Meet The Team

Being part of a co-operative is an act of trust in your community - you trust that they’ve got your back and likewise they trust in your support. Working as a freelance dance artist is super exciting of course, but it can also feel lonely at times. I’m excited about being part of a shift in thinking that means we can be independent but not isolated. Creatively, I’m learning so much from my peers day-to-day in how they think, problem solve and generate ideas. They inspire me a lot! On the practical side, we’ll be able to access resources & CPD to push our individual creative practice, which is made possible through having formed a co-operative.

I feel so lucky to be part of a strong, friendly community in Birmingham, I look forward to watching the pool of artists expand as we welcome new members! I’m also excited to exchange with other freelancers through initiatives like CPD and the Borrow Box to help support and develop our practices. We have so much to learn from each other and I believe these opportunities will help create a more diverse and accessible environment!

I am most excited about striving to create a sustainable landscape for our community. We are so lucky to have such a strong community spirit in Birmingham and I’m very excited to collaborate with fellow members, upskilling ourselves and continue to cultivate a diverse community of artists who truly support one another.

Being part of a cooperative offers an alternative way to resource and create as an artist. I’m amongst amazing and brilliant artists, working together to support each other and it feels good! I’m excited to see where this goes as DCB will endeavour to sustain a community of artists who have the potential to be excellent cultural leaders. We are already great collaborators, that is the nature of being an artist, but cooperative working takes that a step further - we identify as a collective and we lead with each other in mind. We say move over individualism, which is what capitalism encourages, and welcome collectivism and those that embrace it.

Being an independent artist can feel lonely at times and like you’re constantly in competition with other artists. Becoming part of DCB felt like a brilliant way to tackle these issues because Co-ops place a high value on equality, democracy and caring for others.

I’m particularly excited about the Borrow Box- an initiative that will encourage artists in the region to share their resources. Sharing resources will have a positive impact on the environment as well as the artists and cultivate a culture of support.

I am thrilled to be part of DCB! I believe that it’s a fantastic opportunity that will foster mutual support throughout the dance sector. Our field is rich with talent and innovative ideas that are ripe to thrive, however they can wilt without external backing when exposed to the broader industry. With The DCB I see a promising future, not just for the growth of Birmingham’s dance community but for the wider UK dance industry as well. I think that opportunities like the CPD and shared space initiative will help artists develop their practice and bloom in a healthy environment.

​It is very exciting to be part of a new initiative such as Dance Co-Operative Birmingham. Independent artists need to navigate many aspects of their career alone and this is not always easy. By incorporating in a cooperative structure our local freelance ecology will be able to amplify its voice, allow artists to share resources and encourage dancers to form a stronger community. I cannot wait to see DCB grow, offer ethical leadership and to become a flagship for alternative forms of working for artists in and beyond the West-Midlands.

I’m really interested in how we as dance artists can carve out a culture of working collaboratively in a world where it often feels like you need to be in competition with your peers. This feels like a creative and exciting way of coming together with people to make brilliant things happen with are art-form.

I’m excited to reach and hear the thoughts and opinions of dance artists, makers, and directors across the Midlands region and beyond, and explore together how we can establish a place for artists, by artists in the city. My hope is to co-create a space where dancers can regularly engage in robust opportunities to up-skill, soundboard, and further their careers - not only within dance, but supporting disciplines. 

Being part of a co-operative is an exciting opportunity to collaborate, grow, and support one another within the arts community. The Midlands is home to so many talented artists across different disciplines, and by working together, we can create more opportunities, share resources, and amplify each other’s voices.

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As a dancer and creative, I’m passionate about connecting with others, expanding my practice, and continuously learning. I’m especially looking forward to CPD opportunities, meeting new dance artists, and contributing to a thriving, inclusive arts scene in the Midlands