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< Back CLARE HALSE Mother of one. Musical theatre performer and dance teacher. In our second podcast series, featured #dancemama in our short film, Clare talks about her experience of becoming a mum during the pandemic following lead roles in the West End including White Christmas and 42ND STREET, and how she is navigating motherhood and continuing her career teaching and preparing for her return to performing. ​ ​

< Back HANN​A QUIGGIN Mother of two. Self-employed Pilates Teacher and Massage Therapist at www.hannaquiggin.co.uk What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? My husband works 9-6 in a full time position so childcare has always been the biggest challenge for me since having children; this has absolutely influenced the choices I have made work wise since becoming a parent. What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? II was self-employed when I was pregnant which meant I just didn’t take on any dance projects. I did continue teaching Pilates again on a freelance basis and this worked well as I just did less demonstrating of exercises as I got bigger. I continued taking dance classes both at The Place and Ballet classes at Pineapple Studios mostly with teachers who already knew me well; they were incredibly supportive in helping me to continue dancing whilst pregnant and to keep active. Not only did this feel vital for my body but also my mental health as doing class was always just part of my daily routine. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? When I was pregnant I wasn't really sure of any resources that were available to help or support me, however I think this is really changing. I think companies such as Dance Mama, Mothers Who Make, PIPA Campaign and arts organisations are changing things and supporting parents to continue working in the arts. I'm so glad these companies exist and continue to support parents and artists. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? Being a dancer and Pilates teacher really helped me in both during my pregnancy and in my post birth recovery, it felt so important to keep moving as this is what I had always done. I felt really free dancing while being pregnant as I wasn’t as focussed on technique or staying in shape for auditions so I really fell back in love with moving for movement’s sake. It actually felt really liberating. Being so aware of my body through my training and dancing meant I felt very connected to my body during pregnancy and the changes it was going through. It especially helped during the labour where the ability to breathe through pain, be connected to my body and be in the moment helped the birth move along quickly. Postnatally my Pilates knowledge and previous experiences of having to rehabilitate myself from injuries within my dance career really aided my recovery. I felt I could be patient with my body and its recovery and knew how to build things up gradually, I would often lie on the floor with my son while he was playing doing some gentle Pilates exercises for myself. From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? To really try and enjoy and cherish the time you have. To be present and try and be in the moment, especially if you have the opportunity to have time off work, it all moves so quickly and the cliché is true that they grow up so fast and that you blink and you miss it. We moved to a different city while I was pregnant and moving out of London kind of eased the pressure of getting back to work as I didn’t have any teaching work to return to, this was both nice as it gave me lots of time to spend with my baby but it was also something that played on my mind that I should be networking and trying to find work for the future. ​ If you were expected to dance postnatal (either by yourself or your employer) how did you approach your recovery? Due to our move I gave up teaching my Pilates Clients and classes when I was about 7 months pregnant and became project manager on our house renovation instead, so I had no pressure on getting back to work by a specific date. What changed most for you on your return to work? When my son was about a year old I started to feel like I needed to do something for myself and looked into teaching Pilates classes again but as the hours were so sporadic arranging nursery for a half/whole days when I would only be teaching a few classes wasn’t financially viable so going back to working on the same freelance basis as I had done previously didn’t seem possible. I love the body and just think it is incredible and knew I wanted to continue working with it somehow and this lead me to decide to do a part-time massage course. The course worked really well for me as all of the lectures were on the weekends when my husband was at home and looked after our son which was lovely as they spent some quality time together just the two of them. It did mean that during the week whenever my son had a nap I was busy trying to write essays and study which was sometimes a challenge but just what I needed for my own mind. I did have to try and let the perfectionist in me go, when I studied for my dance degree and MA I would give myself lots of time for assignments and usually felt really happy with the work I produced and handed in. With my massage course I just didn’t have the time to spend hours on essays getting them to high exacting standards I placed on myself and I had to learn to be ok with this which was a challenge at times. The biggest challenge for me was moving out of London as I didn’t have any contacts in my new home, I had also thought there would be more opportunities locally than there were. I was used to looking at audition adverts or speaking to people in class to find out about projects, however in Bristol it felt more that I needed to create opportunities for me and I didn’t feel I had the time or energy to do this while being a full time parent as well. The physicality and challenge of dancing was something I really missed even when I had gone back to Pilates teaching, I did go to dance classes and found a lovely intermediate Ballet class run by a professional dancer which gave me a little bit of that feeling that I really missed. But then we moved to Devon and professional classes were over an hour’s drive away and it just wasn’t possible to get there in time after school drop off. But then I tried an Aerial Hoop class at a new very local studio which had just opened and absolutely loved it, I really enjoyed having a new physical challenge which I had really missed. ​ Does parenting help you in your work? My work as a massage therapist often involves being a good listener and I think being a parent helps me be more empathetic, I also think it helps me be more focused and organised as I don’t have the luxury of time like a I used to Does dance help you in your parenting? I think being a dancer has helped to make me a playful parent, in our house there is a lot of music, impromptu dance and improvisation round the kitchen. I love playing dressing up and role play with the kids and there are lots of shows, performances, singing and general silliness. I think dance has helped me be a parent who doesn’t feel embarrassed or uncomfortable being silly and I think this has given my children confidence in themselves and their abilities. They both enjoy performing and aren’t shy at school when they have to stand up in assembly, they are also both confident in their physical abilities and aren’t frightened to try something new. I recently had a conversation with some friends who are also mothers and we were talking about if you get embarrassed and trying not to pass this on to our children. When they asked me if I got embarrassed easily I realised that I really don’t and that I will put myself out there and won’t shy away from things which might appear embarrassing. I am sure this is comes from my dance training, improvisation classes, choreography task and numerous auditions. I also think it comes from going into a studio for a job with a new group of people and very quickly learning to work together, to problem solve and to trust them both on a mental and physical level, these are things which transfer to the world outside the studio and are useful life skills and something I try to give to my kids through my parenting. ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? I know a bit about PIPA Campaign and also Mothers Who Make. The main issue for me is that the nearest Mothers Who Make meetings are about an hour’s drive away so I haven’t made it to any meetings yet, but now with COVID and more things moving online I might be able to make and online meet up. Anything else you think would be worth raising? For me there has been a real shift between the pre-children me and the new identity I feel I now have as a parent and that has at times been challenging. Sometimes I really miss the old ‘me’ that was busy dancing and performing, but I also know that I would never have given up the time I have spent with my kids when they were little as it is something I truly treasure. The work I do now as a teacher and massage therapist is both interesting and challenging however nothing can give me the same feelings I had as a performer before, during and after a performance. I am not sure that anything will ever give me that feeling again and that is something that over time I am getting used to and it feels ok because I am so grateful that I had the chance to have a career in something I really loved before I became a parent. There were times after my son was born when I felt quite lonely. Despite having lots of new mum friends none of them had known me before I had my baby. I felt that none of them knew the real/old me or that identity that I had before. Lots of the people I had met were all on maternity off from an office job and so my freelance dance career was quite different to that. I think they were surprised when watching video footage of what I had done previously, but were actually really keen to go to the theatre with me and watch dance performances. Even now my friends always ask me to be their dance cultural guide and we love going to see performances. ​ More about Hanna Hanna Quiggin (previously Hanna Tatham) trained at London Contemporary Dance School where she gained not only a BA (Hons) but also an MA in Dance specialising in Dance Performance as part of the Postgraduate Dance Company EDge. Hanna went on to have a professional career as a freelance dancer for 11 years, working for choreographers Rashpal Singh Bansal, Frauke Requard, Martin Lawrence, Javier de Frutos, Bound to be Theatre, English National Opera and Royal Opera House, she also created her own work with Nadine Maclean for their company Red-i.​Hanna was introduced to Pilates during her dance training she went on to train as a Pilates Matwork teacher with Pilates Training Solutions. She has since gone on to take further course in Prenatal and Postnatal Pilates and Pilates Stability Ball with Body Control. Hanna taught extensively throughout London in a number of Gyms, Private Studios and private classes. Hanna also taught several Private Clients many of whom were recovering from injuries such as hip replacement surgery or 'herniated discs and arthritis. She also built a strong working relationship with a Chiropractor on Harley Street who referred clients to her. One of her biggest interests is working with clients who are recovering from an injury and trying to aid them in their rehabilitation. Hanna practiced pilates throughout both her pregnancies and experienced how beneficial it was on her own body and aided her recovery in the postnatal period. This has led her to work primarily with pregnant and postnatal women. Hanna wanted to continue working with the body in a holistic way which lead her to train as a Clinical Soft Tissue Therapy in 2013 gaining a BTEC Professional Diploma (Level 5) with the Massage Training School which is accredited by the Institute of Sports and Remedial Massage (IRSM). This has given her an even greater understanding of the body and how it functions and has fed her interest in how massage and exercise can ease pain. She strongly feels that the combination of Remedial Massage and Pilates work to complement each other completely. ​ ​

< Back BETHANY KINGSLEY-GARNER Mother of one. Principal, Scottish Ballet In our second podcast series, featured #dancemama in our short film, Bethany Kingsley-Garner (Principal, Scottish Ballet) talks about her experience becoming a parent during the pandemic, how she navigates motherhood in one of the most demanding careers and how Dance Mama’s professional development programme and classes have supported her whilst on maternity, supporting her re-entry back into the studio. ​ ​

< Back TERRY HYDE​ 'Get all the help that is offered and if it isn't offered, ask for it.' Father of six. Phsycotherapist and founder of Counselling for Dancers. TW: @counsellingdance IG: @counsellingfordancers Terry took part in Season 1 of Dance Mama Live, FREE when you sign up to our site. Former dancer for the Royal Ballet and soloist for then-named London Festival Ballet (ENB) and countless TV, film and musical theatre appearances and developing his own business management company, Terry retrained to be a psychotherapist and set up Counselling for Dancers. He became a Dance Papa in the 1970s and offers his unique perspective on how little help there was at that time. What was the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? Being away from home on tour was the hardest for me, because it was only at weekends would I see the children when touring in the UK. On tours abroad the times away from home were longer. What support did you feel you had from work when your partner was pregnant? I didn’t think about support back then and there wasn’t any anyway. What support do you feel you had on paternity leave? No support, paternity wasn’t available when I was dancing. ​ Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? Not that I can think of. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your partner's pregnancy/recovery? No not really. It wasn’t something that I thought about. Those were the days when you had to “just get on with it”. From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? Get all the help that is offered and if it isn’t offered, ask for it. ​ What changed most for you on your return to work? Not applicable ​ Did parenting help you in your work? I enjoyed coming back from performing at night and giving the babes their late feed. A pleasant bonding event. Did dance help you in your parenting? Unfortunately, I didn’t think about that back then. ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? I’m afraid not. Anything else you think would be worth raising? Nothing worth raising from a serious point of view, but I will tell of the time when my eldest daughter, (who was 2 at the time) was sitting next to me watching Play School on the television and couldn’t figure out that I was on the television and sitting next to her at the same time. ​ More about Terry Terry started dancing at age 6 and at age 10 was awarded a 5 year scholarship at the RAD. He went to the Royal Ballet School 16 - 18 years I joined the Royal Ballet, moving to London’s Festival Ballet (now ENB) as a soloist, also performing in West End musicals, Film and TV. Upon retiring from performing, I set up and ran a business management organisation for clients in show business. After selling the business 15 years later, he trained as a psychotherapist. He attained an MA in psychotherapy validated by Middlesex University in 2012, and in 2017 set up the website counsellingfordancers.com, specifically to address the mental health needs of dancers. http://www.counsellingfordancers.com, 2019

