Yuma Sylla

Yuma (she/they) is a freelance movement artist based in Leeds. After graduating from LCDS (The Place), they continue with MA at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and join Phoenix Dance theatre, touring their 40th-anniversary program around the UK. Yuma is currently performing with Ramped, a community interest company focused on advancing accessibility as well as exploring the relations of communities and spaces we inhabit. They are also collaborating with artist Mandy El-Sayegh, exploring the deconstruction of political bodies and artworks. Yuma enjoys researching relations between identity and improvisation.

Corinne Bailey Rae

From Leeds, England, singer/songwriter/musician Corinne Bailey Rae shot to stardom with her self-titled #1 UK debut album in 2006, featuring the global hits “Put Your Records On“ and “Like A Star”

Bailey Rae has received two GRAMMY AWARDS, two MOBOS, alongside multiple nominations including BRIT and BET Awards. She was awarded her first GRAMMY® in 2008 for Album Of The Year when featured on Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters. Her second album,The Sea (2010) was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. The subsequent EP Is This Love garnered a GRAMMY® for Best R&B Performance

In 2016 Bailey Rae returned with “boundary-defying, epic music” (NPR) for her third studio album, The Heart Speaks In Whispers, also declared “the best R&B of 2016” (The Guardian). The album featured the stunning "Green Aphrodisiac" named “10 best R&B songs of 2016” (Billboard) and selected by President Obama for his summer playlist.

Bailey Rae’s success has lead her to composing music for film and television, including the theme to Stan Lee’s Lucky Man (SKY1). She recorded “The Scientist” for Universal Pictures’ Fifty Shades Darker opening title and soundtrack, which charted globally. 2020 included The High Note with Bailey Rae’s “New to Me”, performed in the film by Tracee Ellis Ross.

Bailey Rae continues to collaborate and perform with artists across musical genres, including Mary J Blige, Al Green, Herbie Hancock, KING, Paul McCartney, Kele Okereke (Bloc Party), Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Questlove, Salaam Rami, RZA, Tyler The Creator, Paul Weller, Richard Hawley, Stevie Wonder, Tracey Thorn, Pharrell, Logic, Mick Jenkins, and many more.

Throughout Bailey Rae’s career she has performed worldwide from Glastonbury to Byron Bay Blues Festival. In 2019 Bailey Rae performed at BST Hyde Park, Newport Jazz Festival, Central Park SummerStage, London Jazz Festival, Delicious Festival (Johannesburg, SA), Rio Montreux Jazz Festival, The O2 (London), and Billboard Live Osaka & Tokyo. Most recently Bailey Rae performed Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” as a duet with Leslie Odom Jr. at the 2021 BAFTA’s in London at The Royal Albert Hall.

Sharon Watson

After studying at London Contemporary Dance School, Sharon graduated from the BPA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance at NSCD in 1997.

Sharon Watson is the fourth Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Prior to this she was the longest-standing Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre. Her journey with the company began when she was one of the first female Principal Dancers invited to join the all-male award-winning company, touring from 1989 to 1997 and choreographing Never Still and Shaded Limits. Having left Phoenix to pursue a number of other ventures including setting up her own company ABCD, Sharon returned in 2009 as the new Artistic Director. Sharon choreographed numerous works for the company including the celebrated Windrush: Movement of the People and Black Waters.

Andi Walk-er

Andi Walk-er:/  is a textiles art-ist:/ their studio practice is deeply rooted in process. From their dye-ing:/ techniques of creating unique paint-erly:/ fabrics which are records of the often perform-ative:/ methods of applying the dye to the surface of the cloth.

Their work frequently challenges and subvertssocietal norms around gender and masculine femininity’s. and exploring this through the garment and stitch-ed:/ narratives sited on the body and this work is frequently positioned within the context of dance.

Their work investigates materials that are at odds with each other which can been seen as autobiographical of their life journey with their gender.

Since graduating from the Royal College of Art Constructed Textiles in 2010 they have been engag-ed:/ in collaborative projects with choreographers & dance companies to explore the relation-ship:/ between dancer & garment.

They have recently completed working with the Yorkshire Sculpture Park within their summer exhibition ’On Queer Ground’ which saw them create a quilt of ‘stitched stories.’

