Dance – Company of Others

11th June 202611th June 2026

Introducing our Rooted in Movement 2026 Recipients

Rooted in Movement is our artist support programme offering artists time to play, discover and dream with no artistic output expected.

The programme is for North of England based movement artists who have lived experience of being othered by the society we live in. It consists of residencies at The Bricks (our home in Walker) and travel bursaries to enable connection and exploration for artists whose personal ancestry has roots beyond the borders of the UK. We were delighted to be able to continue to programme and offer this support again.

Find out more about our 2026 Rooted in Movement recipients below.

Alys North

Residency Recipient 2026

Alys North (she/her) is a dancer, maker and facilitator living in Newcastle. At the heart of Alys’ dance practice is a love to improvise, both solo and with others, and a deep interest in somatic practice and experience. Across all of her work, Alys has a strong desire to make space for people to move fully in their bodies and be fully themselves.

Alys has over 15 years experience of working as a freelance dance artist. Her work moves between performance, participation and socially engaged practice across theatres, outdoors, public and community spaces, and she has experience of collaborating with a wide range of artists/companies and community groups and organisations. Most recently, Alys has been working with Headway Arts, Jack Drum Arts, Lizzie Klotz, balletLORENT, Fully Booked Theatre and Alicia Meehan.

In Alys’ words:

“I am extremely excited and grateful to be invited into residency with Company of Others. I will be using this time to dance contact improvisation (CI), play with some new ideas and concepts and reflect upon and explore how I can collaborate with new people to share CI more widely.”

See more of Alys’ work: https://www.alysnorth.co.uk/works

Imo Wright

Residency Recipient 2026

Imo Wright (they/them) is a queer freelance artist of mixed Jamaican-British heritage based in Leeds. They completed their training at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD), graduating in 2021, where they worked with choreographers such as Yukiko Masui and Vicki Igbokwe.

Following graduation, Imo continued their development with NSCD’s postgraduate company, VERVE, touring internationally and performing works by Sita Ostheimer, Alesandra Seutin, and Akram Khan.

Beyond NSCD, Imo has collaborated with companies and artists including Gary Clarke Company, Far From the Norm, Mad Dogs, Barnaby Booth, Jack Philp Dance, Cathy Waller Company, Extended Play Dance, and (LA)HORDE, appearing in Rosalía’s performance at The BRIT Awards 2026.

In addition to their work as a performer, Imo has experience in facilitation rooted in community engagement and inclusive practice. In 2023, they worked as a Partner Movement Associate for the National Theatre’s Public Acts programme, contributing to the creation of inclusive and accessible theatre experiences for communities across the UK. More recently, they worked as Dance Captain for the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture Closing Ceremony.

Central to Imo’s practice is a commitment to contributing to and creating work that challenges conventions, celebrates diversity, and fosters collective empowerment.

In Imogen’s words:

“I am thrilled to receive the Rooted in Movement Residency at this moment in my artistic journey. The opportunity feels aligned with where I am in life—at a time of reflection and growth, alongside a need to dissect and play. I hope to channel a journey of healing and introspection into something tangible through the language I know best: dance.

I am incredibly grateful to Company of Others for providing the space, time, and support to delve deeper into this research and discover what can emerge from it.”

Keep up with Imogen’s work on Instagram: @imogenmaee

Yuvel Soria

Travel Bursary Recipient 2026

Yuvel Soria (he/him) (b. Bolivia) is a British-Bolivian Dance Artist-Creator based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Trained in traditional Bolivian and contemporary dance, and influenced by Latin dance, his multidisciplinary practice explores themes of identity, belonging, and culture. He creates participatory works that sit between contemporary dance, performance, and live art, with a focus on collaboration, immersion, and audience interaction.

His work explores traditions and cultural practices through ritual, developing interactive and immersive experiences that invite people to come together and experience moments collectively.

Alongside his artistic practice, Soria is an experienced community dance practitioner, delivering inclusive sessions for diverse groups across the UK. His work supports confidence, physical activity, and creative expression, while challenging perceptions of age, ability, and access to dance.

In Yuvel’s words:

“Receiving the Rooted Travel Bursary feels incredibly emotional and affirming for me and I am truly grateful to Company of Others for the support. As a British-Bolivian artist, this opportunity allows me to reconnect with my roots, my culture, and a part of myself that deeply influences my work. I’m so grateful for the chance to build meaningful connections with artists and communities in Bolivia and bring those experiences back into my creative practice.”

Follow Yuvel’s journey: https://www.yuvelsoria.com

We can’t wait to see where these opportunities lead this year’s artists and are looking forward to supporting them on their journeys.

26th May 202626th May 2026

Dance group for over 60s welcomes new members

Our Walker-based dance group is celebrating its 10th anniversary by inviting 10 new members aged 60 and over to join the weekly sessions focused on movement, creativity, laughter and connection.