< Back LEILA MCMILLAN​ Mother of one. Senior Lecturer of Dance at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Choreographer, Teacher, Dance Artist What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? Firstly, I feel fortunate to have found a way to be a working mother within the freelance dance world. I have a portfolio career of both international and national work mainly as a choreographer and teacher. I became a single parent when my daughter was around 1 years old and this was tough and definitely brought an extra challenge. I found a way to continue to work internationally and travel with my daughter until she was around 2 years old, as it became more apparent, she needed daily routine, friends and socialising the similar aged children. At this point she was also more independent, so it became more ok for me to travel for short trips without. I feel there’s an ongoing challenge and practice of finding a balance between work and home life - being there enough for my daughter at the same time being available for the development of my work. In easing my own personal pressure of achievements in my freelance work I have to find a greater kindness to myself of doing less so that I can be more available for my daughter. Carving out time for personal development, for example having time for my own physical practice – in the beginning felt impossible, but now it’s becoming easier. What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? I fell pregnant with an IUD in place and I had 2 previous miscarriages, which meant that I was at high risk of losing my baby. I didn’t feel so inclined to move as I felt fearful. At first, I didn’t know what to do with my immediate freelance work as I was booked to teach many weeks of Flying Low, a floor-work technique that’s not easily adapted to a pregnant body. My employer at the time, London Contemporary Dance School, was very supportive and allowed me to adapt what I was teaching to support my pregnancy. They found me alternative roles and together we found solutions to supplement my work. I felt very fortunate to have had this experience and support. Alongside my dance career I was also a co-Director of café/art space. In my other role, even though I was a Director, I found it more challenging to adapt what was previously expected of me to suit my pregnancy. During business meetings for new partnerships and expansion for the café I felt anxious and fearful that I would lose the opportunities due to my pregnancy and maternity leave. It was a taste of two different worlds. I didn’t have the desire to stop working after having a child. I was interested in enjoying my pregnancy and maternity leave while also having the opportunity to come back to my work. In hindsight I was hesitant to slow down and take the full maternity because I was subconsciously concerned my work wouldn’t be there. There’s also an added challenge when you have your own business as it’s not always straightforward to not be there. I found a way. I took maternity leave (not the full 9 months) but I was able to bring my daughter with me whenever I needed to do some work. Even though working with your child next to you has it’s challenges it also made it feel ok. If I were to take a project, I also made sure that I had a chunk of time off either side to spend with my daughter. I felt more support in the dance world, maybe this is due to our connection to our body, level of empathy and general openness to supporting family. There was also a financial worry about how I could survive as I was reliant on picking up extra work as and when I needed it. I found a way with the statutory maternity pay and help from my family. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? I felt there was a lack of information of how other dancers approached pregnancy and parenthood. I immediately searched for information online and found stories mainly from ballet dancers but very little on other forms of dance, specifically contemporary dance. I reached out to other friends but realized this wasn’t talked about a lot in the dance community nor did you see a lot parent’s bringing their children into the studio. I did find a blog, Mums On Stage, by Irene Cioni and this really helped to read someone else’s experience of pregnancy, parenthood and performing. We need more resources of how to support yourself, more transparency. This was not something that was talked about or seen during my training. I feel that in the past either you chose not to have a family, or you would stop dancing in order to have a family. I’m happy to see now there are more and more mothers (and fathers) who are continuing to dance during pregnancy and after. It shows that there’s some development and more support for this to happen. I think the more we see mother’s dancing and adapting practices the more it inspires others to do the same. It gives a sense of infinite possibilities to our craft. I remember I was doing a choreographic job just before my daughters 1st Birthday and I was able to bring her with me (not always the easiest thing but it worked for this project). I was leading the group with her strapped to my back and I had a lot of other mothers came up to me to say how inspiring it is to see that this is possible. The more we can be transparent and adaptive the more things are possible. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? Yes. Immediate knowledge of the body, interest and curiosity to learn about what happens during this experience both physically and mentally. Equally, I felt it made me lazy as I thought I knew how and what to do but I actually didn’t… From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? A year is a really short time. When I was thinking about taking a year off for maternity leave, bear in mind I was freelance, it felt like an eternity. I began to think that my momentum would disappear, that my work would not be there, that no one would come to my workshops or shows. A close friend/colleague reminded me that 1 year is nothing and it’s a beautiful opportunity to have with your child. Almost I needed that reminder that it was ok to take time off. ​ If you were expected to dance postnatal (either by yourself or your employer) how did you approach your recovery? I had a job booked but didn’t confirm until after I knew my daughter and myself were healthy after the pregnancy and there were no complications. Luckily the job allowed me to delay signing my contract until after birth and we were all ok. The job was due to happen when my daughter was 5 months old, so this felt achievable. During the first months after the birth I had a change in my personal relationship that caused a lot of trauma and stress, paired with a large loss within my independent café business causing even more stress – all while I was trying to have maternity leave. The combination of these events along with being a new parent consumed me and I was unable to dedicate a lot of time to my physical recovery. A few months prior to my first job I knew I needed to get my body moving again. I focused on simple things that I could do at home and with my new-born such as walking, building more core strength, simple movement patterns. Honestly, I was exhausted, so physical prep was not always achievable. On top of this I also needed to dedicate time to getting my artistic mind active again. This seem to happen in the middle of the night. I found this even more challenging as my brain was focused on diaper sizes and sleep schedules. Somehow, I did it, it helped to remind myself of my practice before birth and revisit this rather than try to create something new. I always believe we’re more capable than we think we are. What changed most for you on your return to work? It was beautiful to be back in the studio, working with my body, being creative, working with a team. I felt privileged to have this opportunity. I was also able to bring my baby with me (with help) which meant that I could continue to breast feed every few hours and I could still be there for my baby. This was possible from the support of the organisation. Breast feeding and physically intense dance work is not always the best combination. So I had to practice adapting everyday to how my body felt more than I would normally. I was choreographing and teaching so I was able to have more control of the amount of physical work that I did. I felt that my body and mind weren’t completely ready to do this but they became ready in the moment. My imagination of my what my body could do before pregnancy didn’t match with what it could do 5 months postnatal. I needed rediscover my body and accept the stage that it was at. I’ll never forget when I was demonstrating while teaching and my body collapsed, it definitely reminded me that I was 5 months postnatal and to take it slower. I learned to be able to say ‘Right now, this is what I can do and that’s ok’. ​ Does parenting help you in your work? Definitely! I think it’s made me more patient, more empathetic, and almost softer with people. It’s incredible to watch the development of a child and I feel this has made me understand our developmental movement patterns deeper. It’s given me access to imagery linked to my daughter and her world, a greater understanding of how we learn, the effect of our use of language and tone, the list goes on! Does dance help you in your parenting? Yes. I regularly remind myself to dance my way through parenting especially in the tough moments (it’s easy to forget). Recently I’ve decided to play more music at home and dance more, which has inspired my daughter to dance more and be free with her body. ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? Mum’s on Stage: Irene Cioni’s Blog – I found this very helpful when I was pregnant. Anything else you think would be worth raising? I became a single parent when my daughter was around 1 years old and this was tough. I decided to continue to work as I love what I do and it gave me such joy, a place to be myself beyond my role as a mother, a social connection with people and a continued purpose. I continued to take international work and I brought her with me. Through this I learned how to negotiate contracts/packages that supported me to bring my daughter, this was the first thing that I brought into negotiations. This wasn’t easy but I’m so happy I did it! One is never completely ready to have a baby and I don’t believe it always comes at the right time, there’s no right time. Every baby is different and every mother has a different experience, it’s about riding the wave that comes. We all have strong intuition, it’s about be able to trust. By living my experience, I found that it’s possible to be a single parent and continue to have a career in dance! I hope this can . ​ More about Leila Leila is a London based dance artist, who creates work that is high-energy yet nuanced and abstract in its choreography, drawing on personal experiences focusing on themes of identity, gender and the cultural interface. Collaboration is at the heart of her process and Flying Low/Passing Through techniques support her artistic practice. Leila’s full length work Family Portrait(2015), unravelling the constructs of family, was presented throughout the UK. New work Curl of hair is set to launch in 2020. Leila was a Wild Card artist of Sadler’s Wells curating, This Way, That Way (2015), at Lilian Baylis, an evening of dance, music and art. Recent commission 3 fingers at arm’s length created during Artist in Residence at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (2017) was nominated for ‘Outstanding Choreography’ Hong Kong Dance Alliance Awards 2018. Other commissions include London Contemporary Dance School, Verve and East London Dance.. She has worked with artists including David Zambrano, Crystal Pite, Thomas Lehmen, Wendy Houstoun, Vicky Amedume, Jasmina Krizaj & Nina Fajdiga.Since receiving a place on David Zambrano’s 50 Days Flying Low and Passing Through (2010), Leila is now one of the internationally certified artists teaching this technique, and has led the development of this approach in the UK. She is Lecturer at London Contemporary Dance School and has taught throughout the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia, United States and South America. From 2012-2020 she collaborated with Angolan visual artist Isaac Carlos as co-founders of Muxima, an Independent cafe in Bow, East London, regularly producing art, music and performance events, awarded several times ‘Best Cafe in East London’. ​ This interview was published in October 2020 in support of #BLAW2020. If you have any concerns from reading this article please visit babyloss-awareness.org or talk to your health care practitioner. ​ ​

< Back JULIET DIENER​ Mother of Two. Founder and CEO, icandance What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? Making time to work on my own body. As a Dance Movement psychotherapist and dancer I use my body as a tool for engaging with the process of creating and relating. Whilst I may use my body to guide my work I never have enough time to focus on my own body as there are always higher priorities like the children once the work has been completed. As CEO I find myself sitting more and more in meetings and in front of screens and movement/dance can sometimes feel lost. I make it a priority with my team to check-in with our bodies before we begin any thinking and this immediately helps us to get our heads and our bodies into the right place. However, there is never enough time in the day to do that just for me without interruptions. What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? Well I was my own boss, so I made the decisions about what support was available. Which is great in that I could prioritise my needs but a negative in that as the founder of a growing organisation your company is your ‘other child’. My charity is my family and, like my actual children, requires a great deal of time, nurturing and hard work. There is never a switch off button, and this was evident when I was pregnant. Whilst I managed to get cover for me during crucial times of facilitating sessions I remained directly engaged with the running of the organisation and managing the team. I don’t think I have ever actually experienced maternity leave. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? By the time I had my second pregnancy my charity had progressed enough for me to have better support in place whilst I still managed all aspects of the administration and leading it. I wasn’t directly involved in the delivery for a short space of time. However, when things are still developing and you’re passionate about your work, you have to think creatively how to manage parenting and leading an organisation. One of my memories is breastfeeding my 3-month-old baby pre-show, during interval and after the bow whilst leading my company in our annual performance at a theatre in London. It may seem slightly crazy but it was my norm, and I could manage it and it worked. Family has always been a crucial element of what I do and icandance is about offering a community for the disabled dancers and their families as well as my family and my team. I created icandance to allow myself to be a working dancing mom and that my family was part of what I created and they truly are! Both my children have performed as part of our integrated Youth Company, and in our annual performance last year all 3 of us were on stage celebrating dance and difference with my husband cheering from the stalls. Do you think being a dancer/ working in the dance industry made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? Dancers are notoriously hard working and tough. I think my ‘can do’ approach has very much stemmed from my years of rigorous training that led me to never give up and to always believe more is possible. I loved dancing through my pregnancy and loved the community feel it created as my disabled dancers celebrated in the joy of a new member of our community. My pregnancy brought excitement and new beginnings for the charity and my children both love to dance today. I believe its because they danced with me in my belly, so dance and icandance has become integral to our family story. My children love meeting the dancers and helping out at events. From your experience, what advice would you give to an expectant parent regarding leave? Planning is helpful and having open conversations with employers. It is important to remember that many plans can be made prior to a baby being born but you never know what unplanned situations may arise from the birth. I have also been super organised and love to plan. Having children has taught me that not everything can be planned and sometimes we have to sit with not knowing and respond as life unfolds. So, I suggest plan but be open to change; flexible to what life may offer. ​ If you were expected to dance postnatal (either by yourself or your employer) how