Mayowa Ogunnaike

Mayowa is a British-Nigerian dance artist based in London and Leeds. Her name means ‘brings joy’ and she aims to encourage that sentiment throughout her practice. She graduated from Trinity Laban in 2017 and has since worked as a performer for several companies including Phoenix Dance Theatre, Uchenna Dance, Ace Dance and Music and Mobius Dance. Currently she is performing in work by Fubunation and with choreographer Seke Chimuntengwende. Alongside performing, Mayowa delivers creative and technique classes across the UK and collaborates with artists to create multi-disciplinary work.  

Carlos Martinez

Born in Cuba, I graduated from the National School of Ballet in Havana taking part in various competitions and international Dance Festivals and working with many established choreographers and dancers including Fernando Alonso, Carlos Acosta and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

I joined “The National Dance Company in Havana, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba” where I performed works by Sasha Waltz, Rafael Bonachela, Mats Ek, Itzik Galili, Juan Cruz, Jose Carreño (Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre), Carlos Acosta amongst others.

I received the “Luna” award for my role in “Carmina Burana” at the National Auditorium in Mexico City choreographed by George Cespedes and directed by Leo Kramer.

In 2009 I began to teach professional dancers and to create my own work. I went on to be a founder member of two dance projects, “Ebony Dance Company” and “MalPaso Dance Company” where I became Artistic Director, Rehearsal Director, Choreographer and Principal Dancer collaborating with “The Joyce Theatre in New York” and “National Ballet of Cuba”.

Additionally, I was awarded a special nomination at the Iberoamericano Ballet “Alicia Alonso” competition for my role in “Anoxia” by Osnel Delgado and I became a finalist in the Gran Prix Vladimir Malakhov for my own choreography “Equilibrium”.

During this time, I was offered several scholarships for companies in France and the USA.

I joined “Phoenix Dance Theatre” in November 2016 where I performed works by Sharon Watson, Christopher Bruce, Sandrine Monin, Aletta Collins, Jeanguy Saintus, Amaury Lebrun, Shambik Ghose and Dr Mitul Sengupta, Miguel Altunaga, Douglas Thorpe, Ben Duke and Raquel Meseguer, Edward Lynch Darshan Singh Bhuller amongst others.

In 2021 I created my first work “Kardec” with Phoenix Dance Theatre for the Digital Program and I have been choreographing as well as directing as an Artistic Associate for Capuagate Dance in Newcastle under the Direction of Martin Hylton.

Matteo Marfoglia

Matteo graduated from Codarts in Rotterdam and danced for many years with Introdans in the Netherlands and National Dance Company Wales in the UK, performing works by international choreographers including Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Roy Assaf, Alexander Ekman, William Forsythe, Christopher Bruce, Johan Inger, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, Inbal Pinto and Angelin Preljocaj. In 2011 Matteo danced in the multi-disciplinary project Nierka created by Satore Studio in London, directed by Tupac Martir and choreographed by Fernando Hernando Magadan (Netherlands Dance Theater).

In 2017 Matteo founded his own project-based company in Cardiff (Wales, UK). Matteo’s work has been commissioned by organisations in Wales including NDCWales, Wales Millenium Centre and Rubicon Dance, as well as being presented at international festivals such as Altofest (Naples, IT), Vetrina della giovane danza d’autore (Ravenna, IT), Interplay/18 (Turin, IT), Teatro Fontana (Milan, IT), HangartFest (Pesaro, IT), and Valletta 18 European City of Culture (Malta).

In 2018 Matteo worked as Rehearsal Director for National Dance Company Wales and has been an Associate Artist with the company since 2017. He is also a certified Gaga Teacher, having undertaken the Gaga Teachers’ Training in Tel Aviv under the artistic direction of Bosmat Nossan, Saar Harari, and Ohad Naharin. Matteo is the creator of Together We Create//Creu Gyda’n Gilydd a project created in partnership with arts and non-arts organisations, artists and community members that gives voice to the hopes, desires and needs of the Penrhys community in Rhondda Cynon Taff.

In 2020, The Sunset Show was commissioned through The Agency programme run via National Theatre Wales. Matteo supported The Agency participants to create an outdoor show in Grangetown streets, with Grangetown artists, for Grangetown residents.​

Mayowa Ogunnaike

Born in London, Mayowa began her professional training at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance from where she graduated with a first-class degree and an award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Choreological Studies’ (2017).

