Meet Exim

Laura graduated from University of Plymouth in 2013 in Dance Theatre, she has deeply embedded herself into the dance community within the South West of England, specialising in working within intergenerational community settings, delivering dance to disadvantaged young people and people with disabilities as well as touring nationally and internationally as a performer. Her passion is breaking the social-political barriers that surround dance. One of Laura’s main focuses is to help improve the health and well-being of all the participants she works with and to make dance accessible for all.

In 2016 she was appointed as Artistic Director for Plymouth based Exim Dance Company CIC within this time frame its seen the company build from strength to strength with the company now on the international touring circuit, the company employing more core staff than ever before and forming long lasting partnerships with both local and national partners and the company now having taken on Exim Dance Space.

2019 has seen Laura selected by Active Devon to be a ‘This Girl Can’ ambassador for the South West campaign and was chosen for the 2018/19 cohort ‘Women in Leadership Programme’ lead by Women’s Resource Centre London where she was invited to deliver a speech at The House of Lords in March 2019 around ‘Women in Leadership Roles’ In 2018/17 she was invited to have extensive business development training with Real Ideas Organisation for the growth of her social enterprise company. Laura has and continues being mentored by pioneers of dance and inclusive practice Adam Benjamin, Ruth Way & June Gamble.

In addition to her work with Exim Dance Laura is an independent community teacher, regularly mentoring students from all aspects of higher & further education. She is an associate lecturer at the University of Plymouth & on the professional mentoring cohort for 2019/2020 as well as working regularly for a number of South West dance organisations and educational establishments.

Chloe, originally from Yeovil, Somerset and studied both BTEC and A-Level dance before studying at Plymouth University. She graduated in 2017 with a First Class BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre. Chloe has trained in various dance styles including Contemporary, Street Dance and Improvisation as well as undergoing training and intensives with renowned dance artists and companies such as Adam Benjamin, Heather Walrond Company, Twist and Pulse and Avant Garde Dance.

During her studies, Chloe has obtained several qualifications including Dance Leadership Level 1 and 2, First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Dementia Awareness, Dance and Parkinson’s, Early Years Training as well as currently completing a Level 2 Sign Language course. Alongside her work for Exim Dance company, she is also a Dance Practitioner for Tea Dance with a Twist! with Plymouth Dance.

From these qualifications, Chloe is currently Community Development Manager for Exim Dance Company. As well as assisting in the running of Exim Dance Company, she teaches all ages various styles from Street Dance to Contemporary, as well as leading on various projects Including Communities Together and Making Waves Projects.

Kaitlyn is originally from Weston – Super – Mare, North Somerset and is now a Dance and Taiko Artist based in Plymouth, Devon. After Completing a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing arts from Weston College Kaitlyn progressed to The University of Plymouth graduating with a First Class BA Honors Degree in Dance Theatre 2017. After Volunteering for Plymouth Dance and Exim Dance Company during her degree course Kaitlyn went on to work as an intern for both organisations over a 6 month period (2017-2018).

Kaitlyn has continued to work for both organisations and is now a Lead Practitioner & Educational Officer for Exim Dance Company. Kaitlyn teaches weekly across a variety of classes, ages and abilities and Coordinates and leads on projects such as Exim’s Professional touring work, Traverse Youth Platform and Making Waves; including various other youth projects. Most recently Kaitlyn has taken on management of Exim Dance Space as a hiring facility, overseeing the Exim Dance Space Scheme and Scratch nights. Kaitlyn’s practice in dance lies within celebrating and discovering unique ways of moving, finding the edges of movement with a high focus on remaining fluid. As an inclusive practitioner Kaitlyn finds joy in celebrating one’s own movement style, always searching to find a place where differences can meet and exceed to their highest potential.

Martha graduated from University of Plymouth in 2018 with a first class honours degree in Dance Theatre. She then undertook a 6 month joint internship with Exim Dance Company and Plymouth Dance and has continued to work with both companies since. Martha is now project coordinator at Plymouth Dance, running a tea dance project across 10 care homes and is also a dancer at PD’s monthly Tea Dance with a Twist! events. With Exim she teaches weekly across primary school classes and Exim’s youth companies within the Communities Together project. As a core part of the Exim team, her role includes assisting with the professional company tour and new monthly scratch nights.

Martha is in her second year of being a One Dance UK Ambassador and Dance Consortium Future Leader, where she represents dance in the South West and is an active advocate for dance. She also works at Dance in Devon as their administrator and is regularly involved in their community and professional development projects and events.

Martha is also a freelance practitioner, delivering workshops, writing dance reviews and articles and in February 2019 she performed in Still Practicing, Stillness at the InArt Festival in Lisbon. Her practice centres around ‘true’ movement and is influenced by Contact Improvisation and her training with choreographer Adam Benjamin. She is also interested in collaborating across art form including the blend of dance and taiko drumming, which she started practicing in 2015.

