Local Dancer Wins Support from GDance and Leading South West Agency

Gloucester-based production and training company GDance has awarded a Fellowship to Tayla Woods, 20, from Cheltenham.

The Fellowship, funded by Gloucester City Council, will enable Tayla to pursue her career goals in the dance world; she will receive mentoring and training and have the opportunity to work with professionals to develop her creative and leadership potential.

Tayla, and other young dance leaders in and around Gloucester will also benefit from GDance’s 2-day ‘Lead In’ course, delivered in partnership with The University of Gloucestershire at Oxstalls Campus on 23 February and 2 March 2014.  The course has been running for 5 years and gives students and dance teachers new to the profession tools and confidence to deliver a basic dance session for young people.

Tayla’s Fellowship will also be enhanced thanks to funding from regional dance agency Pavilion Dance South West for choreographic mentoring.

Since 2008, Tayla has taken part in competitions, like Rock Challenge, and in performances with the Crystal Dance Company at the National Star College.  She has also performed with Attik Dance in Plymouth and in GDance’s production ‘Stuck in the Mud’ at National Trust property Hidcote Manor Garden in the Costwolds.

As a young disabled artist, Tayla is keen to use choreography to explore serious themes, and to tell a story.

Following completion of a City and Guilds, Tayla’s ambition is now to undertake a BA Hons in Choreography at Falmouth University.

Tayla was delighted to receive support from GDance and Pavilion Dance South West.  She said:

“I would like to develop my choreographic skills further and be involved in as many opportunities as possible.”

GDance’s Fellowship Scheme supports a range of disabled leaders, choreographers and producers, as well as non-disabled artists interested in working inclusively with their disabled peers.  It is one of a range of training and performance opportunities offered by the Gloucester-based charity.  To find out more about the Fellowship Scheme or to sign up for GDance’s leadership course at Oxstalls, go to: www.gdance.co.uk or contact Ailsa Hardy, Programme Coordinator, on 01452-550 431 / ailsa@gdance.co.uk.