Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL)

25 years in the professional dance industry, after my professional vocational dance/ performing arts training I have worked freelance dance artist for many organisation. I had the pleasure of working commercially in the dance industry as performer and choreographer. I have choreographed for Stage, Film and TV which credits including BBC Syndicate Series, DJ Tiesto Pop Video, multiple CBBC programmes and theatre shows nationally and internationally. As current Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL) Director I have the overall responsibility for all of DAZL’s activities and strategic planning. My role is to ensure that DAZL strives to reach its organisational goals, engaging 6500 children from 23 of the Leeds City Council Wards. In addition to this I'm the Founder and now advisory of the International Championship winning Cheerdance Academy DAZL Empire. I am a NCSSE Master Level Cheerdance/ Cheerleading Coach and ICC World Cheerdance Level 2 Judge. I am responsible for developing the DAZL Boys Cheerdance/ Hip-Hop Strand which is the only strand of work in Europe which engages boys of all ages into cheerdance which as given myself and my organisation world-wide success with my award winning BBC 2 documentary "Boy Cheerleader". I'm the current lecturer of Dance for the prestigious Carnegie School Of Sport at Leeds Beckett. I am a qualified Freestyle Teacher with the IDTA and I works nationally using the DAZL model and research in dance and health to ignite conversations which bring the dance and health sectors together. This has allowed me to receive many awards including x2 One Dance UK awards, Compassionate City Award, Community Arts Person of the Year by Flybe.com and The Queens Award (MBE for a Community Organisation) this was recognised for my work during the covid-19 pandemic and in particular my garden groovers dance programme. My passion for dance and reducing inequalities for those who face barriers to dance in where my heart lies and how I see my journey evolving with the IDTA in the future. Inclusion Matters.....