Hayley graduated from University of Plymouth in 2019 with a First Class BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre and received the Russell Maliphant prize for excellence in Dance. Hayley has trained in techniques such as Release, Flying- low, Cunningham, Ballet, African and Contact Improvisation. Since graduating Hayley has been working as a Freelance dance artist with organisations across Plymouth. She currently works at Exim Dance Company as an Intern on 6 month basis, Plymouth Dance as an Assistant Practitioner on their project Tea Dance with a Twist in a ‘Residential Setting’, Barbican Theatre as an Assistant Practitioner for Theatre Junction. Hayley has a keen interest in community based work and enjoys working intergenerationally to deliver movement and dance sessions.Hayley recognises the importance of establishing an inclusive and accessible environment in order to feel encouraged within a creative space, she aims to facilitate in a space which helps her to feel inspired as well inspiring others. Consequently, Hayley aspires to develop her own training by attending workshops, classes and events across the South West.

When working with Exim Dance Company Hayley switches between facilitating workshops to Primary ages and groups such ADAPT Youth Inclusive Dance Company, Communities Together North Prospect, Communities Together Stonehouse and Manadon Community Sports Hub. In addition to this she also works in the office doing admin based work such as, marketing, data collection and strategic planning.

Kevin French is a disabled dance artist who has had cerebral palsy since birth and uses a spell board or iPad to communicate. Kevin is also a life model using nudity to explain his disability. Kevin was the first person to complete a dance theatre degree at Plymouth University and is currently undertaking a master in Performance training at Plymouth Conservatoire. Kevin has been one of the longest company dancers with Exim Dance Company and was apart of IMPACT tour and has choreographed on the company.

Kevin French is a disabled dance artist who has had cerebral palsy since birth and uses a spell board or iPad to communicate. Kevin is also a life model using nudity to explain his disability. Kevin was the first person to complete a dance theatre degree at Plymouth University and is currently undertaking a master in Performance training at Plymouth Conservatoire. Kevin has been one of the longest company dancers with Exim Dance Company and was apart of IMPACT tour and has choreographed on the company.

Nathan trained for 3 years at Plymouth University in Dance Theatre, where he engaged with integrated dance through workshops with companies such as Stop Gap and Candoco Dance Company before graduating with a 2.1 Degree. He has had experience in a variety of dance projects/companies such as Spindrift and since graduating and teaches contemporary dance in local schools in the southwest and at University teaching his own style of contemporary dance and working in diverse communities in the dance sector.

Born and grew up in Poland where she graduated two bachelor degrees from Dance Composition and Social Policy. Recently lives in Austria where she studies at Institute of Dance Arts on Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität in Linz. Except for higher education she was expanding her movement language during traveling around the world and her home country. Latest international collaboration she participated in were leaded by Jason Jacobs, Regina van Berkel and Jinan Qu. Since 2014 she was a member of STW company leaded by Natalia Draganik-Franke. At the time she worked with Natalia Iwaniec [GAGA] and Maciej Kuźmiński [physical theatre]. She took an internship in ROZBARK – Polish Dance and Movement Theatre. During season 2015/2016 she cooperated the project with “ISKRA” disabled association. Ania joined EXIM in 2018.

Born in Liège (Belgium) in 1994, Antoni started dancing at the age of eleven. In 2012, he entered the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp then under the direction of Iris Bouche, he obtained his Bachelor in contemporary dance three years later. Being an avid learner made him begin another Bachelor of Arts in La Manufacture (Switzerland) where he focused on choreographic research as well as creating his own teaching material. Throughout his education he had the opportunity to perform for David Zambrano, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Wim Vandekeybus and Agostina d’Alessandro, he also worked with Rakesh Sukesh for the creation of Kurukshetra. He performed in Vortex as well as The Players choreographed by Edan Gorlicki. In addition to his work as a performer, he has also been teaching in different countries across Europe and  was choreographic assistant during the creation of Attaque from the company Cocoon.

Lucy graduated from Falmouth University in 2014 with a First Class Honors Degree in Dance Performance. Whilst studying for her BA Lucy undertook a four-month exchange period at the Conservatorio Superior de Danza de Valencia in Spain. This year, Lucy has been a part of the international touring company Mapdance, working with artists such as Rick Nodine (USA), Jonathan Burrows (UK), Lila Dance (UK), Ofra Idel (Israel), as well dancing a significant role in the reworking of a 2014 Kerry Nicholls piece. Whilst on tour, Lucy worked towards gaining her Masters Degree in Dance Performance from the University of Chichester and is set to graduate in 2016. Lucy is also a part of London’s Coegi Company, performing at the Stockholm Fringe Festival.