Joint Chair: Judy Evans
Physical Education, Dance and Arts Education Consultant, Berkshire

Judy is Chair of the NDTA, Director of Hands On CPDA Ltd an Arts in Education Company and an Education Consultant in Physical Education, Dance and the Arts. Judy provides advice, support and training in all phases of education, monitoring and reviewing the arts in schools, organising arts conferences and evaluating arts projects. Judy has had a wide teaching experience in dance from early years to higher education. Formerly an Adviser for Physical Education, Sport and Dance in Berkshire and an OFSTED Inspector Judy is currently engaged in a variety of projects and initiatives. She has been an Artsmark adviser, assessor and member of the project team for Arts Council England, and external examiner for the University of Brighton Post Graduate Secondary Dance, and editor of Primary Subjects. She is currently an advisor and assessor on the Graduate Training Programme for the West Berkshire Training Partnership, and a primary school governor. Judy is also a member of the Association for Physical Education.

Vice Chair: Ginny Brown
Dance Partnership & Access Programme Manager, The Royal Ballet School

Ginny Brown has over 20 years experience of working with teachers in primary and secondary schools and has spent most of her career focusing on the interface between professional dance and schools. She is currently Dance Partnership & Access Programme Manager at The Royal Ballet School and has previously worked for the education departments of Rambert Dance Company, the Royal Opera House, English National Ballet and Central School of Ballet. This national overview is complemented by time spent in a Local Education Authority as Arts Co-ordinator and then Deputy Head of the Kingston Music and Arts Service. At The Royal Ballet School Ginny has established a national programme of primary and secondary school programmes in liaison with school teachers, regional and national dance organisations. She also Co-Directs a Teachers’ Course in Ballet Education Practice and is Chair of Musical Moving – Dance for People with Parkinsons.

Ginny has previously served the National Dance Teachers’ Association as a Regional Representative, Special Advisor and interim Board Member.

Secretary: John Darvell
Artistic Director of nocturn dance

John is Artistic Director of nocturn dance (www.nocturndance.co.uk), choreographer and an arts project manager. John trained at Laban and his movement focuses on exploring a range of different contemporary dance styles with his own energetic and engaging dark twist. He has worked with a number of choreographers including Athina Vahla, Julia Gleich, Irven Lewis and Charlie Morrisey.

nocturn dance seeks out unconventional opportunities for contemporary dance. We believe in provoking dance in the shadows; in the cracks in people’s perceptions of art. We experiment with interactive work, blending performance art with social media. At the core of our projects is the intention to expand creation/performance involvement for adults, from any background or experience level, who may not otherwise have access to creative opportunities.

He teaches students and teachers across several key stages; runs a number of successful adult classes; is a trained Arts Award Advisor; a freelance project manager on small and large scale productions, and an experienced graphic designer. In 2012, he was a hub choreographer for the inspirational large-scale Thames Valley community celebration ‘Tree of Light’ featuring over 1,000 performers.

Over the last 3 years John has helped develop an increase in adult participation in contemporary dance across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. He has had his work commissioned for performances at a range of professional and community dance platforms. Most recently, nocturn dance were very excited to be successful in being awarded Arts Council England funding to develop a site specific/online dance performance ‘dareyouwatch.com’.

Board member : Fiona Smith
NDTA National Dance Teachers Association

Fiona Smith is Principal Lecturer in Dance & Physical Education at the University of Brighton. Her work includes teaching dance to undergraduate Physical Education students and PGCE Dance specialists. She has a breadth of experience in delivering high quality CPD ranging from supporting ‘the reluctant dance teacher’ to those teaching examinations in dance. Fiona has a particular interest in promoting dance for boys and encouraging males to teach dance and is Artistic Director of the university’s all male KICK-START Dance Company. She also coordinates numerous schools dance platforms offering opportunities for children to experience a professional theatre environment. She has previously been an executive member of the NDTA. Some of her most significant contributions have included the co-authoring of the publication A Practical Guide to Teaching Dance, writing regular resource pages for Dance Matters, delivering conference workshops and various CPD courses around the country. She is a tireless advocate of dance in education and keen to support those delivering dance as well as influence its provision in and beyond school.

Board member: Charlotte Greaves
Creative Director for Dance Resources, Dance Teacher and GCSE Examiner

Educated in Contemporary Dance at the London Contemporary Dance School, and trained as a Checcetti Scholar at the London Studio Centre. Charlotte is the recipient of a number of awards as a performer and choreographer. She gained her PGCE in Dance at Exeter University where she won the Ted Wragg Award for outstanding teaching. She is currently the Curriculum Area Leader for Performing Arts at Grammar School in Kent and GCSE Dance Examiner and Moderator. Charlotte is the Creative Director for Dance Resources, an educational company that provides teaching resources for teachers and schools in the UK. In May 2010 she attended the Teachers International Professional Development Program to The Gambia run by the British Council. Where she researched their educational system and looked at ways to develop and create successful links with schools back in the UK. She has choreographed and taught both children and adults at all levels and abilities in England, and ran outreach projects in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Cambodia. Her career in ballet and contemporary dance includes performances at such venues as Her Majesty's Theatre, London, and choreographing works for both the classical and contemporary repertoires, including dance-for-camera and dance competitions in China.

Board member: Rachel Elliott
Education Director, English Folk Dance and Song Society

Rachel Elliott is Education Director of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, which she joined in 2008, and is responsible for the development of its England-wide folk music and dance education programme. She trained as a dancer at Tring Park and the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and has over 25 years experience as a professional dance artist, educator and trainer. Rachel has worked for many arts organisations including as an animateur and teacher for London Contemporary Dance Trust, Sadler’s Wells, English Touring Opera and many others. Rachel was Education Officer and Associate Director of Green Candle Dance Company, one of the UK’s pioneering community dance companies (1995 – 2008), and Senior Education Officer of Akādemi South Asian Dance UK (2002 – 2004). Rachel was co-chair (2004 – 2009) of the national Dance Educators Group. In 2008 Rachel gained an MA Dance Education & Theatre (Work Based Learning Studies) from Middlesex University.

Rachel believes passionately in the importance of dance in schools. Since 1984 she has taught, led and managed dance workshops and projects in hundreds of primary, secondary and special schools all over the UK, and was dance teacher for Great Ormond Street Hospital School for 16 years. She has extensive experience working with deaf and disabled young people and founded the Deaf Dance Summer School, a partnership between Green Candle, Sadler’s Wells and the National Deaf Children’s Society, which ran for 9 years.