Dani Bower

WELCOME

We are delighted to welcome you to the One Dance UK Awards! It’s truly a pleasure and a privilege to be able to gather so many talented individuals from the sector together under one roof.

Every year at the Awards, our aim is to celebrate the exceptional work and accomplishments of the many professionals who make important contributions to the vibrant and diverse dance sector in the UK. As ever, all of the nominees are inspiring examples of the dedication and innovation that drives dance in the UK, and we are delighted to be able to celebrate your important work.

The entire One Dance UK team would like to express thanks and gratitude to the dance community here in our home city of Birmingham whose support and collaboration played a vital role in helping make this event a fitting celebration of your work. We would like to extend our special thanks to FABRIC and the Hippodrome team for working with us on this evening’s celebration!

Andrew Hurst MBE Chief Executive, One Dance UK

SILVER SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSOR

With special thanks to FABRIC and Birmingham Hippodrome.

ORDER OF CEREMONIES

Friday 24 January

The Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome

6:00pm Welcome drinks

6:45pm Food and drinks

8:00pm Awards Ceremony

Featuring performances from Sampad, Linden Dance Company, Propel Dance and a 15 minute interval

Reece Daniels and Kaân Huzarski by One Dance UK, Dani Bower

HOST

Junior Cunningham

Junior Cunningham is a West Midlands based Freelance Dance Artist. He is currently working as a Guest Lecturer at Birmingham City University and as Movement Director on a family friendly circus show, ‘The Unlikely Friendship’ with Catherine Wheels Theatre & Sadiq Ali Company, alongside developing his teaching practice leading workshops in the Midlands and choreographing the 3rd Year final piece at De Montfort University 2025. He has worked as an Associate Producer and host of the Bullring Dance Stage at Birmingham Weekender 2024, as well as hosting the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra as part of their CBSO IN THE CITY free weekend of performances 2025. He worked with Motionhouse as a Performer and Rehearsal Director for over 20 years, performing nationally and internationally, working in a wide range of settings from TV, indoor theatre, outdoor work and large scale productions.

PRESENTERS

Abigail Reeve CEO of Rambert Grades

Harlequin

The world-leading providers of the highest quality sprung and vinyl dance floors

Adam Davenport Dean of Performing Arts at Performers College

Melanie Precious Executive Director of Candoco

Amanda Skoog Chair of the Board of Trustees for One Dance UK

Anthony Bowne Member of the Board of Trustees for One Dance UK

Penny Cotton Director of Global Membership at the Royal Academy of Dance

- 7 -

Susi Pink

Associate Director of Marketing & Communications at the Royal Academy of Dance

PERFORMERS

Linden Dance Company

West Midlands dance company Linden Dance promotes positivity, individuality and empowerment, championing diverse perspectives, backgrounds and creative voices through Afro-fusion and Contemporary movement styles. Tonight you will see their performance ‘UNBOXED’, an explosive dance work in which a mixed-race man and a white woman set themselves in opposition to two giant wooden cubes in a physical representation of their battle with prejudice and judgement.

Propel Dance

The solo you will see performed this evening is taken from Propel Dance Company’s debut show ‘The Snow Queen’. This is the entrance for the Snow Queen, the villain of our story. She is evil, heartless, cold and cut off from empathy and kindness. Glimmers of her painful past, that haunts her, shine through. Hunting like a predator stalking her prey, she seeks someone to end her loneliness but will control and manipulate her victim to do as she wishes.

https://propeldance.uk/

Sampad

‘Flights’, which you will see performed tonight, is a newly commissioned contemporary Indian dance number from Sampad performed by Anaya Bolar.

https://sampad.org.uk/

https://lindendc.com/ - 8 -

Rebecca Fowler by Dani Bower

Linden Dance by Dan Martin

Anaya Bolar by Dani Bower for One Dance UK

Rebecca Fowler by One Dance UK, Dani Bower

AWARDS CATEGORIES

The Awards will be presented in the following order:

The following extracts about the shortlist have been taken from their original nominations.

THE YOUNG PEOPLE’S DANCE CHAMPION AWARD

THE ARTISTIC INNOVATION IN DANCE AWARD

This award is to recognise innovation in the artistic elements of dance, and how they can unlock new ways of storytelling, exploring themes, and challenging how we think. This can be for any artistic work regardless of genre, location, setting, resources or scale.

