(Click on a dancer image for biography then feel free to scroll down to find out more about each dancer)

Ella Peck established Element Dance in 2005 with founder members Emi and Eneyi.

Ella was born in Kent, where she was a keen gymnast. Upon moving to Bristol during her teens, she began training in Contemporary dance and Ballet. Ella was always fascinated with languages, particularly French and Spanish, and with South America, and on completing her studies, she went on a world tour, stopping in particular, in South America.

Whilst attending University at Leeds (Politics) and Bretton Hall (Contemporary Dance), Ella began training in Samba dance with Rebelado, Bristol, and in Salsa, and worked her first semi professional dance jobs in Salsa clubs in Bristol. She also began to work for the Luso Brazilian Society, Leeds.

Ella apprenticed as a dancer for M and Em (Merville Jones- founder Phoenix member) dance company in Leeds upon leaving university (2005), specialising in Reggae, Jazz and Contemporary Dance.

Ella’s most significant dance teachers and mentors have included; Militsa Stojanovic (Rebelado), Merville Jones(M and Em), De Napoli Clarke (RJC), Luca Silvestrini (Protein), Bobak Walker (Urban Dance Collective), Michael Pottinger and Mauricio Reyes (Latin Motion).

Ella has visited and lived in Brazil, and there has performed and trained in Circus skills (Circo Piccolino, Salvador 2004), and in Samba and Zouk with Carlinhos de Jesus (Rio De Janeiro 2005, 2006), Academia de Amigos (2006) and Salgueiro and Alegria da zona sul (2006), before being asked to become a Passista in Rio Carnival 2006.

‘Everyone in the school was so friendly and warm- there was a real sense of communityThe experience of parading down the Sambadrome as a Passista was unforgettable and with every rehearsal I learnt something new.’

Ella has undergone training, mentoring and placements with the National Dance Teacher’s Association (NDTA) and is a qualified Aerobics Instructor and First Aider. Ella has worked with and taught for Educational and Corporate organisations including ‘Birmingham Royal Ballet’, ‘Birmingham Hippodrome’, ‘Leeds City Council’, ‘The Yorkshire Dance Centre’, ‘LA Fitness’ and more. She has also worked as Carnival coordinator.

Ella has been involved in numerous projects and performances invarious styles including Contemporary dance, Samba dance, Salsa and Reggaeton, as well as choreographing performances for Element. Some of Ella’s biggest achievements include touring India (Chennai, Mombai, Mahableshwar) and Denmark (Copenhagen) with her own choreographies for Element Dance, performing at Miss Black Britain two years running, Performing in the Dansopolis Commission (Yorkshire Playhouse), performing in Brazil as a Passista, Rio de Janeiro (2006) and Circus act/ dancer, Salvador (2004).

Ella is keen to continue to develop professionally, and in 2008 will be furthering her development by studying a dance diploma in Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz at Laban, London, whilst continuing her work with Element and other dance companies.

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I grew up with a lot of music and dance. My parents, especially my dad was (still is) crazy about music, so I was exposed to all kinds of music from around the world. My travel experience as a child also led me to explore and appreciate different kinds of music and dance.

I was born in Japan, but left to live in the U.K. at the age of six. I lived in London with my family until I completed my A-levels. During that period of 12 years, I went to live in Kenya and Sudan for two years due to my dad’s fieldwork. My experience in a Sudanese village community has remained deep in my memories. Even though our and villagers’ living conditions affected by poverty and the civil war were very harsh, my memories are still full of joy and happiness from the love and kindness that the villagers gave us. This is where for the first time, at the age of 10, I experienced the true joy of dancing. It was a great feeling to dance with the villagers under the moonlight to the sounds of the jingiru (like a banjo).

After we came back from Africa, we lived in South East London (big up!!). We lived in a very divers community and I was spoilt by cultural richness. I started listening to rap music and then to R&B and dancehall. I became an addict for music and that led me to explore dancing. At 15, I joined a hip-hop dance group called “C&C” in Brixton. We performed at shows and charity events. It was fun, but I only saw it as a hobby, and with other commitments and priorities, it didn’t last long.

