Patrons and Trustees

Dame Beryl Grey DBE

Photo by Champion Photographic

Celeste Dandeker-Arnold

Photo by Alex Dandeker

Akram Khan MBE

London 2010

Dame Joan Plowright DBE

Wayne McGregor CBE

Maggie Semple OBE

Photo by Leanne Dixon

Andrew Holdsworth

Andrew brings the experience of being involved with Nonsuch History & Dance, an early dance group where he has had a number of roles including Chair and Treasurer. He also brings his professional knowledge of running IT projects and implementing financial systems.

Mercy Nabirye

Mercy Nabirye is a Director of Kauma Arts connecting communities globally, raising profiles and awareness of diverse arts. She is a fellow of the Windsor Leadership and RSA. Her portfolio includes Arts Council England, One Dance UK, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Apples and Snakes. Her artistic background is performing arts, film / photography and literature. She received an honorary Doctorate in Arts from University of East London in recognition of her achievements. www.kaumaarts.com

Claire Godsmark

Claire trained at P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels. She works internationally as a freelance dance artist, both creating her own work and performing in the works of others.

Avril Hitman

Avril is an award winning Inclusion and diversity expert recognised by the Queen with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her years of work in Inclusion and Diversity in a purpose and value driven organisation. Lifetime Achievement Winner, National Diversity Awards. She founded, led and grew a charity (Magpie Dance) for 32 years achieving a nationally recognised model of good practice in the dance and disability sector. Avril Hitman Consultancy: bespoke training / advisory / mentoring charity and cultural sectors.

Rebecca Stancliffe

Dr Rebecca Stancliffe is a Research Fellow at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where her work focuses on arts and health and digital methods. Rebecca has worked as a visiting lecturer at Performers College, Bird College, Coventry University, London Studio Centre and the University of London. Rebecca completed her PhD at the Centre of Dance Research in 2019. She holds an MA in Dance with Distinction from London Contemporary Dance School (2010) and a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre with First Class Honours from Trinity Laban (2008). Rebecca is writing a monograph that focuses on video annotation in dance which will be published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2024.