Grief Floats by Company of Others

https://www.companyofothers.org.uk/grief-floats/

Grief Floats is described as “a gentle protest” and an opportunity to grieve and mourn all that we have lost and are yet to lose, crafted through the lens of those of us who experience being ‘othered’, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the North Sea. Performed with and against the tide, 9 dancers are in the sea, performing a movement score of individual and communal movements which demonstrate all of the different kinds of grief we can feel, while audience members wear wireless headphones on the shore with an option of music score with live vocals, music score plus live audio description or relaxed performance audio for every performance. The work holds a manifold of possibilities of interpretations, touching us deeply at an intimate level and offering a public moment of communal reflection at a pivotal time in our history.

Jaivant Patel

https://jaivantpatelcompany.com/

Jaivant Patel Company (JPCo) is one of the leading voices amplifying South Asian LGBTQIA+ narratives on the national and international cultural landscape. Through its bold productions, JPCo provokes dialogue that reclaim and celebrate the myriad of intersectionalities of contemporary British-South Asian identity. JPCo’s work advocates for the increased representation and visibility of South Asian practices, artforms and aesthetics, informing the creation of multi-layered contemporary work that reimagines contexts, to say something powerful and resonant for audiences used to a diversity of cultural influences.

Stopgap Dance Company

https://www.stopgapdance.com/production/lived-fiction/

Lived Fiction has completely reimagined how dance can be made and presented, placing genuine and considered creative access at the heart of their creation process, performance and audience engagement. The show was a co-creation process with intersectional disabled people. It has successfully deconstructed and reconstructed dance from multiple perspectives, working with visually impaired, deaf and neurodivergent audiences. The result is an explosion of inclusivity that is so innovative and creative. The work has not only made dance accessible to disabled audiences, but it has made the artform less alienating for people who have never seen dance before.

- 12 -

THE RESEARCH IN DANCE AWARD

This award celebrates research in dance that is pushing the artform forward with academic and scientific enquiry. It will be impacting how dance is created, seen, taught, and understood, and will be helping influence the future of the dance ecology.

Gemma Harman, ResDance

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/resdance

An independent project, the ResDance podcast draws upon contributors from higher education and conservatoire institutions, arts organisations, freelance artists and gives a voice to anyone and everyone within dance practice. ResDance has a global reach and is listened to in 65 countries by an audience of over 7.5k. The podcast has resulted in a series of books with Routledge, while early episodes have been included in the Routledge Performance Archive and a partnership was formed (December 2023) with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded Dance Research Matters Networks Programme. This is a testament to the value that this form of disseminating research has to the wider dance research ecosystem.

Guido Orgs & Matthias Sperling, NEUROLIVE

https://neurolive.info/

Taking place at Siobhan Davies Studios, Goldsmiths University and University College London, NEUROLIVE is an interdisciplinary research collaboration that brings artists, scientists and audiences together to study what makes live experiences special. NEUROLIVE is groundbreaking in its commitment to involving dance artists and cognitive scientists as equal co-investigators, collaboratively studying live experiences through co-designed artistic and scientific experimentation. The project has collaborated with over 80 different artists and performers over the past four years, and has achieved world firsts in its research practices including recording simultaneous EEG brain scans from the largest number of people to date during a live performance.

Sarah Hall, From HEAD to TOE research project

https://www.bluemoosedance.org.uk/from-head-to-toe/

The project investigated the correlation between movement and learning, specifically as an aid to recall and retention of knowledge. For children, the project explored the role of the creative, moving body as a means to increase engagement and concentration in English and Maths. For teachers, the project aimed to strengthen their understanding of arts-based learning and give them the tools and confidence to apply these skills to support learning beyond PE. The project encouraged collaboration between dance artists and teachers to learn from each other’s skills and knowledge. - 13 -

THE HEALTH & WELLBEING IN DANCE AWARD

This award is for any person, team, or organisation whose work has had a transformational impact on the health and wellbeing of people who dance, encompassing dancers’ health and dance for health.

