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Jess Smith
Jess founded MOTION in 2017 after gaining QTS in Secondary Dance and 8 years teaching full time in schools. She trained in an outstanding rural comprehensive academy, before working in a an EBD (SEMH) residential school for boys and latterly in an inner city community school for 4 years. During this time she received ‘outstanding’ judgement in all areas from Ofsted, held responsibilities for ITT/NQT and qualified as an Arts Award Advisor (Discover – Silver). She has experience as a Head of Faculty for Practical Education, is currently an AQA GCSE Dance examiner and writes for TES.
Jess also leads CPD training for LEA’s/MATs and ITT providers upskilling and building the confidence of school based staff to lead good and outstanding dance sessions within their settings, which also link to wider curriculum foci such as global learning. She is currently working with Manchester City Council along with other training providers in the North West to develop accessible, high quality training programmes on a range of topics. She also offers bespoke in house training for MAT’s, individual or cluster schools , as well as care establishments and community groups so please get in touch if you have an idea for a session!
Jess’s passion for outstanding school based dance has led her to develop MOTION to include Dance Fitness, by becoming qualified in Fitness Instruction. This has allowed us to develop effective programmes offered in schools, but also to widen the socially inclusive aspect of the initiative to include chair based dance fitness for older members of our community, and dance fitness sessions for members of the trans community. This has also included work with LGBT foundation and Manchester Pride.
Jess has also worked as a consultant in devising curriculum for both primary and secondary schools to embed outstanding Dance and performance within their core practice.
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Kate Threlfall
Kate trained at Edge Hill University and graduated with a First Class BA Hons Dance Degree in July 2017. Whilst training at Edge Hill, Kate was fortunate enough to work with a number of choreographers such as Gary Clarke, Sally Marie, James Wilton and Alesandra Suetin and toured these works nationally as part of 3rd Edge Dance Company.
As soon as Kate graduated she went on to work as a freelance dance artist for various arts organisations in the North West. This is where she found her love for teaching. Kate teaches all ages and all abilities from early years to elderly. She really believes in bringing dance and the arts into all schools.
Kate has also performed in professional works for Ludus Dance as part of ‘Light Up Lancaster’ and performed with Company Chameleon for their ‘Illuminate’ project. Kate also founded her own performance company ‘Redlocks Creations’, where she has created and performed her own work at various venues across the North West.
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Christina Elazab
Christina is an incredibly passionate and experienced yoga, group exercise and dance teacher as well as personal trainer and well being consultant. She studied at Northern Contemporary Dance gaining a 1st Class Honours Degree and subsequently went on to tour with Verve09.
Christina has joined MOTION to deliver our staff wellbeing programme, designing bespoke classes to boost the health and happiness of staff teams through her unique, positive and uplifting delivery!
Having taught in over 10 countries, she has previously designed the well being programmes for TUI holidays global, as well as gaining her yoga teaching qualification in India. Christina has more than 10 years experience in the health and well-being industry and leaves a trail of sunshine wherever she goes!
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Sophie-Leigh Barrow
Sophie graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Dance Performance and Teacher Training (BA Hons) from the University of Central Lancashire in 2019 and is using the wealth of school based teaching experience she gained during her degree to plan and deliver outstanding sessions in some of our primary and secondary settings.
Sophie is a passionate dance teacher who is dedicated to developing creativity and imagination through playful moving. Alongside her experience teaching in schools and working with young people to develop choreography & technique, Sophie has worked with inspiring individuals such as Lisa Simpson through Lisa Simpson Inclusive Dance, developing invaluable skills and a passion for supportive Dance work, helping and encouraging all people to participate in practical arts sessions.
Sophie has worked in a broad range of both primary and secondary schools during her training, as well as with prestigious youth groups across the North West including Preston Young Dancers and Ludus Youth Dance Company in Lancaster.
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Rachel Li
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Rachel is a Dance Artist, Performer, Choreographer, Young Leader and Advocate for Dance, specializing in Ballet and Contemporary Dance.
Rachel has been a company member of Emergence 20/21 (Joss Arnott Dance/University of Salford) and has recently graduated with a Distinction in her Master’s Degree in Dance Performance and Professional Practices; with the support of the Salford International Excellence Award. Throughout the past year, she has worked and toured a Triple Bill nationally with Joss Arnott, Kevin Edward Turner (Co-Artistic Director of Company Chameleon) and Becky Namgauds.
Previously, Rachel graduated from Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, where she received a BA (Hons) in Ballet and Contemporary Dance. During her studies, she had the opportunity to work with different choreographers including Christopher Bruce CBE, Thick and Tight, and Darren Ellis. She actively participated in the Student Choreographic Platforms and worked with local year 10 GCSE students during the Aspire project in her final year.
