Overture Cohort for 2023/24 Announced

New Adventures is delighted to announce the Overture dance artist cohort for 2023/2024.

Established in 2016, Overture is the annual New Adventures professional development programme for dance artists and dance teachers from a variety of genres who have been working in community or education settings for less than five years. Each year, the group of artists are chosen for their diverse range of work and experience within the community dance sector that spans a full scope of settings from across England.

This year’s 14 talented community dance artists are:

Facilitated by Take Part Creative Director Kerry Biggin and Artist Director of UNIT,Tom Hobden, the cohort of dance artists participate in two residential weekends at the Company’s base in Farnham Maltings, Surrey over an eight-month period, alongside digital sessions and a visit to the current New Adventures production on tour. Each residential comprises of practical workshops, discussions and skills-sharing as well as inspirational guest teachers from a variety of industry backgrounds. With workshops in areas such as personal development, coaching and networking, New Adventures aims to provide the cohort with a range of skills to support them in reaching the next level of their careers as community dance artists.

This year guest tutors include, among others, Isabel Mortimer, a personal and executive coach and director of Coaching at Dancers Career Development and Kane Husbands, Artistic Director of ThePappyShow.

'It is incredible to think about the artists and teachers we have worked with on Overture over the past seven years and how the programme has developed over this time. It’s always wonderful to be part of the journey and development of the cohort that we work with each year and it is continually inspiring to see how the individuals grow, build their network, confidence, and aspirations throughout the programme and beyond. I am so excited to be continuing this valuable support for freelancers across England, sending out inspired artists, confident to forge their way in the industry brings real hope for the future of dance and I’m excited to follow their stories.’

- Kerry Biggin

Alumni

This year’s cohort bring the total to 136 freelance artists and teachers who have worked with New Adventures on the Overture professional development programme.

The Overture alumni continue to work across the dance industry: Grace Black, a member of the first cohort, is now working as a support artist on Cygnet School with New Adventures; Emily Jenkins is founder of Move Dance Feel, an organisation who facilitate dance for people affected by cancer;
Kane Husbands is founder and artistic director of The Pappy Show; Christopher Tendai is Artistic Director or CTC Dance Companywho have a new partnership with Theatre Peckham; Alyssa Lisle who has had recent success with a DYCP application to continue her interest and research into creating safe environments for dancers; Emily Orme who is now one of the Artists in Residents for Rambert and participatory artist & Creative Producer Chloe Osborne.

New Adventures and the Overture Programme is supported using public funds from Arts Council England.