did you approach your recovery? I was teaching dance so everything was manageable and I approached my work gently, listening to my body. What changed most for you on your return to work? Everything changed. Shortly after my first child’s birth she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis which is a life limiting chronic lung disease. Three years later when her brother was born he was diagnosed with the same condition. Each time we received the news it was devastating, and our world was turned upside down. I changed seats from being the professional working with families to the parent sitting across from the professional. Continuing to manage a growing organisation was challenging when coping with my own personal struggles. There were/are many a time I travel from the hospital to work with my special dancers and return at the end of day back to the hospital to be with one of my children. For a few years I designed and led our annual performance from the side of a hospital bed being discharged a few days prior to the show. No longer do I find myself breastfeeding during intervals but now administering lifesaving IV’s for my children, who receive constant medical treatment which I manage and administer in between schedules. I truly began to understand what it felt like for all the parents I had worked with over the years and it helped me to be more thoughtful, more patient and kinder to each family’s struggle. Working with the families at icandance has made me more grateful for my challenges as I often reflect on how heavy their load is in comparison to mine. My children have learnt to do the same as they often reflect gratitude when walking away from icandance for their life and the opportunities offered. ​ Does parenting help you in your work? Absolutely! I feel it makes me more relatable to the families and not just another professional that they know. Some of the families are aware also of my children’s illness and so I think they see me as one of them. I do feel more like one of them now than I have ever been and feel its important to never lose the humanity in our professional relationships. Does dance help you in your parenting? Definitely! Dance is the way we connect, share stories and create new ones as a family. My home is filled with music and dance and my children are intrinsically part of my charity. I have always seen it as a family business, and it really is as I actively find opportunities for my children to be involved. Dance has taught me a language that isn’t spoken, and I find this helpful when connecting with my children, when thinking about their bodies and what they suffer. Dance led me to find Dance Movement Psychotherapy which has given me the strength and the tools to hold myself, to hold my children and to sensitively, thoughtfully and intuitively hold my organisation. ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? Not specifically. Anything else you think would be worth raising? I believe dance brings communities together and I have witnessed this as I have shaped icandance and what it offers the families of dancers and team members. Dance for all abilities is powerful to witness and I feel privileged to be part of the journey of the special families I have met along the way. Each one of them has moved and shaped my world for the better. ​ More about Juliet Juliet is a qualified Dance Movement Psychotherapist, Cecchetti Ballet teacher and Special Educational Needs teacher. ​ Believing in the power of dance and its ability to offer those with disabilities a voice, Juliet founded icandance. A London based charity which offers a creative, therapeutic community which celebrates disabled dancers. Juliet lectures, trains, and supervises for Universities, professional dance companies and other dance organisations such as Goldsmiths, BalletBoyz and the ISTD alongside her private practice offering clinical supervision and therapy. Juliet leads and directs a team of over 40 dance specialists to share inclusive practice in schools, communities, and arts organisations. ​ ​

< Back RUBY WOLK​ Mother of two. Senior Ballet Manager, Learning & Participation, the Royal Opera House Lucy had the pleasure of talking with friend and industry colleague Ruby Wolk on the gifts and challenges of being a parent working in the dance sector from her management perspective. We talk about life pre and post COVID and our shared love of Brene Brown! Thanks to Ruby, her family and the Royal Opera House for this insightful and invigorating conversation. ​ ​

< Back SHARON WATSON MBE Mother of two. CEO & Principal, Northern School of Contemporary Dance Lucy had the privilege of talking to trailblazing #dancemama, Sharon Watson MBE about her motherhood experience. Well-known for being one of the first female dancers with Phoenix Dance Company, Watson became long-standing Artistic Director for a decade before commencing her knew role as CEO and Principal at Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2020. ​ We discuss a wide array of issues including pregnancy, parenthood, financial pressures, colleague and systemic support, policy and the importance of being examples to younger dancers in continuing to create and make dance, as dance is of great value to our cultural economy - particularly in COVID times. ​ This was recorded over Zoom during the UK's social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic December 2020. ​ ​

< Back KERRY NICHOLLS Mother of one. Associate Artistic Director, San Francisco Ballet What is the most challenging aspect of working in dance and being a parent for you? As my son has just started University I am answering this within a transitional period; some questions will be answered from a retrospective stance whilst others will be while I deal with 'empty nest' syndrome! ​ I think the main challenge for me was the level of organisation that juggling my 'double life' encompassed and the lack of spontaneity that I had within my working schedule. I missed responding to artistic projects with immediacy. ​ I had to live with the concern that others could view my prioritising my son as a lack of professionalism – and yet worse still, was the possibility of not being as 100% present for him as I would like. It was in constant flux and some decisions were easier than others, but I never got comfortable with the 'juggling' situation. ​ I love my son immeasurably and also care about my work, so the guilt triggers that are present when I am not prioritising one or the other have sometimes been emotionally exhausting. What support did you feel you had from work when you were pregnant? None, as a freelance practitioner at the time I had no emotional, financial or practical support through a work place whilst pregnant. My mother has huge angel wings and I could not have managed without her. I also had valuable help from other family members and friends. Was there anything that may not have been in place that you felt could have been useful? As a freelancer it was obviously impossible to demand any practical structure from an employer. On an emotional level, I would have loved to have had a sense of belonging to a network, financial support, alongside the golden knowledge that I would be welcomed back into the dance community after giving birth – there was no reassurance of this. As a younger mum, this brought more anxiety and panic due to no guaranteed income or acceptance in the future. Do you think being a dancer made you think differently about your pregnancy/recovery? Absolutely. After being the 'driver' of my body in the studio, I was eager to control the differing feelings in my body as it was changing, expanding and blooming. I had to learn to take a back seat and surrender to unknown sensations, and enjoy it. Easier said than done! ​ With regards to my recovery, I was impatient to get back into the studio and for my body to start feeling normal again – to get a piece of 'me' back. There was constant anxiety about losing strength, fitness and potential employability due to my 'changed' physical condition after giving birth. The panic of losing the connections and contacts that I had built over the years pushed me to return to work