In 1999, after my A-levels, I was offered a scholarship from Tulane University in New Orleans, so I decided to go and study mechanical engineering there. During the 4 years I was studying there, I met a lot of people and was able to make useful connections with the dance and entertainment scene in New Orleans. I danced in hip-hop music videos and at R&B concerts. I also modeled and danced for a television comedy show, “Comic View”, broadcasted nightly on BET (Black Entertainment Television).

But one of my proudest moments in New Orleans was seeing the establishment of Delta Xi Nu, the first and only multicultural sorority in New Orleans. Unhappy about the ethnically segregated student community at the university, my friends and I started the organization with a goal of furthering multiculturalism by promoting diversity and cultural awareness in our local communities and throughout the world. With our philanthropy being children and education, we were actively involved in community outreach programs tutoring children in impoverished parts of New Orleans. Holding a leadership position as the Social Chair and the Dance Team Captain enabled me to organize and throw events and social gatherings to promote diversity through music and dance. One exciting event was “Shadows of Diversity”, where we invited different cultural organizations at the university to share their different cultures through music, dance, martial arts, poetry, fashion and food. The sorority performed a dance that I choreographed specially for the night. I was very nervous about the whole event, but everything went so well. The night was amazing!

In my final year, I took a Samba class at the university. We learned the basics to a lot of different types of Brazilian dance including Samba Reggae, Afro-Brazilian, Maculele and Orixa dances. It was a very interesting class and I fell in love with the whole Brazilian music and dance. Sadly, the class was only for one semester (4 months) and it wasn’t until after the end of the class that I was actually able to do the samba steps. I still remember that night- it was in a club called Sounds Of Brazil in New York. My friends and I decided to go to New York to celebrate the New Years. It was an exciting night for all of us, because we had never been to a Brazilian event with so many Brazilian people and so many percussionists. It was amazing! We were so high on samba after that night, that we walked around New York looking for every opportunity to dance samba. Can you believe that we actually started dancing in the middle of a busy subway platform? We saw a drummer basking on the platform when we were waiting for our train, so we gave him a samba reggae beat and we just went for it. Everyone gathered around to watch, and the crowd got pretty big! It was such a laugh!

In 2003, after I came back from New York, the dance teacher who was running the samba class invited me to dance in her samba school. It was the only samba school in New Orleans called “Casa Samba”. Everyone at the school was so good and I was nervous at first, but they were all very supportive. I started performing with the group after a few months, and it was all very exciting. We performed at clubs and cultural events, including Jazz Fest, a nationwide festival that takes place every summer in New Orleans. That was the first time I performed in front of so many people. It was a great experience!

In May 2003, I graduated from Tulane University. Unsatisfied with my newly obtained bachelor’s degree in engineering, I enrolled in a 6-month volunteering program and went to Brazil to work with street children. It was the best experience of my life! It opened my eyes to so many things and I learned so much- everything from culture to politics, and of course, DANCING!

My experience in Brazil and Africa has made me consider many difficult questions about human conditions, and has also made me feel responsible for thinking and doing more to improve such conditions. This led me to back to university to study MA in Peace Studies at University of Bradford in 2004. It was a very intense course and I learned a lot about the different conflicts and political issues going on around the world- how they all started, what’s going on now, looking for solutions, dealing with post-conflict societies, how we can achieve peace and much more. It was during this time that I met Ella and Eneyi in Leeds and formed the group, Element Dance in 2005. It was great meeting the girls, we just all clicked and shared the same passion for music and dance.

After I finished my degree, I moved back to London, my hometown. I regularly traveled between Leeds and London to practise and perform with Element. In London, I also joined with another dance group called Ujamaa Arts, based in Hackney. Their focus was on African music, dance and drama, so I learned a lot of new things. We did a lot of workshops and performances during Black History month. I also met quite a few Reggaeton artists who were based in London, and ended up dancing in their shows. I danced in the 2nd Annual Latin Hip-Hop and Reggaeton Festival with Eneyi and Ella (Element) for Leximan and with Duende for the Latin Clan- it was all very exciting!

Currently, I’m in Japan spending time with my family, but I hope to come back to the U.K. soon to be reunited with Element Dance - I miss dancing with my girls!

