Category: Team

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 connector and facilitator, Kirsten brings together artists, young people and communities to build platforms where stories can be shared and voices can be heard. 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.

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. 

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 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 and 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

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 a 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

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.

Shannon Whetnall is an all-round performer, musician, drama teacher and Zumba instructor from Newcastle Under Lyme. Prior to her training, she has sung for Warner Leisure Hotels and on board two Cruise Ships. Since graduating from The London School of Musical Theatre, Shannon has worked extensively with the New Vic Theatre Borderlines department as an actor, theatre practitioner and Young People’s Theatre Company Director. She is highly passionate about performing and also about teaching. Throughout the year, Shannon sings at various events with her band or with her acoustic guitar. At Christmas time, you will normally find Shannon performing in a Pantomime, “Oh yes, you will!”

Shannon volunteered as part of FRONTLINEdance’s 2023 Summer Celebration Project and quickly came to love every minute of the experience. Since then, she has continued working with FRONTLINEdance, taking part in the Explorer in Training performances and supporting the Advanced Training Programme as a Creative Enabler. Through her involvement, Shannon has made many new friends and developed a wide range of skills.

In 2025, she achieved her Level 3 qualification in British Sign Language (BSL). In her spare time, Shannon enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends and family, and looking after her cats.

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. He’s looking forward to helping FRONTLINEdance and serving on the Board, whilst enjoying his life long passion for music and artistic expression, alongside continuing on his business journey in life.

Dan Martin, a Bristol-based photographer and filmmaker, is celebrated nationally for his creative vision and captivating storytelling. 

His work has garnered recognition at esteemed events, including the Buffer Festival in Toronto, where he was invited to showcase his work. 

Notably, his contributions have been honoured with two prestigious awards at the Circus International Film Festival, winning both the Audience Award in 2022 and the Founder’s Award in 2023. 

Dan’s distinctive creations, crafted with meticulous attention to detail, can be enjoyed exclusively on BBC iPlayer, showcasing his unique perspective and undeniable talent.

“It was a privilege to collaborate with FRONTLINEdance on a project that explored grief with such honesty and compassion. The process was both meaningful and creatively fulfilling.”

Lesley Goodburn has worked in healthcare for the last 18 years working locally in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, regionally in the West Midlands, and latterly nationally as the experience of care lead for provider improvement and national clinical programmes at NHS England. She currently works for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as head of public involvement and engagement.

Lesley has a passion for using creativity and art to help people share their experiences of care, and in her time at NHS England she developed a programme of digital storytelling across 150 hospitals. She has also shared her personal experience of the death of her husband Seth from pancreatic cancer, 33 short and heart-breaking days after diagnosis, via ‘Seth’s Story’, which is a play, a film and an educational resource.  

She joined FRONTLINEdance as a Director following a collaboration with the ‘Holding On’ project, a contemporary dance and two films, exploring grief and bereavement after the death of a loved one from pancreatic cancer.