Emily Jenkins, Move Dance Feel

https://www.movedancefeel.com/the-evidence

Emily has made an outstanding contribution to the dance sector through her dance and health work which is centred on supporting people affected by cancer. Emily’s vision extends beyond her direct delivery of life-enhancing dance experiences for participants, to training other artists to develop further Dance in Cancer Care initiatives. By generously and proactively sharing the gifts of her journey, she lights the way for others, supporting the evolution of the dance sector beyond the realms of the focus of her own work and demonstrating more widely the value of dance.

Stephanie De’Ath

https://theplace.org.uk/profile/stephanie-death

Stephanie is a driving force in the advancement of research on and treatment for the health and wellbeing of dancers and movement artists. As the Head of Dance Science at LCDS, she dedicates herself to conducting thorough, relevant research on the health and wellbeing needs of dancers in a dance education setting. Stephanie leads the Physical Support Team at LCDS and is committed to enhancing the health and wellbeing of dancers in training, preparing them for a sustainable and joyful career.

Streetz Ahead

https://streetzahead.org/

Streetz Ahead’s Dance Giants programme is a dynamic initiative designed to improve the physical and psychological wellbeing of young people through the powerful combination of dance and mentoring. Each session includes engaging physical dance training alongside discussions on mental health, emotional regulation, and self-care. Through creative dance and reflective discussions, participants learn to manage their emotions, build resilience, and develop coping strategies for everyday life. The programme supports 3,000 children each week, fostering a strong support network by involving families and collaborating with teachers and school staff. - 14 -

THE BOB LOCKYER AWARD FOR DIGITAL INNOVATION

This award recognises the use of digital and technology to innovate how we see, experience and understand dance. For example, this could be for work in film, photography, VR/AR/XR, live and digital performance, marketing, dance science, dancers’ healthcare, work in inclusion and diversity or education. This award pays homage to Bob Lockyer OBE and his incredible legacy. Bob was an exceptional innovator, collaborator, director, patron and founding member of Dance UK. He bought some much innovation to the sector, he was truly was an inspiration to all.

Avatâra Ayuso

https://avadancecompany.com/projects/angel-vr/

Avatâra’s project, ANGEL VR, deserves recognition for its audacious approach to blending dance elements with cutting-edge digital technology. Avatâra has created a space where dance transcends physical limitations, allowing users to be fully immersed in a virtual world where movement, emotion, and technology work in perfect harmony. This experience showcases not only the beauty and technical excellence of her choreography but also her dedication to pushing the boundaries of how dance can be understood and appreciated in a digital age.

Dance to School

https://www.dancetoschool.com/

Dance to School is a digital tool and the only online platform that offers dance resources that can be tailored to any theme and year group, online CPD and community support for teachers. The platform was built with simplicity in mind, creating an easy navigation system and interactive user-face powered by a colossal amount of written knowledge, expertise and resources, empowering teachers to instantly bring dance to their school, at literally the touch of a button.

Rosemary Lee

https://www.artsadmin.co.uk/profiles/rosemary-lee/

Rosemary consistently explores the intersection of dance and film, using digital platforms to create compelling, immersive works that expand the reach of dance beyond traditional performance spaces. Through the use of cinematography and digital editing, her films and large-scale installations reveal the individuality of each performer, whilst highlighting the precious and intense relationship between humans and their environment. Rosemary is also known for her pioneering DVDs and websites which illustrate her desire and ability to reveal and share her choreographic practice. - 15 -

THE DANCE CHANGEMAKER AWARD

This award recognises bold, brave and impactful work that has driven progress in our sector, improving access to dance for all and championing diversity and inclusion. This could be for a person, team, organisation, campaign or movement. They may be taking risks to challenge norms or using dance as a tool to drive positive change and will be able to clearly demonstrate the impact they’ve had.

BIRDGANG LTD. AAHEHOP. FLOCK. COMMIT

https://www.birdgangltd.com/

This year, BirdGang Ltd celebrates 20 years in the Hip Hop sector. The 3 directors, Global Majority led, provide opportunities and training for 23 FLOCK MEMBERS (professional creatives), 41 NEST (trainee creatives) and their youth group THE EGGZ. These groups are incredibly diverse: 54% are Global Majority, 28.3% LGBTQ+ and 27% Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent. They also produce HATCHWORK, an annual residency for emerging movement architects, headline events such as THE BATTLE CAGE and created Family (Dys)Function with Dance Umbrella; an intergenerational show of Croydon residents over 55s and under 18s.