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First my dance history. I have always been involved in cultural dancing in nursery and primary school back in Nigeria. I didn’t do any dancing in secondary school. Everyone in my family dances so we are always dancing at home. Right from my dad, mum, brothers, uncles, aunties, cousins, you name it, we are all dancers. My mum loves organising parties so that was a good way of learning all the new steps and competing with friends and family to see who is the best dancer.

On coming to England, I learned to dance by watching music videos. Hiphop, R&b, Dancehall, you name it. As far as I can make out the move from the music video, i will try my possible best to learn it.

On coming to the University of Leeds in 2002 I joined the Luso-Brazillian society and that is how I got into samba dancing. From there I met people that were also involved in salsa dancing and that is how I got into that. I have been hooked ever since. So I guess that is it really.

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Since graduating from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance Bobak has had a prolific freelance career choreographing, performing and teaching. Clients include Yorkshire Water, Beachcroft Soliciters, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, Yorkshire Dance and Phones for You. Bobak loves dancing and has the ability to give people of all ages and ability the confidence to get moving.

 

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Dancing has always been the love of my life! Since a young age there has always been music playing in my house. My parents have a great taste in music and I was lucky to be brought up with a rich mix, from soul to reggae, pop, mo-town so I suppose it was only natural for me to love dancing to it!

Performing for me first started on Sundays when I was about seven. Next door lived a lovely old lady called Edith and like clockwork every Sunday lunchtime she would hold a tea party for her friends. Anyway, I would make up routines and drag my reluctant sister round to perform for them. Our audience thoroughly enjoyed their regular shows and this was my first taste of being in the spotlight!

In 1998 a family friend decided to set up a drama group to keep children in our area off the street. The group became known as ‘Paddock Young Performers’ and this probably fuelled my desire to perform more than anything. The group would do a yearly show involving dance, drama and song, my first role being ‘Dorothy’ from ‘The Wizard of Oz’! it was great fun and soon the shows grew extremely popular, attracting more and more children. At this time I was only 13 and given the role of choreographer, but thrived at the challenge of creating my own steps. I worked and performed with PYPs for 5 years and was so proud of what I had already achieved at such a young age. Leading on from this I joined KYPAC, another drama group but for adults and older children. The cast were fab and I stayed with the group 3 yrs performing some really enjoyable and rewarding shows such as ‘Chorus Line’, ‘The Wiz’ and ‘Smokey Joes Café’.

Around the same time as I began choreographing, I started taking disco, rock n roll and Latin lessons at ‘York Dance Studios’, Huddersfield. Things progressed quickly, and I was asked to audition for one of the formation teams and got a place. We would regularly travel to regional competitions where our school would compete against the North East to secure a place in the prestigious national finals at Blackpool Winter Gardens. Our school have always performed excellently and through the years I have been placed 6th in the country for my individual freestyle, won various awards in pairs and one year came 1st in England with my formation team ‘Panache’. Although I don’t compete anymore, I still help teaching pupils at our new school, ‘BodyRockerz’ and also help out with the Latin social dances held on an evening; also I will shortly be training for my official dance teacher’s examination.

Things for me began to get even better and from the two proudest achievements I have so far in life, this next one is one of those. By 2004 I was heavily into my dancing, studying it at college and teaching or performing it in my free time. I had realised this was something I could do well in if I worked hard enough and started taking lots of other classes such as street and going to auditions, one of these being a competition in Leeds to promote the film ‘Honey’. Well, I went not really sure if I dare enter until my friend persuaded me we had come so far to not have a go. It paid off too! I won the competition and won a trip to new York plus a free dance lesson at the famous ‘Manhattan Motion Dance’. I was gob smacked! The trip was excellent, exciting and made even better as I could share the experience with my mum and best friend, a trip none of us will forget!

