Natasha has been working as a freelance inclusive dance practitioner, Project Manager and Education Consultant since 2000.
Natasha specialises in delivering high quality dance classes to people with and without disabilities and in designing and delivering training and mentoring to enable others to develop their skills of inclusion. She was honoured with a British Citizen Award in 2022 for her contribution to the arts.
During her 22 year career, Natasha has taken on many longer term teaching and dance/arts development posts alongside freelance projects. Roles have included:
- Spymonkey - Education & Training Officer (current)
- Rambert School - MA mentor (current)
- Sadler’s Wells – Panel member for the National Youth Dance Company auditions (2018 & 2019) & Freelance Dance Artist (current)
- The RAD (Step into Dance) – Freelance teacher & Mentor (current)
- The Sixteen Trust - Project Manager, Mentoring (2020-2022)
- Magpie Dance
- Co Artistic Director (2017-2019)
- Training Coordinator (2010-2017)
- Teacher and mentor (2003 – 2019)
- Different Planet Arts – Artist Advocate (2019)
- Rounded Rhythm- Outreach Manager and Associate Artist (2015-2018)
- The Orpheus Centre – Dance Teacher (2014-15)
- 3ddance – Founder & Director (2008-2010)
- Candoco Dance Company – Associate Artist (2000-2009)
Natasha has also delivered projects for many clients on a freelance basis including:
Trinity Laban, Essex Dance, South East Dance, Maidenhead Council, Epic Arts, The Specialist Schools Trust, Attitude Youth Dance, Brighton & Hove Music & Performing Arts, The Children’s University, The Brighton Dome and number of School Sports Partnerships and special schools in the South East.
Natasha worked as a Facilitator for Magpie Dance from 2003-2019. In addition to this role, between 2010-2019, she created a training division for the company. This work included developing partnerships and securing clients, designing the content of education and professional development courses and writing the ‘Inclusive Dance Practice Training’ (IDPT) programme. This is a 5 module course training dance professionals to work inclusively. Natasha successfully secured Affiliate status from CDMT (The Council for Dance and Musical Theatre), endorsing the courses that she wrote.
Natasha also worked as Co Artistic / Dance Practice Director at Magpie Dance from 2017-2019 whilst the organisation was going through a period of transition (following the retirement of the Founding Artistic Director). In this role Natasha planned artistic projects, which brought together the participation and performance strands of the company. She also co wrote a four year artistic plan for the organisation, seeking to secure a stronger core artistic vision and strengthen the organisation’s financial position. Alongside this work she also oversaw all quality control for the extensive programme of classes and provided support and appraisals for the freelance team of 24 people.
Natasha was Founder and Director of 3ddance (2008-2010) which was an inclusive dance education company delivering workshops in the South East. In the two years that she ran the company, she secured projects funded by a number of South East school sports partnerships and also gained South East Youth Dance Network Hub funding. She and her team of teachers delivered workshops to 20 special schools, which spanned anything from a day to a term. They also delivered workshops for Brighton University and Canterbury Christ Church University. Youth Dance England used footage of 3ddance projects in their promotional DVD.
As well as her inclusive practice, Natasha has also held a number of positions in schools and colleges and was on the education team for Richard Alston Dance Company. For four years Natasha oversaw GCSE dance courses at Patcham High School and the BTEC National Award at Varndean College. Between 2000-2007 Natasha had regular freelance/ employed work in 5 other colleges in the South East. Included in these part time positions were 7 years at Brighton College and 2 years at Reigate College. Natasha also taught weekly professional contemporary technique classes and covered maternity leave as Brighton and Hove Council’s Youth Dance Development Officer.
Natasha is a member of The Creative Council for Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton and a proud Trustee for DanceSyndrome, a multi award winning inclusive dance charity based in Lancashire. Natasha was formerly a committee member for Balletbees, an inclusive dance community company in Glasgow (2017-2018).
Natasha has a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from Trinity Laban and a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education. In addition she has undertaken a number of courses in business and management and is trained as a Bronze and Silver Arts Award advisor. Natasha also has first aid and advanced safeguarding training.
Natasha has published articles on inclusive practice for The Foundation for Community Dance, OneDanceUK and Dance Matters.
Natasha won the National Lifetime Achievement Award at The She Inspires Awards in November 2022. This year she was also shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award at The Autism Hero Awards and the Outstanding Contribution Award at The National Learning Disability and Autism Awards. Natasha received a Jack Petchey Leader Award (2015) and the YEAUK Visionary Director Award (2018).