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre and Paul Bayes Kitcher https://fallenangelsdt.org/our-impact/

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre (FADT), under Paul Bayes Kitcher’s artistic leadership runs creative movement programmes in community spaces, addiction recovery centres and arts venues in the North West. Founded in 2011 with Claire Morris, FADT is a pioneering charity, committed to inclusivity, social impact and dance excellence which empowers individuals in addiction recovery and those with mental health conditions. Rooted in academic evidenced methodology FADT has supported over 100 people per year in the last decade.

Laura Jones

https://www.stopgapdance.com/biographies/laura-jones/

Laura Jones became the Co-Artistic Director of Stopgap Dance Company in 2023. As one of the most successful and experienced Disabled dancers in the UK she is now driving change amongst vocational schools, conservatoires and dance organisations worldwide. Laura has always championed inclusion and rigour within professional dance practice through her detailed teacher training and Equity and Disability consultancy, but mostly in her care for the next generation of Disabled artists and their non-disabled allies.

THE DANCE SPOTLIGHT AWARD

This award is a chance to shine a light on those whose work is vital to the production and support of dance. Bringing those back of house to centre stage, these individuals and teams work tirelessly to help make dance happen, making it possible for people to see, engage with and work within dance.

Carolyn Lappin

Carolyn Lappin has been a transformative force in the arts sector for over 40 years, with the past 22 years dedicated to leading YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) as Executive Director. Carolyn has an unwavering commitment to promoting dance as both a creative art form and a means of social change. Carolyn has been instrumental in ensuring that YDance remains accessible to all young people, regardless of their background or ability. Her impact extends far beyond her role at YDance, reaching across the broader arts and dance sector in Scotland and the UK.

Lucy White

https://www.lucywhiteartsmarketing.com/

Lucy runs her own consultancy as Lucy White Arts Marketing. She has an acute strategic understanding of the sector, is kind and calm, and makes her clients feel valued. During her time with Greenwich Dance, the sensitivity with which she handled the communications strategy around its closure and the way she championed the use of the strategy as an opportunity to try and make change in the sector at a time of significant loss to it, was remarkable. Lucy is a voice of reason, a steady hand when the sector feels shaky.

Luke Pell

https://www.lukepellmakes.org/space

Luke Pell is a dramaturg working in dance whose influence is significant on artists, in their practice and in their productions. A trusted companion to other artists and arts organisations, Luke has worked at the intersections of where dance, choreography and contemporary performance meet with other worlds for over twentyyears. Luke primarily works with artists whose practices, values and lived experiences question dominant norms. Seeking to cultivate the best conditions for them to make the kinds of work they want to, on their own terms and rhythms.

THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD

This award is for any organisation or person who is using dance as a tool to create, strengthen, and/or build communities with non-professional groups in any setting and with any age group. They will be passing on a passion for and enjoyment of dance, bringing its benefits directly into communities whilst showing that dance is for anyone and everyone.

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre https://fallenangelsdt.org/

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre exists to support people in recovery from addiction and poor mental health through movement and dance. With the power of dance and creative intervention they transform people’s lives and make positive and lasting change for those in recovery. Their creative activities promote wellbeing and inclusion throughout the whole recovery process. They reduce the stigma of people in recovery by giving them opportunities to dance and perform at prestigious venues including at the Royal Opera House. Through their work they spread the positive impact of dance and movement.

Helen Linsell, Dance United Yorkshire https://www.duy.org.uk/

Helen, Artistic Director of Dance United Yorkshire, has dedicated her career to using dance as a tool to create, strengthen, and build communities, particularly among marginalised, non-professional groups. Her passion for dance is more than just teaching movement; it’s about using dance as a force for healing and social justice. Helen’s work with excluded young people, vulnerable women, and communities living in poverty is where her trauma-informed practice truly shines; offering safe, supportive spaces for participants to process their trauma, rebuild confidence, and reclaim their sense of self.