The other proudest achievement? I was still studying for my A levels in 2005 but my feet were itching to dance not to be under a desk! In April a good friend Bly said there was an audition for a dance programme on Trouble TV called ‘Bump n Grind 2’ and he was going to try out and I should too. And at this time street/hip hop had become a style I was really into and it seemed silly not to give it a go. So I went along thinking I wasn’t at all ‘street’ enough and spent the whole day dancing through various competitive heats, in front of the panel of judges. Eventually all my hard work paid off and I made it past hundreds of dancers to the final 12! We all relocated to London, six lived in the ‘booty camp’ and the other six lived in a 1.7m penthouse suite training with Kevin Adams, fortunately I was one of the latter six! We trained non-stop everyday for two weeks in all styles, Lindy Hop, Ballet, Jazz and obviously a lot of street/hip hop. After this four were voted out, one of those being me but the upside to the story is Bly won! The experience was the best, intense, emotional, draining but amazing and most importantly, I felt I had really progressed as a dancer.

Since then I audition frequently, often travelling across the country to seize opportunities. I’ve done lots of things I’m proud of, lots of corporate work, dtreet/70s shows and although every audition isn’t a success one, each time I learn something new from it and continue to improve. I am now a member of Element Dance and joined after meeting Ella at an audition. I have yet to perform my first gig with the group but cant wait as the mix is so great, ace music, hot costumes, what more could you ask for! Most importantly, I am still performing and feel so lucky to work with such lovely people and to have had the experiences I have had. In one sentence, I am truly blessed.

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My passion for Brazilian dance began after joining the LUU Capoeira Heranca society as a student in Leeds. During this time my love for samba grew from attending workshops on samba de roda in France and in Manchester with the inspirational Rebekah Fowler. Following four years of capoeira training and performances, which included the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, Manchester 2002, I travelled to Brazil.

In Brazil I trained for three months with Capoeira Conviver under Mestre Valdir Da Silva, student of the Associacao de Capoeira Senzala Santos, and in addition had the opportunity train maculele and take part in presentations, including a piece for local Brazilian television. I continued to train with the University Capoeira group in Leeds and joined the Luso Brazilian Society, training samba choreographies under the very talented Elisa Aloe (O Raggasamba) with the lovely samba girls for the monthly Carnaval night as well as the University of Leeds dance Show. This allowed me to expand on my knowledge of samba de roda to the Carnival style and more stylized samba as well as Axe. The experience led to further work as part of a samba performance group which dance regularly on the Latin scene in Leeds, with various opportunities to perform, choreograph and teach following. I have been very blessed with the people I have worked with, one of the most recent projects being with school children, with myself, Ella, Islay and the fantastic Claudio Kron of Drumming4business.

The energy of Brazilian music and dance is truly infectious, so much so, that at the time of writing this I am back in Santos, Brazil training capoeira at the academy, and samba and danca de salao at Aerodanca, a local dance school. It’s wonderful that the scene is growing back in the north of England. Axe!

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Danielle Byars was born in Leeds and currently resides and works in the city. She attends York St John University in the city of York where she is studying towards a degree in Performance: Dance.

Danielle began dancing at around the age of nine. Between high school and further education Danielle began her pursuit training in dance, studying Dance A-level alongside courses in Drama and Sociology. Throughout her A-level course Danielle gained experience and training in various Contemporary Dance techniques and training in Hip Hop and Ragga with Pako (So Kool International Hip Hop Organisation) and Reggae with David Hamilton (Regeyeshun Dance/ Founder Phoenix Member) outside of college.

Danielle works as a freelance dance artist-teaching dance to both young people and adults in a variety of settings including; fitness centres, primary and secondary schools and evening dance clubs. The different educational organisations Danielle has worked and taught for include: Get Moving!, Connecting Youth Culture, Drumming4Business, Ralph Thoresby Community Arts College, Leeds City Council and more.

Danielle has performed as part of numerous projects exploring various dance styles. Some of her biggest achievements include performing at York Theatre Royal as part of Dansopolis and performing in The Bob Marley Project and Heart Beat Riddim Chant at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Danielle has performed at various events in other cities including Wigan, Manchester, Newcastle, London, and Birmingham and also in other countries: Club Mambo Copenhagen, Denmark. Teatro de Almada, Lisbon, Portugal, Crowne Park Plaza, New Delhi, India.

Danielle’s most influential teachers include: David Hamilton (Regeyeshun Dance), Beth Cassani (Cassani Dance), Rita Marcalo (Instant Dissidence), Helen Whinfield, Dora Frankel (Dora Frankel Dance), Francsico Almeida (So Kool) and Ella Peck (Element Dance).