After graduating she became an apprentice dancer with Phoenix Dance Theatre, performing and touring in the original cast of ‘Windrush: Movement of The People’ choreographed by Sharon Watson (2017-18). Following her apprenticeship, Mayowa has worked as a company dancer for Uchenna (2018-19), ACE Dance and Music (2018-20) and Rosie Kay Dance Company where she is currently performing the role of ‘Juliet’ in a new production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Photo: @concretely.layla

Amy Voris

Amy Voris is a dance-maker based in Manchester.  Her practice is process-oriented and collaborative, driven by the desire to develop relationships with people and with movement material over long stretches of time.  The outcome of the work is contingent on hunches and interactions that occur during the process and varies widely.  Examples of current projects include a site-responsive project (enter inhabit), a collaboration with a jewellery maker (flockOmania) and a collaboration with three Northwest-based artists exploring the curation of experimental performance practices (Accumulations).  Her projects have received support from Chisenhale Dance Space, Dance Northwest, Dance Manchester, Yorkshire Dance and The Arts Council among others.  With choreographer Ruth Segalis and performer Natasha Gilmore, Amy was a founding member of Rose’s Thoughts Dance Company (London, 1996-2003).   

Amy will be taking part in Möbius Atelier - Choreographic Intensive. During this two-day research period, Amy will adapt a solo score called perch to the unique capacities of four dancers. There will be two key elements of research during the adaptation process: the exploration of transitions between energetic states and the spatial potentialities of working with a quartet. In its original form, perch explored the theme of temporary dwellings, the chronological arrangement of disparate movement content and the significance of the dancer’s deepening relationship with movement material.

www.amyvoris.com

Photo: Christian Kipp

Annie Hanauer

Annie Hanauer is an independent dance artist based between the UK & France, originally from the USA. Annie works internationally and has performed, toured, choreographed, and taught extensively for over a decade, currently performing with long-time collaborator Rachid Ouramdane/CCN2 Grenoble and the Paris Chamber Orchestra. She is interested in the experiences of people who have been 'othered', stemming from her own lived experience as a disabled woman, and extending to a wider idea of inclusivity.

She is interested in who has access to dance both as an audience and performer, and wants to disrupt dominant ideas of a normative dancing body. Her own choreographic work has involved developing methodology for group performance improvisation, and she is currently developing projects around disability, caring & motherhood, and ideas of utopia & collective imagination. She approaches movement with curiosity and looks for the coincidence of pleasure and sweat. Annie's choreographic work has been supported by Arts Council England, Siobhan Davies Dance, CCN2 Grenoble, Candoco Dance Company and The Place.

website: https://www.anniehanauer.com/

Maya Carroll

Maya graduated from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance with a First Class BPA(Hons) degree in 2018. Maya continued her training with Verve, the postgraduate performance company at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, graduating with a Distinction as well as being awarded the ‘Overall Achievement in Professional Practice Award’ for her year in the company. Throughout her training, Maya had the opportunity to work with artists such as Ben Wright, Maxine Doyle, Joan Clevillé, Noa Zuk, Ben Duke, Gavin Coward and Francesco Scavetta.

Since graduating, Maya has worked as a freelance dancer in projects with a variety of artists including Jamaal Burkmar (Extended Play Dance), Petri Delights for Resolutions 2020, Douglas Thorpe (Mad Dogs Dance) and Rod Dixon (Red Ladder Theatre Company), Matthew Robinson, Night People Events and Wilhelmina Ojanen as a part of Mobius Dance. Maya also works creatively in a choreographic duo with Henry Morris.

Jamaal Burkmar

A graduate of the Northern School for Contemporary Dance in Leeds. Jamaal’s first creation as a student ‘Ocean’ was commissioned for VERVE, the postgraduate company at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. ‘Ocean’ proved successful with audiences in UK and beyond. Since graduating Ocean has been reworked 3 times on different groups and performed at several highly prestigious events. During this period Jamaal was also successful in gaining his first Arts Council England Grants for the Arts award for the creation of a short work called ‘Sonder’. It was during the summer of the same year that Jamaal applied and won the highly prestigious New Adventures Choreography Award.