Company of Others Ensemble has been bringing local people together through dance since 2016. Based at our home, The Bricks on Belmont Street, Ensemble offers pay-what-you-feel sessions for people aged 60+, open to all abilities, including those who have never danced before. In fact, every current member was new to dance when they first joined.

What began as a falls-prevention and wellbeing project has grown into a close-knit, adventurous group that resists the idea that later life should be small or sedentary. Ensemble is about saying: your life can be as big as you want it to be, and you’re never too old to dance.

Over the past decade, members have co-created original dance pieces, some of which have been performed in unexpected places, including live art performance club night PUG. Not all members choose to perform but still enjoy the weekly sessions.

Sessions explore a wide range of styles including contemporary dance, creative movement, ballet, ballroom, voguing and tap, always adapted to suit each individual.

Our Company Founder, Artistic Director and CEO, Nadia Iftkhar reflects on the group:

“Looking back on the past 10 years has been a great opportunity to think of all the adventures we’ve had together, the trust built between us, the friendships we’ve created,” she shares. “I love how the group are up for giving anything a go, that’s really the only requirement to join, anything else doesn’t matter!”

The impact on members’ lives has been profound. George, who works on a farm, says Ensemble is one of the only times in the week he leaves it. “Before Ensemble I felt like I was sleepwalking into old age,” he says. “Now I feel happier, more purposeful, and healthier.”

Sylvia, who has been part of the group since the beginning, says performing has given her confidence she never expected. She has since appeared in a music video and credits the sessions with helping her memory and wellbeing. “No matter how old you are, or how stiff you feel, just try it,” she says, “I always feel better after I’ve been dancing.”

Another long-standing member, Linda, joined when the project first launched as a falls-prevention programme. “I thought it would just be an exercise class, but it’s much more than that,” she says. “It’s sociable, inclusive, and it broadens your horizons.” Linda met her partner Tony through the group, who celebrated his 90th birthday on the dance floor last year. “If we’re still dancing together, you can too,” she laughs.

Dance has been shown to be one of the most effective activities for supporting brain health in later life – a landmark 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine by Verghese et al., found that older adults who dance regularly have a 76% lower risk of dementia compared to non-dancers. The group also offers something harder to measure: friendship, joy and a reason to get out of the house on a Monday afternoon.

As the group enters its tenth year, Ensemble is opening its doors to new members. To celebrate, the group hosted a tea dance for over 60s last month in Walker called Thé Dansant (French for ‘dancing tea’). Inspired by the community tea parties once common across Tyneside, the event was a riotously fun afternoon with afternoon tea, music, a raffle and, of course, dancing.

Company of Others Ensemble meets every Monday from 1–2:30pm in Walker. Transport cost support is available.

To join the group, contact us at community@companyofothers.org.uk or call 0191 276 1524.

6th March 202626th May 2026

Call Out: Women & Girls for New Production

Company of Others are inviting women and girls with family connections (for example mother & daughter, grandmother & granddaughter) to take part in a new, gentle and playful dance theatre project called HELD.

This opportunity is for families who are People Seeking Sanctuary, have lived experience of displacement, and/or are from the Global Majority, living in Gateshead, Newcastle or Stockton.

Led by our Artistic Director Nadia, workshops take place throughout the year. These workshops will be fun, welcoming and a chance to come along see if you enjoy it. No previous experience needed.

The call-out is available in Arabic, Bengali, English, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani, Pashto, Tigrinya and Urdu. Interpreters will be available for the workshops.

Full details and the Expression of Interest form can be found here: https://www.companyofothers.org.uk/held-recruitment/

13th October 202526th May 2026

Ensemble’s Artistic Impact Recognised in Academic Study

We’re very excited to share some news from Company of Others Ensemble – a new academic paper by researcher Anna Goulding has been published, celebrating the artistic and social impact of our incredible community of dancers over 60.

Company of Others Ensemble is a performing company of dancers who happen to be over 60. Their powerful, moving choreography is rooted in lived experience and challenges outdated ideas about age, while celebrating creativity, belonging, and respect.

In her study, Anna Goulding explores how dance can reshape perceptions of ageing. She highlights how the group isn’t just about movement — it’s about connection, expression, and the joy of discovering what’s possible at every stage of life.

As Dory, one of our Ensemble members, reflects:
“I’ve been here for eight years because of the trust and confidence built within this group. Ensemble makes me feel like I’m resisting old age.”

Beyond the stage, Ensemble members regularly attend theatre trips, lead workshops, and continue rehearsing and growing together as artists through weekly workshops at our home in Walker, The Bricks. For George, the impact has been profound:
“Since dancing with Company of Others Ensemble, I feel happier, more purposeful, definitely healthier and fitter.”

We’re honoured that the Ensemble’s journey has inspired such meaningful research. It’s a testament to the power of dance, community, and the bold creativity of older artists.

Read the full study by Anna Goulding here.