From September to December 2007, Danielle studied dance in Lisbon, Portugal as part of her degree course, here she undertook training in a variety of styles and has returned to the UK with further skills to utilize through teaching, choreography and performance.

In the future Danielle hopes to continue to work closely with Ella Peck in the working of Element Dance as an organisation and alongside its company of performers and teachers.

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Music, dancing, acting and performing have always been a huge part of my life, right from when I began to walk. At the age of four I started gymnastics, which I continued for 8 years until moving school got in the way. Gymnastics still influences my conditioning towards dance and I use the skills that I learnt to better my dance performances and choreographies. I have also managed to achieve grade 8 on both flute and saxophone.

Whilst at school, I was heavily involved in numerous dance (street and hip-hop) and acting shows, not only performing but organizing, directing and choreographing for them as well. The main event being a version of ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ for which I co-produced, directed and organized at the age of 17. I also danced and sang in the show. The 2 nights were a great success with the audience and performers thoroughly enjoying themselves and a substantial amount of money being raised for The Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which is a charity I started to support when my father was mis-diagnosed with the disease: I now still support the charity regularly. I relished the challenge of co-organizing such an event: I love taking ideas from the beginning, realizing them and turning them into a success. As a performer I think it’s not just the end result that’s the best bit or the most important part, it’s the whole process of getting there that enthralls me. My musical appreciation and understanding also improved immensely whilst at school as I worked towards and succeeded in passing grade 8 on both flute and saxophone, both of which I still play.

Studying is also a big, important part of my life because I like to learn. The more I know about everything, not just dance and performance, strengthens me as a person and I believe will help to make me a better teacher in the future.

On completing my A–levels in 2003 I decided to take a GAP year before going to university. It took a while to decide on which country to visit but I eventually settled on Brazil, having studied about the country in geography and having a father who travels there on business regularly and always raved about it I felt it was a place I wanted to go. I spent 6 months out there with GAP Activity Projects living with a Brazilian family and teaching English to people aged 3 to 50. Whilst there my pupils decided they would try to teach me samba and forro, thus my education in Brazilian dances started. By the time I returned to England I was hooked and had succeeded in learning forro, samba, pagode and axe from my pupils and from going out all over Brazil (including Salvador and Rio de Janeiro). I also came back fluent in Portuguese, having gone out speaking nothing, and with a passion for the country that has just grown and grown ever since.

On returning to England in 2003 I began my degree in Sport Science and Physiology at the University of Leeds. In my first year I took an elective in Portuguese to keep my language skills going and it was on a night out with my fellow Portuguese students that I found Homarus, a bar with a Latin night every Saturday. It was here that I met Silvio Dos Santos (aka DJ Silvao) who has had a huge influence on me as a dancer and as a person. He was the one who taught me my first salsa (Cuban style) steps and introduced me to bregge – another form of forro, from the north of Brazil. It did not take me long to pick up the basic salsa steps and I managed to learn all that I know on the dance floor, soon becoming a competent dancer. It was also during this year that I started attending reggaeton classes with the amazingly talented dancer, Elisa Aloe, who has been an inspiration to me. Having heard the music and seen people dancing in clubs I felt it was a new style that I wanted to learn and I have been dancing it ever since.

In my second year at university I became heavily involved in the Luso-Brazilian society and performed in the University dance show, which was the 1st opportunity I had to work with Ella Peck. During the summer of 2005 I started teaching weekly samba classes at MosoMoso in Manchester and also started choreographing my own routines and performing, including at Copacabana (Manchester), MosoMoso (Manchester) and Pontins (Pakefield).

I became the president of the Luso-Brazilian Society in my final year at university in September 2005, in which time I participated in and choreographed for the Uni dance show and began teaching beginners samba and axe. With the society I was lucky enough to be able to perform monthly at ‘Carnaval’ Night at the Faversham, as well as various other performances in and around Leeds for various society balls and charity events. Other performances during the year included Atrium’s (Leeds) 5th birthday party in February 2006 and La Tasca (Leeds & Harrogate). It was at this time that I met Aisha Malik, now one of my closest friends and a fellow sambista, who is always there to encourage me and give me strength when I need it – thank you.

