My Gurus

LUCY MOELWYN-HUGHES
Meeting Lucy in 1997 was a turning-point for me. Lucy is a freelance dance educator. I was studying dance at the University of Surrey, when I arrived at East London Dance (ELD) on a placement. I joined Lucy once a week at the Greenhill Day Centre on an inclusive dance project for disabled adults. I owe a great deal of my subsequent career to learning from Lucy’s commitment to inclusivity and art, to good humour, to generosity. She is my benchmark for excellence in working with people in dance.

KIKI GALE
The visionary behind the dance project mentioned above was Kiki Gale, Artistic Director at ELD. Kiki taught me everything that I value to this day – not least that a total commitment to working with the highest quality artists and striving for the highest quality of art in work with communities is what brings the greatest of triumphs for the individuals involved. My time working with her was everything that art ought to be – exhilarating, all-consuming, inspirational.

TONY HALL
I’ve never actually met Tony so I think it’s probably cheating to have him as a Guru! I worked at the Royal Opera House (ROH) only briefly, long before he arrived, but have a fondness for the organisation, which has such greatness and ambition within its two world-class companies. Tony’s vision and ability to shape and mould a thriving ROH, a cultural institution with few rivals, is a skill I have long admired and seek to replicate in a different way at Candoco.

ANU GIRI
Anu is an independent arts consultant, having recently stepped down as Director of Dance at Arts Council England (ACE), London. I worked with her at ACE. I think everyone should work at ACE for a while, it’s a great opportunity to get a depth of understanding about your sector. Anu taught me to believe in my opinions, and to have the confidence to speak them out loud. Anu takes brave, controversial decisions, and backs them up with intelligence. She also does it with two young children and proves that it is possible to be a great mum and a great leader.

JOAN WHITE
Joan is a true visionary, and one of the foremost dance educators in the UK, having set up public sector examinations in dance. My path has crossed with Joan’s many times, and I never cease to marvel at the sheer volume and quality of the new initiatives she is working on. She is Dean of the Faculty of Education at the Royal Academy of Dance and has revolutionised the training and education programmes at that most traditional of institutions. She is principled and determined and a mine of knowledge and experience. I learn from Joan just by being the same room and watching her at work.