Magpie Dance https://www.magpiedance.org.uk/

Magpie Dance is led by the inspiring vision that a learning disability should not be a barrier to personal and artistic success. By attending Magpie Dance sessions, participants gain life, social and communication skills with added health and wellbeing benefits. Magpie Dance builds strong relationships across existing and new communities, ensuring that everyone feels safe and involved, whilst also allowing them to reach their full potential in dance (focussing on ability rather than disability) with progression routes to suit everyone’s needs. - 18 -

THE GREEN DANCE AWARD

This award celebrates any form of work that uses dance as a tool to spotlight and respond to the environment and climate crisis. This could be a specific project or person whose work has helped raise awareness, changed industry behaviours or responded artistically to environmental issues. Work can be in any genre, scale, location or remit within dance.

Lîla Dance https://liladance.co.uk/

Lîla Dance’s Fault Lines was developed entirely as a sustainable production that explores the environmental damage we’ve inflicted on our planet. The show was made to tour via public transport with only 2 digital projectors that create a digital world and recycled and reused costumes. Partner charity UK Harvest provided food for the company that would otherwise be destined for landfill and creatives cooked together to save fuel and create community. Lîla are embodying an alternative approach to sustainable dance making and presenting.

Magpie Dance

https://www.magpiedance.org.uk/

Magpie Dance’s project, Our Land, explores the climate crisis and environmental issues. Through over 500 activities across the year –including weekly sessions, community workshops, visits to theatres and environmental organisations, and performances – participants and audiences learnt about the climate crisis, and how they can contribute on a practical level. Over 1,000 people were involved as participants, and over 20,000 have encountered the project through live and digital performances.

RJC Dance & Mango Arts

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ml6by69t6btyh6ek0zocv/ rjc_dance_-mango-arts-carnival_2024-Green-Dance-Awards-4k. m4v?rlkey=qe53alboyj4y63n7sui9pduoc&st=d2w264ur&dl=0

Working in partnership since 2009 RJC Dance and Mango Arts have addressed the need for more sustainability within the costume/ performing arts/carnival/street theatre sectors. ‘Natro-Beat Carnival Troupe’ 2023 designed with fully biodegradable costumes worn by RJC Dance Youth Provision at Leeds West Indian Carnival. Winning ‘Best Overall Troupe’ and further raising awareness for more sustainable approaches to large scale events. In 2024 our Carnival troupe ‘AZUL’... themed ‘Think Green - Save Blue’ addressed the climate crisis and the need to protect oceans and water sources. Focused on single use plastic, recycled industrial and clothing waste into beautiful, flowing and dynamic Carnival costumes. - 19 -

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

THE JANE ATTENBOROUGH AWARD

Hakeem Onibudo https://impactdance.co.uk/

Founder and CEO of Impact Dance, Hakeem has done a huge amount for young people for over 29 years, empowering them to find their voice and confidence through dance and theatre. He is not just a teacher but a leader and mentor, supporting the personal and professional growth of both young people and adults, trained professionals and beginners.

His reach spans the whole of the UK, with young people travelling to London weekly from places as far as Wales to attend his youth academy. Internationally his work has blessed people in Atlanta, Nigeria, and Venezuela to name a few, giving young people the opportunity to train, gain experience and grow their practice.

“Onibudo is a silent worker, with the biggest heart and a proven track record of creating life changing experiences for others.”

The Jane Attenborough Award is named in memory of the founding Director of Dance UK, Jane Attenborough (1955 – 2004).

A dynamic and passionate advocate for the arts, and in particular dance, throughout a 25year career Jane made a huge impact on the arts sector working for the Royal Academy of Dance, Arts Council of Great Britain (now Arts Council England), Rambert Dance Company (now Rambert), Dance UK (one of the four organisations that merged to form One Dance UK) and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Throughout her career, and particularly as a founding Executive Director of Dance UK, Jane used her vast experience of arts management, lobbying, fundraising and administration to contribute to the promotion of the dance sector and improving conditions for dancers. Her forward-thinking work resulted in ground-breaking and long-lasting legacies for the dance community, including the creation and development of our Healthier Dancer Programme, which continues to undertake vital work in advocating and providing education to support dancers’ performance and physical, psychological, and social health to this day.

Every year One Dance UK recognises the incredible lasting impact Jane had on the dance sector by dedicating an Award in her name. This Award is presented to individuals who, like Jane, have gone above and beyond the call of duty in order to move dance forward and enable the art form to thrive.

