who is GDance

What GDance does:

• produces high quality professional inclusive work, supporting the development of emerging disabled choreographers, leaders and performers
• works strategically with local and national arts and education partners to improve inclusive practice and pathways for artists and young people facing disabling barriers
• provides inclusion training, consultancy and youth courses
• delviers inspiring projects, workshops and courses for people of all ages facing challenges in their lives (with education, health and community partners)
• co-ordinates a ranges of platforms, outdoor events and dance tasters
• works in partnership towards the aims of arts, health and social strategies

Meet the Team.

Cath Wilkins – Director

Cath joined GDance in 2007 following 3 years as General Manager of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, one of the UK’s foremost contemporary dance companies. Prior to that, she worked at NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) and for the Touring department of Arts Council England. Cath trained in dance at Patricia Newman and Janet Marshall Dance Studios in Cheltenham and then at Elmhurst Ballet School before gaining a Drama degree at the University of Wales. She is currently a Board member of strategic body for the arts Create Gloucestershire.

Neil McLaughlin – Finance Manager

Neil delivers a range of financial services for business clients and charities. Neil joins GDance from Mencap in Stroud, and held senior financial positions with Gloucestershire Housing Association.

Louise Portlock – Education Associate

Louise has been at GDance since 2005, maintaining a focus on developing pathways for disabled children, young people and adults across the county and beyond. She is now recognised nationally as expert in inclusive leadership and disabled artist training and development, and is often invited to speak at national health / arts conferences and events. Louise also takes on contracts that develop her range of skills and experience, including Dance & Health Regional Lead for Dance South West and Creative Producer for Frank McDaniels' Arts Council funded commission. Louise has a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and a Dance degree from Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Helen Crocker - Producer

Helen joined GDance in February 2010. She has 25 years of experience working in the arts, including groundbreaking, sector development in the field of Circus. This has included co-founding and working as Director of Circomedia in Bristol and as Acting Creative Producer at Theatre Bristol. Helen was a Board member for Imayla and co-produced Dance Dialogues, a programme of work to raise the profile of African people's dance. Helen trained as a dance movement therapist, teacher trainer, assessor and internal verifier, and has worked as a teacher, tutor and course manager. She is instrumental within GDance in producing inspiring integrated dance works (on film and live), created by or featuring disabled performers, and in work to support national sector development.

Ailsa Hardy - Programme Co-ordinator

Ailsa joined GDance in 2010 as an Apprentice Dance Leader, bringing with her experience in leading sessions in other sports (as a scuba diving instructor), a range of youth work and project management experience. Since then, Ailsa has developed skills in inclusive dance leadership, as well as production coordination, eg. supporting a local disabled artist to produce a dance film. Ailsa trained at a local dance school from age 5 to 18 before gaining degree in Drama and Theatre Arts from the University of Birmingham.

Brenda Cowie – Progamme Co-ordinator

Brenda joined GDance as a Dance Leader in 2011, and is now working with the team to develop our services for schools and early years settings. Brenda began dancing at the age of four and hasn’t looked back! She has trained extensively in tap, contemporary jazz and musical theatre and dabbled in highland, flamenco, body percussion and ballroom. Brenda has travelled the world dancing in Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York, London, Sydney, Paris and Israel. She enjoyed a short career in musical theatre before attending university to receive an education degree. Since then Brenda has been sharing her passion for dance with students aged two to adult; always working to the personal dictum that EVERYBODY CAN DANCE.

Karen Perrins – Progamme Co-ordinator

Karen is a dance and drama practitioner who has taught in a variety of different situations including both mainstream and special needs educational settings and has competed with groups at Cheltenham Literacy Festival and won on several occasions.

Her main interest is inclusive practice and she has worked with a wide range of adults and young people with disabilities and special needs. She has choreographed a range of education and performance projects and now runs both the Via Dance Company, based at the National Star College, and GDance's Bristol Inclusive Dance Company.

Janet Earl – Administrator

Janet rejoined GDance in October 2011 to support the Director 1 day per week. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge, organisational skills and contacts having spent 2 years as Communications Assistant for GDance (2008 - spring 2011), experience in a data analysis role, and of running Tango Cheltenham, with its range of classes, performances and events.

Kelly Peattie – Dance Volunteer Assistant

Kelly Joined GD in 2003 as a dancer, she suffers from cerebral palsy and uses a powered wheelchair. She enjoys being involved in VIA community Dance Company, as it has helped her to meet new people and to express herself through dance. She never thought she could dance being in a wheelchair and has now proved herself wrong. In her time with GD she has developed her skills through a range of training. For example: sports leaders UK; an award in dance leadership; safeguarding the arts training course; health & safety awareness training sessions and sports first aid sessions.

She became a dance volunteer assistant in 2006 and volunteered in many dance workshops throughout Gloucestershire. In her time with GD she has been a dance volunteer assistant for 'Parallel Dance Company' and 'Company INC'. She is currently a disabled dance assistant for 'VIA community Dance Company' through which she continues to gain many skills. She has been helping Karen Perrins with the Hoplands School and the Shrubberies School bringing two schools together to make dance pieces to perform live in front of audiences.

GD's Board

Anita Syvret (Chair)

Andrew Burrow (Treasurer)

Becky Andrews

Emma Brand

Jane Cantwell

Mike Counsell OBE

Sue Davies

Angela James

Michael Jones

Bairbre Lloyd

Dave Mullins

Louise Partridge

Deborah Rees

Paul Tarling