Royston Maldoom, choreographer

Royston Maldoom is one of the founders of the community dance movement in the UK. His perception of community dance is “to dance with anyone, anywhere, at any time” regardless of their experience, age, gender or social or ethnic background. He particularly enjoys working with groups that are intercultural, differently-abled, and inter-generational. Royston has worked as a choreographer since 1979 and most recently featured in the film Rhythm Is It! which documented his work with Sir Simon Rattle, the Berlin Philharmonic and 250 young people in Berlin.

Royston has also created works in collaboration with the Ulster Orchestra, Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Natal Symphony Orchestra and several Chamber Orchestras and Choirs. His Rite of Spring has been performed in Addis Ababa, Duisburg, Berlin (1990 and 2003), Lima, Belfast, London, Vilnius, Glasgow and is currently being performed in New York. Royston Maldoom was awarded an OBE in 2006 for his services to dance

You can visit his website: www.royston-maldoom.org

Mags Byrne, deputy choreographer

The Irish choreographer and dance teacher started her studies in humanities, focusing on dance as her Major. She has worked extensively in Britain and Ireland, as well as in Soweto, Bucharest, Java, Basel, Vienna, Zagreb and Addis Ababa. As a professional dancer she performed with many companies including Dance Theatre of Ireland and City Dance Company in Dublin. As a teacher and choreographer she has worked with people of all ages and abilities in theatres, concert halls and in school and community settings. She is currently the Director of Dance United Northern Ireland, a dance for development company with the vision of advancing dance as an art form and as a potent tool for personal development and social change. The company works to push the boundaries of where and with whom dance has value and focuses on those marginalised through economic and social deprivation and conflict.

Mags first worked with Royston Maldoom in 1989. In the mid 90’s she began a seven year programme as his associate artistic director for the community and vocational dance training project Adugna, Ethiopia. She continues to collaborate with him on projects and Royston is currently Consultant Director for Dance United Northern Ireland.

Stephen Mason, assistant choreographer

Stephen holds a BA (Hons) Dance and Drama Studies and a MA Dance Studies (Laban) specialising in community and education dance and choreography. Currently Stephen teaches A Level Dance and Performing Arts and leads a youth dance company at City and Islington Sixth Form College, London. He also works as a freelance dance artist specialising in cross-curricular projects and INSET training in primary schools, youth dance and performance projects. Stephen has seven years of experience working in dance education and community contexts with a range of age groups. Past projects and posts held include Dance Development Officer for Learning and Access at The Place, Artistic Director of Surrey County Youth Dance Company and Dance Artist for Surrey County Arts, Lead Dance Artist for a cross-curriculum development programme in the London Borough of Newham, Animateur for Richard Alston Dance Company’s Essential Alston Education programme and has choreographed site-specific dance films for Thurrock Youth Arts Service.