Category: Team

After studying Contemporary Dance at University Helen’s career began working as a freelance dance administrator for FRONTLINEdance in 2001.  Providing an introduction to the dance industry and an opportunity to gain knowledge of administratively supporting an integrated dance project, she continued to follow the success of FRONTLINEdance through the years.

Helen’s career developed through a variety of administration and management roles, culminating in her current position as National Account Manager within the wholesale foodservice sector. With strong communication skills and customer service experience, a sound understanding of business development and general management, and proficiencies in sales and financial reporting, Helen is able to bring a unique balance and perspective to the Board.  Always actively involved with local communities Helen has held voluntary positions of committee chair for Brereton Preschool and Playgroup, and committee member for Goostrey Rose Festival, where liaising with volunteers, event co-ordination, and managing projects have been key skills.

Dance has always been an integral part of Helen’s life from being a class member of community groups such as Breakthrou’ and private dance schools, being a member of the Staffordshire Dance Collective, to volunteering as a dancer in community projects such as RECLAIM and PALACE by RESTOKE, and FRONTLINEdance’s IGNITE project and a Game of 2 ‘Arfs.

Helen is delighted to be once again involved and supporting the continued development of FRONTLINEdance as a member of the Board and working with a company that makes a difference.

It’s with great sadness that on Tuesday 15th October, our wonderful Chair, Marc Crank sadly passed away.

I first met Marc back in the early 2000’s when he was the CEO of Disability Solutions. He first became Chair of FRONTLINEdance from 15 April 2004 to 13 October 2008. He rejoined the board again as Chair and Director in September 2023.

Marc led with great care, compassion and humour. He was a committed, knowledgeable, and experienced, Chair, whom we were very lucky to have on our board. He was enthusiastic about the work that we do here at FRONTLINEdance, and very supportive of me as the Artistic Director/CEO.

Marc’s job as CEO at several charities, meant that he could share his knowledge and experience with me and the rest of the team. He understood and acted on the importance of his role from both sides. He ensured that we met monthly, and always thanked me for the work I was doing. He also always ended by reminding me to take care and not to forget to look after myself.

His advice, words of wisdom and compassion prominently whirl around in my head. They will offer me support and strength as we plough through the many plans and activities, we have for FRONTLINEdance.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Marc’s wife Fiona, his family, friends and colleagues.

Rachael Lines, Artistic Director / CEO, FRONTLINEdance

Sophie has been working in participatory arts for 7 years, working with a wide range of ages and backgrounds on several different community projects. She has previously worked for Birmingham Royal Ballet coordinating a large-scale performance project in three UK cities with participants aged 9-99yrs, then with Coventry City of Culture on their major city-wide opening event ‘Coventry Moves’.

Currently, Sophie is the Participation Producer for an ambitious mass-participatory dance and movement project called ‘Critical Mass’ that brings together young disabled and non-disabled people aged 16-30 to perform at major cultural events. This project has ignited a passion for access and inclusion in Sophie that she hopes to develop within her role as a Board Member for FRONTLINEdance.

Amy started dancing at the age of two at Jenny Brennan School of Dance, before being awarded a full scholarship to train at Elmhurst Ballet School, in Birmingham, from the age of 12 onwards. Whilst training there she had the opportunity to work alongside guest choreographers including Ruth Brill, Paul James Rooney and Adam Rutherford.  She also had the opportunity to create dance pieces for the yearly choreographic competitions. 

Amy went on to train at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance achieving a BA Hons in 2020. During her time at Rambert, she had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Darren Ellis and Thick and Tight and performed Christopher Bruce’s piece called ‘Stream’. Throughout all of her training, she was involved in a number of different choreographic platforms and also worked with local year 10 GCSE students choreographing a piece for the ‘Aspire’ project. 

Amy has also been a member of Transitions Dance Company touring around the UK, performing works choreographed by Didy Veldman, Rahel Vonmoos and Dog Kennel Hill Project. She also gained a MA in Dance Performance. 

Amy is currently a freelance dance artist within Stoke-On-Trent. She has recently worked with Restoke, performing in the Lotus Eaters, and is continuing to help others with episode 5 of the Odyssey. She is also really looking forward to working with New Vic Theatre performing in their Christmas show- The Nutcracker in 2023-2024. In the future, she also endeavours to create her own work to express her own artistic voice.

Amy has taught and explored movement with a range of ages and backgrounds. She teaches in private dance schools from the ages of 3 upwards. As well as leading dance sessions for over 60s within the community setting. Additionally, Amy is a regular teacher for Staffordshire Youth Ballet- an associate programme for young aspiring dancers. She also works at the YMCA in Hanley leading movement based sessions for disabled and neurodivergent children and young people. Amy is really interested in how dance can be utilised to support well-being, specifically, in how we can tell stories and express ourselves through movement.  She is really grateful and excited to be working with FRONTLINEdance as a youth ambassador and associate dance Artis, to share her lived experience, and her love for movement with others.

