Meet the Team.
Cath Wilkins – Director
Cath joined GDance in 2007 following 3 years as General Manager of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, one of the UK’s foremost contemporary dance companies. Prior to that, she worked at NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) and for the Touring department of Arts Council England. Cath trained in dance at Patricia Newman and Janet Marshall Dance Studios in Cheltenham and then at Elmhurst Ballet School before gaining a Drama degree at the University of Wales. She is currently a Board member of strategic body for the arts Create Gloucestershire.
Neil McLaughlin – Finance Manager
Neil delivers a range of financial services for business clients and charities. Neil joins GDance from Mencap in Stroud, and held senior financial positions with Gloucestershire Housing Association.
Louise Portlock – Education Associate
Louise has been at GDance since 2005, maintaining a focus on developing pathways for disabled children, young people and adults across the county and beyond. She is now recognised nationally as expert in inclusive leadership and disabled artist training and development, and is often invited to speak at national health / arts conferences and events. Louise also takes on contracts that develop her develops her range of skills and experience, including Dance & Health Regional Lead for Dance South West and Creative Producer for Frank McDaniels' Arts Council funded commission. Louise has a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and a Dance degree from Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
Helen Crocker - Programme Manager
Helen joined GDance in February 2010. She has 25 years of experience working in the arts, including groundbreaking, sector development in the field of Circus. This has included co-founding and working as Director of Circomedia in Bristol and as Acting Creative Producer at Bristol Old Vic. Helen is a Trustee for Imayla and co-produced Dance Dialogues, a programme of work to raise the profile of African people's dance. Helen trained as a dance movement therapist, teacher trainer, assessor and internal verifier, and has worked as a teacher, tutor and course manager. She is instrumental within GDance in pushing forward training and choreographic development in inclusive practice, and in work to support sector development.
Ailsa Hardy - Programme Co-ordinator
Ailsa joined GDance in 2010 as an Apprentice Dance Leader, bringing with her experience in leading sessions in other sports (as a scuba diving instructor), a range of youth work and project management experience. Since then, Ailsa has developed skills in inclusive dance leadership, as well as production coordination, eg. supporting a local disabled artist to produce a dance film. Ailsa trained at a local dance school from age 5 to 18 before gaining degree in Drama and Theatre Arts from the University of Birmingham.
Elaine Proverbs – Progamme Co-ordinator
Elaine is supporting the team for a couple of days per week with their delivery and aims for inclusive dance, having previously worked at GDance as Festival Co-ordinator for 7 years. Elaine’s dancing expertise is in Ballroom and Latin, running her own school Elaine’s Dancing School where she teaches classes in Gloucester, Stroud and the surrounding areas giving her a vast amount of local knowledge and experience.
Janet Earl – Administrator
Janet rejoined GDance in October 2011 to support the Director 1 day per week. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge, organisational skills and contacts having spent 2 years as Communications Assistant for GDance (2008 - spring 2011), experience in a data analysis role, and of running Tango Cheltenham, with its range of classes, performances and events.
GD's Board
Anita Syvret (Chair)
Andrew Burrow (Treasurer)
Becky Andrews
Jane Cantwell
Mike Counsell OBE
Gill Davie
Angela James
Michael Jones
Bairbre Lloyd
Dave Mullins
Louise Partridge
Deborah Rees
Paul Tarling
Use the menu on the right (dance delivery team) to find out more about our Dance Leaders