The Jane Attenborough Award honours those working in dance who have made an outstanding contribution to the artform throughout their career. An award that is 20 years in the making this year and named in memory of the founding Director of Dance UK (later becoming One Dance UK), this award aims to highlight the important contributions made by exceptional individuals who make a real difference to how dance is created, supported, and seen. - 21 -

JUDGES

This year we had an overwhelmingly high calibre of nominations, from which our exceptional judges have selected our shortlist. Each category had at least 3 fantastic judges making the selection in their field of expertise. With such a high standard of nominations this year it was a tough choice, so we would like to say a huge thank you to all who devoted their time to the selection process.

Abigail Reeve CEO of Rambert Grades

Prof. Aoife McGrath Professor of Dance at Queen’s University Belfast

Claire Nicholson Principal of CAPA College

Prof. Alan Currie Consultant psychiatrist

Bia Oliveira Director of Digital Stage & Studio/Head of Producing & Touring Sadler’s Wells

Eliot Smith Founder & Creative Director at Eliot Smith Dance

Prof. Angela Pickard Professor of Dance Education at Canterbury Christ Church University

Brendan Keaney OBE Artistic Director and CEO DanceEast

Emma Smith Head of Health, Wellbeing and Engagement at Dance Base

Antoine Marc Creative Director & Technology Producer

Carolyn Lappin Former Executive Director, YDance

Hannah Kirkpatrick Head of National Youth Dance Company -

Helen Laws Researcher and Dance Manager

Jamie Jenkins Head of Dance / Producer for National Youth Arts Wales

Laura Gonzalez Athenaeum Research Fellow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Matthew Robinson Artistic Director of National Dance Company Wales

Dr. Imogen Aujla Freelance dance psychology researcher, lecturer, and life and wellbeing coach at Dance in Mind

Jamiel DevernayLaurence Founder & Executive Artistic Director of Ballet Nights & Fundamentally Dance

Laura Kriefman Choreographer and Artist

Melanie Precious Executive Director of Candoco

Iona Waite Rehearsal Director at ACE Dance and Music

Dr. Kathryn Stamp Assistant Professor, Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE) at Coventry University

Dr. Lisa May Thomas Artistic Director for May Productions Ltd, and Senior Researcher at the University of Bristol

Melly Still Director, Choreographer and Designer and Adaptor

Dr. James Brouner Course director for Sport Science at Kingston University

Kerry Livingstone Head of Dance at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Head of Associate Programme at Scottish Ballet

Mags Byrne Artistic Director at DU Dance (NI)

Omari Carter Assistant Professor at University of WisconsinMadison

Paul Webster Pearson Performing Arts and Drama Subject Advisor

Dr. Rosaria M. Gracia Ethnochoreologist, educationalist and researcher

Phill Hargreaves Creative and Executive Cultural Leader

Subathra Subramaniam Artistic Director and Joint CEO of Akademi

Tom Rogers Creative Content Producer at Birmingham Royal Ballet

Pippa Fisher-Coldwell Head of dance at Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School and Principal at Pips Dance Academy

Swati Raut Bharatanatyam Dance Artist, Choreographer, Teacher and Educator

Tracey Brown Mentoring, Training and Development Leader at Rubicon Dance

Rachael O’Sullivan Environmental Manager at the Royal Ballet and Opera

Terry Hyde MA MBACP Psychotherapist

One Dance UK is the national support organisation for dance. We are here to support you at every step of your dance journey.

One Dance UK membership offers you access to:

• Expert advice and guidance

• Exclusive offers and discounts

• On-demand webinars and resources

• Promote your work across our wide reaching digital network

• Dance specialist training and CPD

• The option to purchase specialised Public Liability Insurance

• Customisable healthcare and wellbeing add-ons

Our brand new Wellbeing Package add-on is designed to support your physical, financial, and mental wellbeing and includes 24/7 GP consultations, prescriptions and health advice, mental health support, financial and legal advice and more! www.onedanceuk.org

PANEL DISCUSSION

The panel discussion will explore dance in the Midlands, looking at the current state of dance in the UK, it’s future, and how partners plan to approach mapping the sector, and its economic impact. Find out how you can get involved in this work and how we ensure it can be repeated over time to provide meaningful insight into important trends affecting your work. Learn more about the panel members and their organisations below.

