Dawn experienced her first dance lesson whilst in school and from that moment on she was hooked! Following her training at LSCD she became a professional dancer performing with Extemporary Dance and Images Dance Theatre before joining Phoenix Dance Theatre as one of their first female dancers. Dawn later became Phoenix’s first Education Manager and was instrumental in creating the Company’s education department designing visionary programmes of access to excellence including Phoenix’s Dance Academy.
For three decades Dawn has been a prominent leader in the fields of dance education and community. As Artistic Director of East Riding Youth Dance, Dawn led 17 years of inspirational grassroots (youth dance) work. Her avid community engagement saw her become resident choreographer for Leeds Grand Youth Theatre and has spent 10 years choreographing their annual musical and leading on creative movement experiences. In 2021 she choreographed for the production of Aladdin at the Cast Theatre in Doncaster and was Co Movement Director for the Freedom Project at Leeds Playhouse.
Currently Course Leader for the Foundation Dance Degree at University Centre Leeds, she wrote and designed the course with modules steeped in culture, diversity and academic research. In 2018 she returned to her academic studies and earned a Master’s Degree in choreography.
Image: Chris Cootes Photography