Photo: Foteini Christofilopoulou

Iolanda Portogallo

Born in Italy, Iolanda’s passion for dance began at an early age.  Graduated from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2019, she had the opportunity of training with amazing dancers and perform works by Vinicius Salles, Sharon Watson and Jake McKernan.

While in her third year Iolanda started working with Mobius Dance and she is also currently working with Extended Play, directed by Jamaal Burkmar. 

Iolanda is also one of the former of NORTHVIBES, providing improvisation classes and events around Leeds. 

Prior to this she undertook pre-professional training at the Accademia Internazionale Coreutica in Florence, studying ballet and contemporary technique

Otis Jones

Otis Jones is a Musician and Dancer, who began dancing with Swindon Dance, and then trained for 3 years at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. 

He has worked as part of a Dance and Music duo called Snakebox since his graduation, exploring the synergy of music and movement, and taking lessons and techniques from both to further his artistic craft. 

He has composed scores for independent contemporary dance pieces and films, with artists such as Ciemulator Dance Theatre, John Wannehag and Jamaal Burkmar. He has also worked as a composer for independent feature films, and online advertisements. Otis has much musical experience as a multi-instrumentalist, which he has utilised not only in his composition work, but also performing with bands (both original work and covers) and his work as an accompanist for the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Otis has been collaborating with Möbius since 2017. He has created the music for Encounter One, Encounter Two and will create the music for our latest film Encounter Three.

Aimee Grundell

Aimee Grundell is a specialist in eco large format print and build, often coming up with original, highly creative ideas and then executing them alongside her talented collaborative team of designers, engineers and builders. With her team she builds interactive art pieces, exhibitions, stages, events and much more, working with clients to push the boundaries of what's possible.

Jake Dubber

Jake Dubber is a generative artist, interactive systems programmer, musician and multimedia creator who explores the line between artist, performer and curator. Their work often combines photography, video and data as input, and produces non-representational, psychedelic visuals as output: information synthesis at its least useful. They have collaborated with cutting-edge visual artists across Europe, created works for award-winning musicians, and exhibited their work at the Tate Modern in London.

Naomi Chockler

Born in Israel, Naomi started dancing at a young age and has continued this journey upon moving to the UK aged 14. Her passion for improvisation and choreography largely stemmed from being a part of Shift Youth Dance Company at The Place, where she performed works by Ben Duke, Theo Clinkard and Alleyne Dance. Naomi is currently in her third year of professional training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, thus far performing works by Jane Mckernan, Rita Marcalo and Barnaby Booth. In September 2020 she took part in the socially distanced project The Aftermath, a creation process led by Northern Rascals aiming to examine young people’s feelings of uncertainty and isolation during the global pandemic.

Travelling and dancing has always come hand in hand for Naomi and she hopes to continue this when she can again. She enjoys merging her other interests, such as writing, with her movement research. 

Alex Gosmore

Alex grew up in Bristol and started dancing with Rise Youth Dance Company where he worked with artists such as De-Napoli Clarke and Sam Amos (TrashDollys Dance Theatre). He then moved to Leeds to study at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance where he is currently in his third year of training. During his time at NSCD so far, he has performed works by Anna Williams and Barnaby Booth. As well as this, he recently performed externally in ‘The Aftermath’, a creation by Northern Rascals and Northern Broadsides.

Imogen Wright

Imogen developed a strong passion for dance at young age with Hip-hop and Commercial classes.
At the age 18, Imogen joined the Northern School of Contemporary Dance CAT scheme to begin their studies in contemporary and ballet. She then progressed onto the degree at NSCD to continue their full time professional training.
Currently a third year student, Imogen has had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Jane McKernan, Hana Goseling and Yukiko Masui.
As well as this, Imogen has also performed in The Aftermath, a piece by Northern Rascals in collaboration with Northern Broadsides.

Melissa Parry (Burton)

As well as regularly returning to Trinity Laban as a freelance designer and maker Melissa also has worked as a designer for Verve Dance, the English Ballet CAT Programme, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and has worked alongside the Northern Ballet Education Department as a designer and consultant for their collaboration with Burberry Inspire to encourage dancing and the Arts in schools across the West Yorkshire Region.