Chris Stenton, Chief Executive of People Dancing

People Dancing is the development organisation and membership body for community and participatory dance, an organisation that made its home in the East Midlands in the late 1980s. Chris leads on strategic development, partnerships and external relations/advocacy for People Dancing and brings 30+ years’ experience of working with dancers, teaching artists, community practitioners, and arts organisations to this role.

Lottie Stables, Industrial Official for Dance at Equity

Equity is the trade union for dance artists. We are 50,000 performers, dancers, choreographers, stage managers, directors, designers – and more! Together our members campaign collectively for better conditions, pay and treatment across the industry. Equity can represent you wherever you work as a professional dance artist – whether on stage, on screen, in live events, bars, clubs, or elsewhere. Even if the work is not under a union agreement, Equity is still able to provide you with expert advice and support.

Paul Russ, CEO & Artistic Director at FABRIC

FABRIC is a Midlands based organisation dedicated to demonstrating and embedding the social value of dance and movement. Our home cities of Birmingham and Nottingham and the communities we serve and collaborate with are constantly changing, bringing a diversity of practices and forms together to make the Midlands extraordinary place for dance.

Pawlet Brookes MBE, CEO & Artistic Director at Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is a leading cultural organisation dedicated to amplifying Black arts, culture and heritage through a diverse array of programmes, exhibitions, festivals and educational initiatives. Their mission is to celebrate, preserve and support Black creative expression, whilst promoting social change, community engagement and diversity within the arts sector. We actively support both emerging and established Black artists, foster creative entrepreneurship, and encourage meaningful cultural dialogue within communities. In 2025, we mark the fifteenth anniversary of Serendipity’s flagship dance festival, Let’s Dance International Frontiers (LDIF). Launching on International Dance Day (29 April), LDIF has grown into a vibrant platform for exploring identity, representation and ownership.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ONE DANCE UK STAFF

A huge thank you to the entire team at One Dance UK under the leadership of Andrew Hurst.

A special thanks goes out to:

Rebecca Bertram

Project Manager

Cameron Ball

Special Projects Manager

Lara Coffey

Head of Marketing and Communications

Chloe Sprackling

Acting Marketing Manager

Ríona O’Dowd

Marketing and Communications Assistant

Laura Nicholson

Head of Children and Young People’s Dance

Chiyere Ogbue

Head of Workforce Development

Paul Hibbert

Head of Finance and Operations

Erin Sanchez

Head of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, Lead Specialist Health, Wellbeing, and Performance

Katie Illingworth

Operations Manager

Sam Lane

Youth Dance Manager

Amy Roberts Education and Training Manager

EVENT TEAM

Jennifer Schneider-Lau and Olivia Whitter

BSL Interpretation

One Dance UK Dance Ambassadors

Birmingham Hippodrome and FABRIC

FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Point of View Photography

Photographer

No Class Creations

Film crew

PERFORMERS

Linden Dance (Dancers: Christopher Radford & Rosie Macari)

Propel Dance (Dancer: Rebecca Fowler)

Sampad (Dancer: Anaya Bolar)

HOST

Junior Cunningham

PRESENTERS

Abigail Reeve

Adam Davenport

Amanda Skoog

Anthony Bowne

Melanie Precious

Harlequin

Penny Cotton

Susi Pink

PANEL MEMBERS

Chris Stenton, People Dancing

Lottie Stables, Equity

Paul Russ, FABRIC

Pawlet Brookes MBE, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

A special thanks to the judges who supported the selection process.