I also began doing some teaching in association with Drumming4Business, with the fabulous Claudio Kron, which included teaching ‘samba reggae’ on a weeks’ course at Molescroft Primary School near Hull and resulted in a huge Carnaval parade at the end of the week for the parents to see with drumming, costumes and dancing. It was a pleasure to have been able to be involved in such a project and I look forward to the next opportunity. This also was when Ella and I really got to know each other and shortly afterwards I became a member of Element Dance performing in and around Leeds.

In February 2006 I succeeded in becoming a teacher-in-training and performer with The Salsaholics in Leeds, where I started training with Nicky and Gormack in New York style salsa, both on1 and on2. It was only then that I learnt how to break down the technique and steps of salsa in order to be able to teach the dance. Once a member of The Salsaholics I began attending congresses both within the UK and abroad as well as workshops run by Salsa Dance Squad (Switzerland), Swinguys (Italy), Irene Miguel (Argentina/UK), SuperMario (UK) & Suzanna Montero (UK). This has all enabled me to further my knowledge and skills extensively.

In July 2006 I graduated from university with BSc (Hons) and having decided that it wasn’t yet time to get a job and that I deserved a break after all the studying I went back to the fabulous Brazil for 2 months. It was a fantastic trip and enabled me to catch up with all my old friends, as well as spending time with my ‘Brazilian family’ (who I had lived with for 5 months – it felt like I had come home!). Another reason for going back to Brazil was to take the opportunity of doing some serious dance training. I took private classes at the ‘Casa de Danca Carlinhos de Jesus’ in Rio de Janeiro, where I trained in zouk, samba and samba de gafieira. Unfortunately my time in Brazil ran out all too quickly and I am now back in Leeds.

Now back I am once again performing with Element Dance and teaching samba, axe and reaggaeton on a regular basis at the University of Leeds as well as teaching salsa with The Salsaholics.

I feel honored to have been able to be taught, influenced by and perform with so many amazing people. Thanks in particular to Elisa Aloe, Nicky and Gormack (The Salsaholics), DJ Silvao and anyone who have ever complimented me on my dancing and encouraged me to keep going. I am constantly learning new things and always look forward to the next time I am dancing and to the next challenge and opportunity to learn.

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I started dancing at the age of six in the school of rhythmic gymnastics in my home town for five years.

At the age eleven I started in the elemental school of ballet, training with Alejo Carpentier. I loved the training, but I also liked so many other styles. For that reason I decided to train with the National School of Arts [ena]. I learnt all sorts of dance styles with them, and everything there is to know about performing on the stage - even small details like how to apply make up for shows.

Upon graduating, I worked in the company "Ballet de la television Cubana. I was very proud to work for them as they are so well respected in Cuba. We travelled all over- Mexico, Aruba- I've been dancing around the world- both with them and with Element Dance whom I travelled to India with in 2006.

I came to the UK in 2005 where I continued dancing in my spare time. When I met Ella and Element Dance in 2006, I was happy to have found more like minded dancers. I love meet new people, cultures, give to them my smile and good work. In Element Dance I have found good friends, and exciting opportunities.

That’s me
love
lily x

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Emily

I am trained in ballet, contemporary, tap, modern, jazz, hip hop, street and
Latin American dance. I have appeared as a dancer in the Russian pop star
Asheras music video, backing danced for Robbie Williams and Britney Spears
tributes, danced at the leeds Breeze festival, performed at the Miss Black
Britain 2006 event, danced at nightclubs throughout the UK including
gatecrasher and Hed Candi events and worked as a dancer at many corporate
functions. I have choreographed for shows at St Georges Hall Bradford,
Manchester Palace Theatre and worked extensively as a choreographer for Toni
and Guy hair shows throughout the country. I am an experienced teacher of
dance, drama and singing. My most recent attributes were touring India with
Element dance, appearing as a model in Zoo magazine and working on the ITV1
show Heartbeat.

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Being from the Caribbean, you grow up with rhythm around you. Rhythm is a
natural, every day part of our lives as Caribbean peoples, being African
descendents. And of course, West Indians love to fete! I've always taken
part in our yearly Carnival, dancing to steel pan music and calypso.

