Welcoming Jasmine, Colin, Melanie, Kirsten, Sophie & Dana to our Team, alongside Stan, our newest Board Member!
Jasmine Man 文茉莉 (she/her) People & Operations Manager
Jasmine is FRONTLINEdance’s People and Operations Manager, leading on all aspects of HR and ensuring the organisation runs smoothly. Alongside her role at FRONTLINEdance, she works as a freelance producer and project manager with experience across events, festivals, participation programmes and digital projects. A graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Jasmine also serves as trustee for the charity Akademi and is currently working towards PRINCE2 Practitioner certification. To contact Jasmine in her role at FRONTLINEdance, please email: Jasmine@frontlinedance.co.uk
Colin Williamson – Project Manager
Colin is a graduate in Economics, having studied at Staffordshire University. Since 2001, he has worked within the not-for-profit sector, following a range of earlier roles, including teaching Business Studies in Botswana. He has worked as a Development Officer, supporting a wide variety of not-for-profit organisations such as sports clubs, residents’ associations, disability groups, arts organisations, and performing arts groups.
His expertise includes business planning, project development, funding applications, funding strategy, organisational start-up, legal structures, and social enterprise. Through his work, Colin has become a strong advocate for the not-for-profit sector, having witnessed first-hand the significant and positive impact it can have on people’s lives.
Colin’s role as Project Manager within FRONTLINEdance will involve the planning, delivery, and reporting of projects. He will be responsible for recruiting participants, volunteers, stakeholders, and audiences, ensuring strong engagement across all activities. Working in consultation with others, Colin will develop project plans and contribute to their strategic development. He will also collaborate with colleagues and partners to secure funding and support the successful delivery of projects.
You can contact Colin directly via: projects@frontlinedance.co.uk
Melanie Whitehead Smith – Touring Project Manager
Melanie is committed to reaching audiences beyond traditional theatre contexts – inviting audiences to engage with art in ways that feel immediate and accessible. Rooted in participatory dance, her practice navigates community-centred work, rural contexts and developing new frameworks to access art.
Melanie is currently completing her MA Dance Research for Professional Practitioners at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and holds a First Class BA (hons) Dance and Choreography degree from Falmouth University. Melanie later trained on Studio Wayne McGregor’s PEER programme and was a Sadler’s Wells 24/25 mentee.
Melanie is joining FRONTLINEdance as a Touring Project Manager, where she will oversee tour & event bookings, film sharings and online events. She looks forward to working with the team to continue sharing their innovative work.
To contact Melanie directly, please email: touring@frontlinedance.co.uk
Kirsten Tranter – Advanced Training Programme Research & Project Manager
Kirsten is a Creative Producer based in the Midlands. With over 20 years of experience in the arts sector, Kirsten creates meaningful connections between artists, communities and audiences. Her journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to dance, movement and community arts practice, whilst embracing diverse cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Kirsten believes that creative expression should be accessible to everyone-whether you’re taking your first dance step, experiencing art from an audience perspective, or pursuing your professional practice. As a practising Health Coach as well as a Creative Producer, Kirsten takes a person-centred approach to her work, nurturing people through care-led and creative practices.
Kirsten has been tasked with researching and managing a potential new Advanced Training Programme for FRONTLINEdance. She’s currently enjoying getting stuck in internet rabbit holes and speaking to other organisations in the sector and beyond. If you would like to know more about this programme or add to our research then please get in touch directly with Kirsten – kirstentranter@outlook.com
Sophie Rushton – Office & Project Assistant
Sophie started dancing when she was 10 years old, at Coloured Movement School of Dance, which then changed to Rockin’ Loft Dance School. She trained in Contemporary, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre there and went on to study Musical Theatre at The City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College. Here Sophie found a love of acting and is currently studying ‘Acting for Stage and Screen’ at the University of Staffordshire.
In March 2026 Sophie performed in a production of ‘The Life’ and ‘Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby’ at the university and is looking forward to future productions.
Sophie started as a volunteer with FRONTLINEdance in 2024 with the Advance Training Programme before being offered a job in January 2026. As Office and Project Assistant, Sophie supports a wide range of activities, including practical and access support with the Breakthrou’dance Programme, administrative tasks, research, audits, creating resources, templates, and evaluations. Sophie loves being a part of the team and is excited to see where the journey takes her whilst working with wonderful, inspiring people. You can contact Sophie via: office@frontlinedance.co.uk
During her free time, Sophie enjoys singing and listening to music – specifically Ska and Rock n Roll – and to wind down, she loves to read and spend time in nature by going for walks with family.
Dana Jundi – Evaluator
Dana is an experienced consultant specialising in participatory evaluation and inclusive community engagement and has supported grassroots and infrastructure organisations led by and for marginalised communities. Her work centres on supporting organisations through co-designed, accessible and low-resource evaluation approaches.
Dana brings particular expertise in developing creative tools that help communities articulate needs and assess impact, especially in contexts where language, confidence and systemic barriers often prevent participation. She has worked across diverse contexts, from digital inclusion in Stoke-on-Trent to arts-based engagement with displaced young people, and contributes to local strategy work around community cohesion, including anti-racism campaigns. She works with FRONTLINEdance as an independent evaluator, bringing together her love for the arts and for centring underrepresented voices.
Stanislav Flesherov – Board Member – Environmental Responsibility
Stanislav’s involvement with arts and culture started at age 5, when a music teacher discovered his talent for singing in his country of birth Bulgaria. He started learning
solfège and playing classical piano alongside that. Stanislav attended a music primary school from age 7 to 11, where folklore choreography was also added to his curriculum. He attended public performances as a singer in a choir as well as a pianist for a few years before he had to relocate due to life circumstances.
Life’s taken Stanislav in different directions over the years. He’s now an entrepreneur and an investor. His interests include various forms of artistic expression, self-improvement, esports, night riding, as well as being part of and helping the neurodivergent community.
Stanislav is looking forward to helping FRONTLINEdance and serving on the Board, whilst enjoying his lifelong passion for music and artistic expression, alongside continuing on his business journey in life.
Read about all FRONTLINEdance’s Artistic Team, Staff and Board Members via our ‘About Us’