all too quickly. This was for the obvious financial implications but also for mental and emotion stability. However, due to understanding my physical capabilities in the studio, this knowledge equipped me with an intelligent understanding of my body, to know its limits. In hindsight, I would have enjoyed having the opportunity and structured resources to have taken more time away from work post-labour. What changed most for you on your return to work? When I returned to work I never felt in quite the right place again. The guilt that was attached to the dual responsibility, and the balancing act, was crippling at times. ​ I was concerned that employers would think me less professional for taking my son with me to various jobs and there was a definite fear of losing their respect. This hyper-sensitivity of how others viewed your decision making was acute at times. However, I enjoyed the environment I was exposing my son to when he travelled with me. He learned so much through the creative people he met and the exposure of learning in a creative way – this juxtaposed with the rigid academic grounding that I also found important for his curious mind. Does parenting help you in your work? Undoubtedly. My son completes me. My sense of responsibility to him provides a momentous drive to my work. He sparks energy and momentum to my days and stimulates many things to 'dance' about. These magical maternal emotions ignite my choreographic work and the affect of him makes me want to get back into the studio and create! Even though shorter nights can make you weary at the beginning, he has never been an obstacle or made days dormant. In contrast, he continues to enliven all of my creative practice by teaching me new things about life and myself. ​ Bringing him up single-handedly is never a burden but a force that inspires me creatively every day. I am privileged. It allows me to experience the fullness of life. The nourishment he provides inspires me. When touring, I stay rooted to the spinning world by him. ​ My passion for working with young people has obviously grown since sharing my days with my son. He has enabled me to be more empathic, more in tune with the new-thinking within their generation. Not to mention helping to hone my fresh collection of tunes for class! ​ My son is an extension of me. My class and my choreography are also as such. Both help serve to make me be a better and far-reaching human being. Does dance help you in your parenting? I am, because of my son – but my work completes me. ​ I am happy at work. I am my happiest with my son. ​ When he was younger, I used to say that I had to work away from home and tour so that I could earn pennies to care for him in the way that I wanted. Soon I realised that this was a slightly unhealthy excuse to constantly use. Although on a practical level it was factual, I also thought it was beneficial for him to know that I love my work. The energy it provided was needed and I loved the space to think about him in a creative way. He has told me since that my passion for dance has provided a good incentive for him to search for the job that will satisfy and excite him as much as mine does for me. This is a great example! ​ Working gave me a manufactured space away from him to miss him, promoted fresh energy to bring home to him, and in turn created a rejuvenated approach to our relationship. Being crazy in the studio helped me to be calmer at home! ​ He is proud of what I do and talks of me and my projects to his friends. We talk about dance – the world and its people, alongside the artistic content and it gives us so much to share. He comes to rehearsals, performances and meets new people constantly and this has provided him with an inner-confidence to hold a conversation with a diverse range of people. ​ Dance helped him see a lot of the world. Where possible, I used to schedule my International gigs around his school holidays. I took little money so that he could accompany me as he was an important item to pack in my suitcase to enable me to do my best job whilst away! Through this, he has seen many parts of Europe, China, Africa and the US. This travelling childhood has been vital to him and he has met some fantastic people as a result, and learned first-hand about different cultures and environments. ​ I intensely love both aspects of my life, and the opportunities to slightly fuse both, brings joy. ​ Do you know of any resources that already exist for parents who work in dance? N/A ​ Anything else you think would be worth raising? I have found that, in Dance, people find it easier to compartmentalise you. They want you - as a dance practitioner - to lead one thing or another. As a person they want you to 'be' one thing or another. But I enjoy being multi faceted. This works for me and keeps me sane. One fuels the other. ​ I used to think that as my son got older, I would have more time to prioritise work choices as the apron strings naturally began to loosen. I was very wrong. In fact, I would say that those teenage years are the most vital to be around for. Important issues were raised during spontaneous moments in the kitchen whilst cooking together when he volunteered concerns randomly – and you can't schedule those around planned Skype sessions and rehearsals. Skype has certainly become a god-send over the years but at those fragile, unsettling times when words are inadequate and the hug says it all, you just need to be home – and I was miserable during the couple of times when I wasn't. I put all touring on hold when he turned fifteen (unless he could travel with me in his school holidays) and it was the best thing that I ever did. At fifteen to eighteen years old, that constant academic exam period is a stressful one and I wanted to be ever-present. ​ Now, with it being nine weeks since my son left for University and being bereft in my empty nest, I wonder where I would be without the passion for my work and the fantastic network of colleagues and friends I have made since my glorious son has been on the planet. I certainly would be much lonelier without an independent world to immerse myself in. I am proud and excited that he is living his life, but I feel as though my right arm has been severed. ​ As I now embark on a new phase of parenting within my empty nest, I plan to be more spontaneous in my social life and pay my childless friends back for their patience and empathy by never minding that I always put my son first, and perhaps finding some courage back in my artistic risk-taking. ​ With that said, I have since received a couple of destabilising comments from peers that now my son is at university, it's time to now push my career forwards! I was appalled by the implication. As if my son has stunted me! As if my career has been stagnant! I feel anything but. He has been the driver, and navigated my choices (by having him in my days it meant that I needed to prioritise only the worthwhile projects) and he has been anything but a hindrance - indeed the motivator. I also feel that my work has been bubbling and moving forwards to a place where I am proud, not embarrassed. Each of these people who said this comment, interestingly do not have children. Parenting is joyous and having them living at home with you is over all too quickly. This period of adjustment where he is not geographically or directly in each of my days, I would like to take a moment to celebrate the life I have nurtured and take a step back and enjoy watching him fly for a while before launching into a 'new phase' in my career. I am fulfilled right now. ​ My work and the people I meet through it matter. My son's life matters more than anything. I try to stay whole through both. More About Kerry Kerry has taught, choreographed, mentored and performed extensively for numerous dance companies and institutions throughout Europe and worldwide, and her experience spans a diverse dance practice spectrum. Currently, Kerry has been an external assessor for both the English National Ballet School and the Royal Ballet School, and is a regular mentor for the Royal Opera House, ENB, Dance UK, Rambert and Youth Dance England. She is Artistic Director for National Youth Dance Wales 2015 and is director and owner of Kerry Nicholls Dance (on hiatus whilst she is a San Francisco Ballet) and is an Ambassador for PIPA . ​ ​

