Kirsty is a freelance dance artist exploring how we move and how to move with others in playful, inclusive environments.
An experienced facilitator, Kirsty works in a variety of settings including primary, secondary, SEN schools and community centres. She is particularly interested in how movement can be used to create, communicate and collaborate in the spirit of collective joy.
She regularly leads projects for Rambert, The Royal Academy of Dance, Trinity Laban and Sadler’s Wells Learning and Engagement Programme with sharings at Sadler’s Wells Theatre and The Yard Theatre, Hackney Wick. She has also worked for SLiDE, Hackney Children's Theatre and run workshops at the V&A, F.A.T Studio and London College of Communication.
Initially studying English Literature and Philosophy at Glasgow University and then completing her PGCE she went on to receive a scholarship to study Community Dance at Laban. Kirsty is a professional member of People Dancing and an accredited teacher of Rambert Grades Creative Dance for Early Years and Grade 1-4 contemporary technique.
Work...
Kirsty regularly leads dance sessions for young people from age 2+. As well as facilitating sessions and performances she works alongside teachers in order to support their professional development and aims to empower both teachers and students to make creative choices and develop movement skills.
Kirsty works with Rambert, The RAD, Trinity Laban, Sadler's Wells and in a number of primary and secondary schools across London including Evelina Hospital School.
with young people
Photo by Michele Panzeri, Adrenalindance
Kirsty designed and delivered 2 days of sessions across KS1 and 2 focusing on the book The Moth and her sessions were a huge hit with all of our children.
Her lovely manner and incredible knowledge base make her an asset to our school.
James Wren, Deputy Head of Tunstall C of E Primary School
An excerpt from a pre-recorded series of videos created for Sadler’s Wells Learning and Participation and sent to a local Year 2 class during lockdown. This session uses a simple graphic score and noises to explore moving through space using different dynamics.
Music: Did, Don’t
Testimonial
'Working with Kirsty, for my CPD delivering dance lessons in primary school, was an amazing, enriching experience for both me and my students. Kirsty supported me to develop and refine my dance knowledge with an abundance of infectious enthusiasm for the subject.
I appreciated her ability to work flexibly with school life as well as the sense of partnership she created between us. Our collaboration culminated in a spectacular end of term dance performance by Reception class which left the audience in awe, the children full of pride and myself empowered to deliver high quality dance lessons.'
Nahdeannah Francis-Pennant, Primary teacher at a Sadler's Wells Associate School
with neurodiversity
Filmed by Roswitha Chester in an SEN primary school for the RADiate project.
Kirsty has an inclusive practice and extensive experience working with children with a wide variety of needs. Thinking creatively about the accessibility of all sessions and how to develop participant autonomy is at the heart of her practice.
Kirsty works in a number of SEN primary and secondary schools across London working with Laban and Peoplescape Theatre on the Moving Stories project and
as part of the RAD's STEP Into Dance and
RADiate programmes.
'Our students absolutely loved Kirsty's energy and ability to make every activity in the session fun and enjoyable. Having a dance background myself I was amazed and very inspired to see and experience the way she was able to adjust different elements of a structured dance lesson to be inclusive and motivating for such a mixed ability group.
Kirsty has been flexible to our requirements and we are very lucky to have worked with her over a term. With her support we created a lovely choreography, performed in The Yard Theatre that charmed and moved the audience. I would not hesitate to recommend Kirsty to other Special or Mainstream schools looking for inclusive and diverse extra-curricular provision.'
Kyriaki Gkini, Class and Performing Arts Teacher, Ickburgh SEN School
Testimonial
Photo by Becca Hunt in an SEN primary school as part of the Moving Stories project.
with older adults
Taking inspiration from a variety of contemporary techniques Kirsty's work with older adults is a joyful exploration of what it means to move together and develop individual artistry and confidence.
Kirsty has led workshops focusing on 'balance' for Sadler's Wells and runs the Contemporary Class for older adults (55+) every Wednesday at The Claremont Project.
'Kirsty 's older adults creative class is a high-point of my week. Her contagious energy and creative images help us stretch and move through space together. Kirsty fosters friendship!'
Regular older adult's class participant.
Workshops
Score making is an integral part of Kirsty's practice.
As we look at the world around us what shapes and lines do we see?
What if these lines could make us dance?
How can drawing can make us move and how can moving make us draw?
This workshop has been run with families at the V&A, F.A.T Studio and as a guest lecturer for the Illustration and Visual Media students at the London College of Communication as part of an ongoing research project exploring how graphic scores can be made relevant for a contemporary community dance practice.
The Circle Dance with Kate Ducker + F.A.T Studio
Drawings from workshop with
Illustration and Visual Media students
at London College of Communication
Laban
Winner of the Postgraduate Choreography Prize 2020 developing work with walking scores.
Set up in the Raphael Court at the V&A for families workshops.