ACADEMY TEAM

Clare Hobbs eMail

Manager

Lorna Digweed eMail

Co-ordinator

Dee Woolford eMail

Co-ordinator

DANCE ARTISTS

Hannah Ballard

Hannah is a multi disciplinary dance artist experienced in performance, direction and choreography. She completed her training at London studio centre gaining a Ba(Hons) in dance and theatre art. She has performed and choreographed throughout the UK with various companies, specialising in contemporary, tap dance, aerial and dance theatre. She has extensive experience of the outdoor festivals as an aerial performer touring worldwide for the past 6 years with wired aerial theatre’s productions ‘as the world tipped’ and ‘slice’ directed by Sharon Watson from Phoenix Dance Theatre. She is artistic director and founder of sole rebel tap a performance and educational tap dancing company.

Hannah was awarded the 2015 dance uk dancer’s mentoring scheme, identified as a future leader. Her own choreographic work has been commissioned and supported by Gaz Coombes (simulator, music video), Arts Council England, The Point, Exuberant Fund, Alpha Associate Award, Swindon Dance, Bath Icia, Oxford City Council, Pegasus Theatre, Dancin’ Oxford Festival, and Oxford Dance Forum.

Hannah has been working with Wessex Dance Academy since 2011, over the past 6 years she has choreographed numerous pieces with the cohort groups and Wessex Girls : Wessex Girls. Including collaborations with guest artists; Yael Flexer who mentored ‘Let Go’ 2013, musician and composer Chris Redmond in ‘Let Go’ and ‘I’ll be Seeing You in Familiar Places’ alongside body percussionist Anna Llombart from Barcelona, Alice Offley singer and songwriter for ‘In 2’, and site specific piece ‘The Rite of Spring’ at the Great Hall alongside artists and students from Winchester University.

Hannah Larkum

Married with two young boys, Hannah began her career in dance in 2003 when she graduated from the University of Winchester with a Ba(Hons) first class degree in dance studies. She went on to train for three years at the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance (2005-2008) and was selected for a company apprenticeship with Smallpetitklein Dance Company. Upon completing training she was successful in obtaining a year long apprenticeship with Retina Dance Company through the Northern School of Contemporary Dance’s post graduate diploma scheme. Hannah has danced professionally for Balbir Singh Dance, Paul and Kieran Dance Theatre, and in 2011 co-founded Spire Dance Company where she gained ‘on tour’ funding from Rural Arts in North Yorkshire. Over the last 14 years, Hannah has worked as a freelance contemporary dancer, rehearsal director and teacher, working with children, young people and adults in professional, educational and community settings. Having joined Wessex Dance Academy in 2012 as part of the dance artist team she helps young people make positive changes in their lives and realise their potential through dance. Hannah has choreographed a number of pieces for the academy and in 2015 she collaborated with Hampshire Music Service to choreograph for the music for youth proms at the Royal Albert Hall and has been invited back to create a number of short dance pieces to be performed at Winchester Cathedral in January 2017.

ASSOCIATE ARTISTS