WATCH FULL FILM BELOW JOIN OUR INSPIRING & INFORMED COMMUNITY OF PARENTS IN DANCE ‘Very few of us can create solely under our own steam. We need all the pats from angel wings we can find.’ Dr Clarissa Pinkola-Estés JOIN GET FULL ACCESS TO OUR UNIQUE, "LIFE-CHANGING" PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR DANCING PARENTS KEEP YOUR DANCE CAREER ​ ON TRAC K Hello! ​ We know implicitly that being a parent can be hard and being in dance can be hard. So we created our Silver Level membership where you can access brilliant resources easily and build friendships and professional contacts in our community of dancing parents to help you to be connected, inspired and informed on your career journey in dance as a parent. ​ WEBINARS COMMUNITY JOIN WORKSHOPS zero WE CAN GIVE YOU... CREATIVITY re-ignite your dance creativity or drive it further in an empathetic space CONNECTION link up with other professional parents in dance online and in real life COMMUNITY supporting parents who dance and understand your experiences INSPIRATION learn from pioneers in sport, medicine and arts who care deeply about dance parents' futures ​ WHAT'S INCLUDED ​ Deeply understanding the dance world from our expertise and experience, we bring you the affordable, Silver membership that meets the needs of busy parents who need to be up-to-date on growing information to support and encourage parents in dance to keep their careers on track. Live Monthly, live M-AMA (Ask Me Anything) webinars with The Dance Mama herself, Lucy McCrudden join Lucy for a power-hour to add fuel to your creative fire and practical tips to thrive as parent in dance. Read More Unique Replay Library 20 x 1- hour webinars replays with world-class experts all on YouTube so you can engage on-the-go, from the country’s leading experts also recorded on Dance Mama Live 2021-23 (supported by ACE). Covering a wide variety topics relevant to everyone working on and off stage in dance including dance science, elite sport, medicine, psychology, advocacy and more. See the suite of replays below. Read More Connection Private Facebook Group to connect with other dancing parents, and quickly catch up with any offers and updates Read More Unique Replay Library 20 x 1-hour choreography/creative workshops replays with esteemed artists with over 10, beloved national dance organisations all on YouTube so you can engage on-the-go, from a spectrum of well-known dance makers from over 10 beloved British dance organisations recorded on Dance Mama Live 2021-23 (supported by ACE) giving you the opportunity to have space, explore and fuel your creativity at your convenience. Ranging across contemporary to urban, South-Asian to folk dance. See the suite of replays below. Read More Connection Monthly e-updates So you can continue to be inspired, informed and connected to our community and developments and support for parents in dance. Read More Benefits 30% Discount on our classes, courses and workshops and other membership offers We know we are living through tricky times, so our support to help you navigate this is affordable. Read More INCLUDES ​ 100% of participants w ho joined us would recommend u s to their colleagues Download PARTNERS WANNA TRY BEFORE JOINING? Always good to know what you're in for, especially with so little time on your hands! Here's two beauties from first season of Dance Mama Live... WORKSHOP Here's a taster of Season 1, featuring special guests, Etta Murfitt MBE (Associate Artistic Director, New Adventures) and Erin Sanchez , Manager of Health, Wellbeing and Performance (One Dance UK) joining Dance Mama Founder, Lucy McCrudden, to give a flavour of the programme. Photo credits, Etta Murfitt (Stephen Berkeley White), Erin Sanchez (Dani Bower) Lucy McCrudden (Pierre Tappon) WEBINAR Inspiring us from our cousins in sport, Dr Steve Ingham, Eminent physiologist to over 200 Olympians and Founder of Supporting Champions talks us through how he worked with Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill as she moved into parenthood. JOIN FANTASTIC REPLAYS YOU CAN ACCESS WHEN YOU BECOME A SILVER MEMBER REPLAYS S2 Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/1 REPLAY GUIDE HOW DANCE MAMA LIVE WAS BORN Meet our Founder, Lucy McCrudden, and how she came to create Dance Mama through her own lived experience of being a parent in dance. " This transformative programme gives many parents across the sector and beyond access to high quality, tangible and bespoke support. It’s a much-needed opportunity that removes the barriers so many parents face to developing their dance careers, simply because of their circumstances." Lucy McCrudden, Founder/CEO, TEDx Speaker JOIN Bethany Kingsley-Garner, Principal, Scottish Ballet - participant “...so inspiring to dance with other mothers… " WATCH HER STORY IS THIS FOR ME? ​ Dance Mama is committed to being inclusive for parents from all backgrounds working in dance and extends this definition beyond performers to those working in studios and off-stage in professional contexts including state and private education. Yipee! ​ We warmly welcome participants who have had to step away from the industry for a period of time due to the pressures of parenting (this was a driver for the project) as well as welcoming those with sustained careers to build further on their skills with the potential for all participants to make connections that will be of benefit to them and the industry. ​ Disclaimer : Always check with your healthcare practitioner before starting a new activity programme. You are responsible for your health and safety. Dance Mama is not liable for any injury or harm sustained whilst taking this programme. If you are a new parent, you will not be eligible to take part if you have not passed your 6-week health check. This opportunity is only availble to people aged 18 years or over. ​ ELIGIBILITY What is a dancing parent? Come on in! Just £5 per month 1st month free!* We look forward to hanging out JOIN FAQs *1st month free offer available until 30th September

< Back STEVEN McRAE '...be confident in yourself ...' ​ Father of three. Principal, The Royal Ballet Lucy had the privilege of talking to #dancepapa, Steven McRae about being part of a dancing dynasty with wife who is also a Soloist for the Company, Elizabeth Harrod (part of our articles hub), working for The Royal Ballet who have a family of 3 children. This interview was recorded over Zoom during the UK's second lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic November 2020. https://youtu.be/GZ-lq1FtNWY 2020

REPLAY GUIDE 2 Dance Mama Live - Season 2 ANOTHER 20 hours of webinars and workshops from world-class experts and specialists, supported by Arts Council England, and in partnership with 10 National Dance Organisations and Clearcut made in 2022/23. Available only for Silver Members - join our commmunity to get access and more benefits! UPGRADE TO ACCESS What's in the collection? Title Image Workshop or Webinar Short Description Webinar 1 with Dr Arabella Ashfield Webinar Focusing on the all-important topic of wellbeing on the motherhood journey, Dr Arabella Ashfield (Founder, Ascending Motherhood) joins Dance Mama to talk about her time spent supporting the world’s best Olympic and Paralympic athletes with their own wellbeing, transition phases and planning for the future in their careers. This is followed by a discussion with Lucy McCrudden (Founder/CEO, Dance Mama) on how this relates to parents working professionally in the dance sector. Webinar 10 with Balbir Singh and Anna Ehnold-Danailov Webinar In conversation with Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, renowned choreographer, Balbir Singh and Co-CEO and Artistic Director of Parents & Carers In Performing Arts Campaign, Anna Ehnold-Danailov, will discuss developments in support for parents in dance in the last few years, challenges currently faced and future solutions. Webinar 2 with Henrietta Paxton Webinar Henrietta Paxton brings her combined knowledge as a former international athlete for Scotland and Great