Lucie has been an international dance artist for fifteen years; teaching making and performing. Originally from France, she now lives in Stoke-on-Trent. She began to work as a professional dancer in the Junior Ballet d’Aquitaine (a contemporary dance company) in Bordeaux at the age of 19, where she performed for over 8 years, touring nationally in France and internationally in China and Mongolia. 
After moving to Stoke-on-Trent, she began to work as a freelance dance artist, combining her love of performing, teaching and producing.

Lucie has danced for Restoke in the works ‘You Are Here’ and ‘Mother’ and has danced nationally for over 5 years as a member of Desi Nach – a professional Bollywood Performance Company.

For the last two years, Lucie has been funded by Arts Council England to develop her own practice and to create a physical theatre piece about the menstrual cycle ‘Let it Bleed’. She also recently produced ‘Back to the Bone’ a festival celebrating womanhood and the menstrual cycle.

Lucie is now excited to work for FRONTLINEdance as an Associate Dance Artist.

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Alongside her work as a freelance dance artist, Charlotte is also a talented project coordinator and administrator and has leant her skills to support the work at The Dance Studio Leeds, FRONTLINEdance and the Skinner Releasing Network in addition to being a programmer and co director of artist led Pro Dance Leeds. She also works as NSCD’s CAT Outreach Coordinator, managing a team of 8 artists delivering outreach work across Yorkshire.

In Patsy’s advocacy role she has worked in partnership with FRONTLINEdance and seen first-hand the huge difference this organisation makes in people’s lives; leading by example and providing opportunities for people to take part, developing skills, and growing in confidence as individuals and as creative artists.

Her recent ASD diagnosis has deepened her insight into her own autistic life and helped her to develop a greater understanding of some issues experienced by autistic individuals in terms of challenges, strengths and addressing stigma.

Patsy’s advocacy work over the last 30 years has focused on disabled people, supporting self-advocacy, and amplifying the voices of people. She advocates for equality and rights in both her personal and professional life, challenging negative attitudes and systematic inequalities in daily life, in the public arena and in her own neighbourhood.

Patsy is pleased to join this dynamic and creative organisation as a Voluntary Board Member (July 2021), and looks forward to supporting FRONTLINEdance to continue to grow and thrive. We look forward to all that Patsy can offer us, which is plentiful.

Suzanne studied at Brian Rogers ‘Performers’ Dance College, from the age of 16. She then spent the next 14 years dancing and performing on T.V. and in theatres around the country and aboard.

Whilst pregnant with her first child Suzanne was offered work at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach offices, dealing with promotion and working independently at Blackpool Airport.

After having a break to bring up her two children, FRONTLINEdance has opened up a new career path for Suzanne; recently finishing a level 2 Business and Administration course, an Inclusive Activity training programme, a trio of Supportive Community, Safeguarding training workshops and Parkinson’s training with Dr Melanie Brierley.

Suzanne is loving and already feels part of the FRONTLINEdance family!

Helen started dancing at the age of 3 doing ballet, jazz and tap but around the age of 12 found a real love of Contemporary dance and went on to graduate in 1997 from The Laban Centre for Movement and Dance (now Trinity Laban) with a degree in Dance Theatre with a special interest in education.

Over the last twenty plus years Helen has performed in theatre and site-specific performances with several companies including ‘Attic’ in Plymouth and Micha Purucker’s ‘Dance Energy’ in Germany, taught dance workshops in education and community settings for people 6 months to 100 years old, worked as a Community & Education Officer and qualified as a Body Control Pilates Instructor.

After re locating from the South to Staffordshire 15 years ago Helen has continued to work as a community dance artist and alongside her work in schools has been enjoying leading community dance classes for the over 60’s and has become involved with Arts for Health, teaching movement sessions for older adults with depression and/or dementia in a hospital setting.  Helen has also loved performing as a community dancer in 3 of ReStoke’s site specific performances, Palace (disused church), Expedition (promenade through streets) and Voyagers (disused swimming pool).

Helen became involved with FRONTLINEdance a couple of years ago and began leading some sessions for adult’s with neurological conditions.  She also performed in, ‘Nest’ a short dance film by Welly O’Brien and Kate Marsh which was commissioned by FRONTLINEdance as part of the FAF festival.

Helen is excited to be involved with FRONTLINEdance and is looking forward to sharing ideas and having a fresh focus to help inform the next 20 years as a Community Dance Artist!

When not dancing Helen is kept busy with her two children, loves running and also making clothes.  Over the recent pandemic whilst not being able to work fully Helen has been volunteering, collecting shopping and prescriptions for those isolating and helping at a vaccination centre.

Originally from Suffolk, Charlotte is a freelance dance artist based in Leeds, blending performing, teaching, creating and writing into her practice. She regularly teaches from children to adults as well as directs her own dance theatre company ACCA and edits a digital magazine, Artychoke. You can find her on Instagram here: @charr_arnold / @accacollab / @artychokezine and visit her website here: www.charlottearnold.co.uk