Before moving to the United Kingdom, she trained at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts under the Gifted Young Dancer Programme and was awarded the Mui Ting Wai Memorial Scholarship. She actively performed with the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation and was also given numerous opportunities to choreograph as a Youth Assistant Choreographer for 2016-2017.
Aside from performing, Rachel is passionate about advocating for dance and aims to make a difference in the dance world. She has been a One Dance UK Dance Ambassador from 2019-2021 and has assisted for many national youth events, including U.Dance, RISE (careers and networking event), Yorkshire Schools Dance Festival. As a young leader, she was selected as a delegate for the Young Rural Retreat 2019, led by Scottish Ballet’s Christopher Hampson and Catherine Cassidy.
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Louise Gibbons
Since graduating in 2010, Louise has gone on to build her teaching practice, working in; community, health & educational settings for numerous organisations including Ludus Dance. As an artist, she is passionate about working with communities who may face barriers in accessing dance, and loves to spread the joy of movement!
Louise’s practice spans; contemporary dance, improvisation & various Afro-Brazilian Dance styles. She is an associate artist of Small Things Dance Collective, where she works as a facilitator and performer at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
She is the Artistic Director of Northbound Dance and created her first, interactive solo work in 2020, which toured care homes with invited primary school audiences. She has toured nationally & internationally with an interactive, early years show called ‘Sponge’ (Turned On Its Head). Previously she has worked with a number of companies & choreographers including; About Time Dance Company, Spilt Milk Dance, Gary Clarke (12 Degrees North) & Adele Thompson (Ludus Dance).
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Sam Raheem
Sam has the unique combination of expertise in two Dance styles. Having been a professional break dancer he then trained in contemporary and went on to gain his Dance degree (BA Hons) from University of Salford in July 2019.
Whilst training here he was fortunate enough to work with Wildhawk studio owner Josh Hawkins in his production ‘Into The Unknown’, as well as having the pleasure of training with award winning contemporary choreographer Joss Arnott.
Having taught breakdance classes in schools throughout Leicestershire, Telford and Loughborough for a number of years, he has remained in Manchester following his graduation and runs street and break dance classes for all abilities from Reception to year 11, finding the physicality of movement engaging for all young people, in particular harder to reach boys.
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Ashleigh Shorrock
Completing her training at the University of Salford, Ashleigh graduated with a first-class degree in BA Hons Dance. Throughout her training Ashleigh has been fortunate to have trained with companies including Ludus Dance and company Chameleon as well as performing in several works from renowned artists and companies including Gary Clarke, Phil Sanger, Kiera Martin, Hawk Dance Theatre and MIF.
Specialising in contemporary dance, with a love for Dance Theatre and clowning, Ashleigh has a passion for community work and has a strong belief that dance should be accessible to all bodies. Sharing her skills with people across the northwest, she has lead projects in schools and other educational settings. Ashleigh works closely with young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities across greater Manchester with the arts organisation steppingstones creative, practicing a fun inclusive approach when delivering her sessions.
Stemming from the many collaborative opportunities and the nationwide performances she has fulfilled, Ashleigh aspires to enthuse others to be involved in the arts, infecting them with the joys of movement and creativity no matter what their abilities or experience.
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Paige Jones
Paige specialises in teaching contemporary dance, having gained a first class degree from The University of Chester where she completed her BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance. Whilst there she also trained in ballet, jazz, contact improvisation, flying low, and capoeira. Following that she went on to train at The University of Chichester completing an MA in Performance: Dance.
Paige believes dance can explore many ways in which the human body is able to move, showing both strength and power. It can also immerse an audience into a space of a story that can’t be recreated again in the exact same way. She believes dance keeps the body alive.
After her dance training, Paige decided to learn more about the body in a Yin Yoga course before diving into Kid’s yoga and what this can offer to the younger generation. Using her knowledge of movement and yoga together she is able to share an incredibly immersive opportunity to develop a way for bodies to move and challenge themselves.
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Robbie Garland
Robbie recently graduated from Edge Hill University with a 1st class degree in Dance. Originally from Cumbria, he grew up studying drama and performing arts and dance. Specialising in Contemporary, Contemporary fusion and commercial his background in acting and drama has led him to gain another speciality of using voice within performance.
He was worked with a number of well renowned companies and artists such as: Company Chameleon, Ludus Dance, WigLe Dance CIC, Bettina Carpj, Night People and many more. In summer of 2022 he won a community award where he had afternoon tea with the Mayor of Lancaster due to his voluntary teaching and facilitating work.
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