EVENT SUPPLIERS

Tutto Aposto Catering

ADVERTISERS

Northern School of Comtemporary Dance

WITH THANKS TO ONE DANCE UK AWARDS SPONSORS

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Young People’s Dance Champion Award Sponsor

People’s Choice Award Sponsor

THANK YOU TO OUR CONTINUED SUPPORTERS - 28 -

SHORTLIST PHOTO CREDITS:

Avatâra Ayuso. Credit: Daniel Minguez Company of Others. Credit: Luke Waddington. Lila Dance. Credit: Dougie Evans

Laura Jones. Credit: Chris Parkes

Lucy White. Credit: Roswitha Chesher

Luke Pell. Credit: Jassy Earl NEUROLIVE. Credit: Hugo Glendinning

Rosemary Lee. Credit: Roswitha Chesher RJC. Credit: Oliver Dixon

JUDGES PHOTO CREDITS:

Abigail Reeve. Credit: Harry Clark

Eliot Smith. Credit: Darren Irwin

Melanie Precious. Credit: Roswitha Chesher

Omari Carter. Credit: Ambient Jade Photography

Subathra Subramaniam. Credit: Justin Jones

PANELISTS PHOTO CREDITS:

Paul Russ. Credit: David Wilson Clarke

VIDEO CREDITS:

One Dance UK Awards footage

Dancers: Mari Dickenson, Rebecca Fowler, Reece Daniels, Kaan Huzarski, Anaya Vasudha, Bryn Aled and Amelia Bickley. Photographer: Dani Bower for One Dance UK

One Dance UK footage

Dancers: Jason Boyle, Dorine Mugisha, Libby Odai and Chrissie Ardill. Photographer: Dani Bower for One Dance UK

ME Dance Youth Company

Featuring ME graduates

The following pieces were all part of U.Dance on Screen 2024:

South Yorkshire Youth Dance - Crumble

Choreographed by: Jemma Mae

Directed by: Jemma Mae

Assistant choreographers: Danni Chell, Samuel Underwood Doherty

Performed by: Elizabeth Patterson

Film and edit by: Rhys Fagan

DU Dance (NI) Youth Steering Group - What If I Told You

Choreographed by: Youth Steering Group

Directed by: Youth Steering Group

Filmmaker: Fionntán Dempsey

Maillot Rose School of Theatre & DanceJoan of Arc

Choreographed by: Stewart Arnold

Directed by: Alison Moore

Other creatives: Lily Normington

De Montfort University - The Other Side

Choreographed by: Guilia Bastianel and Lilly

Denton

Directed by: Ellie Strain

Trinity Laban Youth Dance CompanyMINDS i

Choreographed by: Trinity Laban Youth Dance Company Dancers

Directed by: Kennedy Muntanga and Trinity Laban Youth Dance Company Dancers

Director of Production and Editor: Becca Hunt

Composer/Musician: Bobby Demers

Produced by: Trinity Laban

Street Beat - The Old Rectory

Choreographed by: Kim Oakley-Duffill and Kayleigh Rose

Directed by: Kim Oakley-Duffill

Other Creatives: Wayne Sables

Bucks Youth Dance Company - V.S.

Choreographed by Pippa Fisher-Coldwell and Louise Kelsey in collaboration with the dancers

Director: Louise Kelsey

Videographer: Christopher Spencer

Magpie Dance - Kingdom

Choreographed by: Magpie Dance

Directed by: Magpie Dance

Editor: Annie Walsh

Impact Dance - Chapters 25 + 1

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One Dance UK, Dani Bower

One Dance UK Awards 2025 programme

PROGRAMME

WELCOME

ORDER OF CEREMONIES

HOST

Junior Cunningham

PRESENTERS

Harlequin

PERFORMERS

Linden Dance Company

Propel Dance

Sampad

AWARDS CATEGORIES

THE YOUNG PEOPLE’S DANCE CHAMPION AWARD

THE ARTISTIC INNOVATION IN DANCE AWARD

Stopgap Dance Company

THE RESEARCH IN DANCE AWARD

THE HEALTH & WELLBEING IN DANCE AWARD

THE BOB LOCKYER AWARD FOR DIGITAL INNOVATION

Avatâra Ayuso

Dance to School

Rosemary Lee

THE DANCE CHANGEMAKER AWARD

THE DANCE SPOTLIGHT AWARD

THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD

THE GREEN DANCE AWARD

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Sponsored by Performers College

THE JANE ATTENBOROUGH AWARD

JUDGES

PANEL DISCUSSION

Chris Stenton, Chief Executive of People Dancing

Lottie Stables, Industrial Official for Dance at Equity

Paul Russ, CEO & Artistic Director at FABRIC

Pawlet Brookes MBE, CEO & Artistic Director at Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ONE DANCE UK STAFF

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