When I came to the UK to study at leeds university at undergraduate level, I saw
samba and salsa for the first time and met Elisa first and then Ella. We
formed a samba group called Menina Danca, and I learnt so much from the
girls. They are extremely talented and I wish we were still together because
besides being dance partners, they provided an emotional base for me when I
was in Leeds, far away from home!

After graduating, I spent two years and a half away from England. During
that time I went to Brazil twice and I did a bit of dancing on and off, with
Antigua Dance Academy in Antigua. I won the Commonwealth Scholarship this
year to study in London, so I’m currently doing some post-grad work in
University of London. In terms of dancing, Im dancing in London with a Samba group, and I dance for Element Dance as much as possible. Its so much fun!

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Sarah - Jane Houlihan

Born in: UK
Heritage: Mixed
Qualifications: BA (Hons) Theatre Dance!
Dance Styles: Contemporary, Jazz, Salsa, Samba, Street.

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In July 2006 I graduated from London Studio Centre, completing my final year as a
member of Intoto contemporary dance company. During which, I had the insightful
opportunity to work alongside choreographers Michael Popper, Sean Feldman, Steve
Pelton and Beth Cassini. I have since been working as a freelance dance artist.
My professional work includes teaching and performing a variety of dance styles; samba,
latin, classical ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. Additionally, in February 2006 I was
Involved in Resolutions! at The Place, performing for Kinaesthetic Dance Company.

I joined Element Dance in November 2006, first performing in our tour to India in
December. I have since performed in various venues across the U.K, including Wembley stadium. As well as teaching and assisting for Element Dance samba evening classes and with it’s community dance group in Leeds.

Recently, in June and July 2007 I have been working for Element Dance alongside Drumming 4 Business. This has involved teaching and choreographing educational workshops for annual carnival projects in Yorkshire and London.

I am now continuing to dance and teach for Element Dance and working for RJC (Reggae Jazz Contemporary) on a Research and Development Project.

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I have loved dance for as long as I can remember! I was forever putting on performances for family members, willing or otherwise they would have to sit through my dance pieces choreographed to Nuttin Nice - Froggy Style, Foxy Brown and Case, TLC etc. etc... the list is long people. I think I am genetically pre-disposed to LOVE dance, and all it's simplicity and wonder.

Though my love of dance has fostered for many years; I am a late starter and only really began dancing a couple of years ago. Samba being my first choice of dance - or rather it chose me. This is how I met Ella, she was the samba teacher. Although we had been attending the same Uni, it was Samba not our degree that connected us. I sambaed my way through the North of England with Samba D'Oxum (Ella and Eny) and eventually had to move back home to London.

I am now learning Adult Ballet, samba with Paraiso School of Samba (Notting Hill 2006) and try to attend as many dance classes as possible; ranging from African to Hip Hop.

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I have been dancing ever since I can remember; starting with ballet, age 3. I concentrated on ballet, jazz, tap and gymnastics through my childhood and teens, and performed in many competitions and shows, including the National Youth Ballet at Sadlers Wells, London.

I discovered partner dancing when I went to university which has since become my passion. As well as my main dance styles (above), I have also tried many different styles including ballroom and latin, rock and roll, and jive. I’m always up for a new challenge and am hoping to start learning argentine tango very soon.

I love to share my enthusiasm for dance with others and am an experienced teacher and trainer, with experience of working with children and young people as well as adults.

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Hola people!!
....Let me introduce myself....

I was born in the UK but have had the invaluable experience of living in different countries; Barcelona, Spain, Athens, Greece and Pathos, Cyprus. I love learning about different cultures and meeting people from all over the world. I am generally a happy person (a bit of a clown sometimes) who loves having a good time. My greatest passion after dance is food! Especially chocolate!

...Let me introduce my other world...DANCE

I consider myself a versatile dancer. I treat dance as an art form of personal expression!
I love learning different techniques and styles in order to add variety of flavours to my dancing...I am currently into House Dance, reggaeton and African- contemporary styles....
I’m a new comer to Element Dance and I am LOVING it! It is so much fun to perform with the company and I can’t wait to perform again in future shows!

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