Britain, being a nutritional therapist (Founder, The Nourished Soul) and a mother, as she joins Dance Mama Live: Back On The Road. Talking us through some important concepts for us to consider as active parents, Henrietta’s expertise enables us to reflect on what food and lifestyle choices we can make to best support ourselves and our families. Webinar 3 with Joyce Gyimah and Frances Chalmers Webinar Dance Mama welcomes back Joyce Gyimah, Co-Founder and Director of Black Artists in Dance who speaks with #DanceMama and Doula, Frances Chalmers, about her experiences in dance, becoming a parent and the transition to becoming a doula. Webinar 4 with Emma Brockwell Webinar Emma will delivers a conversational webinar about her life and work as Physiomum. She discusses pelvic floor health, her book ‘Why Did No One Tell Me’, the Return to Running Guidelines she co-authored with Grainne Donnelly and Tom Goom, her other work with Grainne Donnelly on their podcast ‘At Your Cervix’, her connection to Active Pregnancy Foundation as a Scientific Advisory Board Member and top tips. An insightful and thought-provoking look into part of our health that is so important for dancers. Webinar 5 with Dr Nicky Keay Webinar Dr Nicola Keay, hormone health and dance expert leads this webinar on her amazing work on hormones, parenting and dance. Dr Nicky has supported parent dancers including Bethany Kingsley-Garner Scottish Ballet and is recently published, “Health, Hormones and Human Potential”. This insightful and important session looks at the range of hormone experience from foetus, adolescence, pregnancy, postnatal and menopause phases In the context of being a Dance Mama. Dr Nicky is also a member of Dance Mama’s Research Advisory Group. Webinar 6 with Maternal Mental Health Alliance Webinar Laura Seebohm, CEO discusses the current status quo of maternal mental health in the UK, the charity’s research and role in regard to this and, in conversation with Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, how this relates to the parenting population in dance. Webinar 7 with Shane Kelly, The Royal Ballet Webinar Shane Kelly, (Clinical Director, The Royal Ballet), global leader in his field, gives an insight into his work at the Royal Ballet with their parent dancer population. In conversation with with Dance Mama Founder/CEO, Lucy McCrudden, Shane will be talking about what sorts of methods the company uses to support dancers through this transition, and contextual issues that occur during this time, drawing on Shane’s previous professional experience with elite athletes and his empathy for parents as a Dad himself. Webinar 8 with Dr Lucie Clements Webinar The Dance Psychologist, Dr Lucie Clements, will be joining Lucy McCrudden, Founder/CEO of Dance Mama to discuss identity and common traits in dancers and how these relate to us when we become parents – including self-esteem and perfectionism. Dr Lucie is a psychologist, educator and researcher developing evidence-based coaching, workshops and consultancy for performing artists and recently wrote a report for Equity on Mental Health in the Performing Arts Industry. Webinar 9 with International Parenting and Dance Network (IPADN) Webinar Join Lucy McCrudden (Dance Mam Founder/CEO) as she talks to the founding partners of the International Parenting & Dance Network (IPADN) to discuss the current developments in global research into supporting and studying parents in the dance sector, and how you can get involved with this new, AHRC funded network. Panelists include Professor Ali Duffy from Texas Tech University (USA), Dr Aoife McGrath from Queens University Belfast and Professor Angela Pickard, Christ Church Canterbury (UK). Workshop 1 with Lizzie Klotz Workshop Our first dance workshop for this new season, comes from the fabulous Lizzie Klotz independent dance maker, performer and facilitator. Lizzie’s choreographic work regularly incorporates working with multidisciplinary collaborators across theatre, circus and live art. She is an enthusiastic improviser, whose practice is rooted in conversation, care and play. Most recently she performed in balletLORENT’s Rapunzel with her son. Workshop 10 with Yorke Dance Space Workshop York Dance Space Founders, Hannah and Drew Wintie-Hawkins lead this creative dance session for parents in dance from NSCD, Leeds. Both graduates from London Contemporary Dance School, Hannah and Drew had extensive performing careers before moving back to Hannah's home town York to create their own independent dance organisation as well as starting their own family. Workshop 2 with Siobhan Hayes Workshop Siobhan Hayes, Independent Dance Artists, leads an actively relaxing workshop using her training as a Level 1 Franklin Method™ educator for this calming session. Supported by wonderful live accompaniment from Wayne Walker-Allen, this session transports us out of the festive frenzy and into a place of connection and calm. A short Q&A takes place for the last 15 minutes. Workshop 3 with Folk Dance Remixed and ABH Workshop Natasha Khamjani, Co-Artistic Director of Folk Dance Remixed, delivers an energetic repertoire session of their brilliant fusion of folk dance and urban dance styles for Dance Mama Live: Back On The Road. Broadcast from East London Dance’s studios in The Talent House, Natasha is accompanied by guest musician, Alex ‘ABH’, UK Beatbox Champion who provides a unique soundtrack to this workshop, and also teaches a bit of #beatboxing too! Workshop 4 with Sally Knight Workshop Sally Knight, Artistic Director of Cscape Dance leads a dance theatre movement workshop using the sublime poetry of Hollie McNish as stimulus to create movement, accompanied by original scores the company has used in their previous work. Workshop 5 with Melody Sinclair Workshop Melody Sinclair (Assistant Choreographer, Six The Musical UK Tour ) leads the adult’s workshop for our hybrid dance event for professional dancing parents One Dance UK Birmingham. Melody draws on her experience in choreography and performance with the likes of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company for this session, especially made for the parents who work professionally in dance. Workshop 6 with Juliana Javier, Company Chameleon Workshop Juliana Javier (Associate Artist, Company Chameleon) leads a mindful and playful workshop that will invite participants to get lost in creative movement. The workshop provides an insight into Company Chameleon’s unique movement style and leaves participants feeling uplifted and connected to body and mind. Workshop 7 with Eleesha Drennan Workshop Canadian-born Eleesha, gives us an insight into her practice and repertoire of All The Time In The World/Infinite Glimpse - inspired by a survival story, Infinite Glimpse plays with Drennan’s distorted perceptions of time following her husband’s brain surgery. Lose yourself while exploring the challenge of finding beauty in darkness, courage through adversity, and a connection with others along the way. Eleesha is accompanied by renowned composer and musician, Chris Benstead for this workshop. Workshop 8 with Alleyne Dance Workshop Kristina Alleyne, one half of the award-winning Alleyne Dance, shares some of their fire and rhythm with us in this physical contemporary dance workshop. In this workshop, focussing on body part isolation for professional dance parents, it looking to further develop their performance skills, stamina and technical detail with hand movements influenced by Caribbean and South Asian dance styles. Workshop 9 with Anna Watkins Workshop Anna Watkins, Artistic Director & Choreographer of Watkins Dance Company, delivers a physical and technical contemporary dance workshop online drawing on her extensive work with companies such as Phoenix Dance Theatre, Tavaziva Dance and Ballet Boyz. Renowned musician, Barry Ganberg, Head of Music, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance accompanies this session. This will be an insight into her own creative process and choreographic work which has a freelance, feminist lens. Page 1 of 1 Contributors Map NEW! Compiling all our experts and specialists in one place so you can find them fast! ​ ​ TAKE ME TO THE MAP