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While looking up the reason Buckinghamshire Day la

While looking up the reason Buckinghamshire Day lands on 29th July, I discovered it marks the first Stoke Mandeville Games which later grew into the Paralympics.

I got familiar with the history of the games at Stoke Mandeville and bringing the story to life with @stopgapdance for the Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony back in 2016.

Working and performing with Stopgap was so influential to my practice in terms of developing choreography with shared texture and intention, and being able to translate movement material between different bodies.

I also loved creating movement with @jocorkdancedigi - watching our duet back really made me smile (will pop the YouTube link in my story in case anyone fancies watching!) Can't believe we haven't crossed paths since.

What a lovely project to remember this Buckinghamshire Day!

📸 @mcguireward

Fairies are notoriously good at eluding photograph

Fairies are notoriously good at eluding photographs - so if you spot one, you should definitely watch closely, just like these young people at Milton Keynes' Midsummer Festival last weekend! I love how attentively these small eyes are observing 🥰

Thanks @nooutcomeart for inviting me to puppeteer Petal for Five Fae on the Longest Day. It was so wonderful to collaborate with a team of artists from different disciplines to create some family magic:
📖 @withnarrative
🎭 @georgiatilleryrandak_
🎵 @smokeygiacomino
🎨 @carloscortesart1

📸 @goodbrave for @culturemiltonkeynes

A glimpse of the fae at Midsummer - created by @nooutcomeart 🥰

📸 @goodbrave for @culturemiltonkeynes

Did you know Milton Keynes is bidding for City of

Did you know Milton Keynes is bidding for City of Culture 2029?

Being a dance artist based here, I back the bid in the hope that it brings the momentum and necessary financial investment to expand the possibilities for artists and communities in Milton Keynes to grow practice and connect meaningfully.

I also think that there needs to be discussion about how freelancers in the arts are included in the bid proposals. So much artistic provision relies on the goodwill of unpaid or underpaid individuals (whether they are freelancers, volunteers, or workers within organisations).

I have worked on brilliant dance projects in Milton Keynes - including Rosemary Lee's 'Under the Vaulted Sky' for @IFMKFest, creating choreography 'Natural Magic' for Midsummer Festival 2024 @culturemiltonkeynes, and recently 'the sculptures that couldn't keep still' with @eekandwild and @arts_for_health_mk_collection at @mkhospital_

I've also spent countless unpaid hours supporting @oudancegroup with programming their summer school and contributing to their social media output; being a co-founder and assistant director of @motusdancemk doing the work that needed to be done to run festivals, workshops and youth platforms even if there wasn't funding to cover all of those hours; and more recently co-founding @driftprodance - I devote hours each week so that there is a place for dance professionals locally to gather, train, and network together.

I am sure there are many individuals similarly embedded in sustaining Milton Keynes' current cultural offer - if that is you, do look up the surveys and events to feed into the bid - with your needs, desires, concerns and assurances to seek.

If you would like to be part of a conversation specifically with a dance focus, on 23rd June at 7.30pm (post @oudancegroup class with me) you could join Ciara Callaghan at the Sports Pavilion on the OU campus.

I also totally understand if you feel as an individual who already devotes many unpaid or underpaid hours to the sector, that you don't have capacity to contribute more time to being a consultant with specialised knowledge to offer, without that being remunerated. I, too, feel similarly!

Did you know Milton Keynes is bidding for City of

Did you know Milton Keynes is bidding for City of Culture 2029?

Being a dance artist based here, I back the bid in the hope that it brings the momentum and necessary financial investment to expand the possibilities for artists and communities in Milton Keynes to grow practice and connect meaningfully.

I also think that there needs to be discussion about how freelancers in the arts are included in the bid proposals. So much artistic provision relies on the goodwill of unpaid or underpaid individuals (whether they are freelancers, volunteers, or workers within organisations).

I have worked on brilliant dance projects in Milton Keynes - including Rosemary Lee's 'Under the Vaulted Sky' for @IFMKFest, creating choreography 'Natural Magic' for Midsummer Festival 2024 @culturemiltonkeynes, and recently 'the sculptures that couldn't keep still' with @eekandwild and @arts_for_health_mk_collection at @mkhospital_

I've also spent countless unpaid hours supporting @oudancegroup with programming their summer school and contributing to their social media output; being a co-founder and assistant director of @motusdancemk doing the work that needed to be done to run festivals, workshops and youth platforms even if there wasn't funding to cover all of those hours; and more recently co-founding @driftprodance - I devote hours each week so that there is a place for dance professionals locally to gather, train, and network together.

I am sure there are many individuals similarly embedded in sustaining Milton Keynes' current cultural offer - if that is you, do look up the surveys and events to feed into the bid - with your needs, desires, concerns and assurances to seek.

If you would like to be part of a conversation specifically with a dance focus, on 23rd June at 7.30pm (post @oudancegroup class with me) you could join Ciara Callaghan at the Sports Pavilion on the OU campus.

I also totally understand if you feel as an individual who already devotes many unpaid or underpaid hours to the sector, that you don't have capacity to contribute more time to being a consultant with specialised knowledge to offer, without that being remunerated. I, too, feel similarly!

Did you know Milton Keynes is bidding for City of

Did you know Milton Keynes is bidding for City of Culture 2029?

Being a dance artist based here, I back the bid in the hope that it brings the momentum and necessary financial investment to expand the possibilities for artists and communities in Milton Keynes to grow practice and connect meaningfully.

I also think that there needs to be discussion about how freelancers in the arts are included in the bid proposals. So much artistic provision relies on the goodwill of unpaid or underpaid individuals (whether they are freelancers, volunteers, or workers within organisations).

I have worked on brilliant dance projects in Milton Keynes - including Rosemary Lee's 'Under the Vaulted Sky' for @IFMKFest, creating choreography 'Natural Magic' for Midsummer Festival 2024 @culturemiltonkeynes, and recently 'the sculptures that couldn't keep still' with @eekandwild and @arts_for_health_mk_collection at @mkhospital_

I've also spent countless unpaid hours supporting @oudancegroup with programming their summer school and contributing to their social media output; being a co-founder and assistant director of @motusdancemk doing the work that needed to be done to run festivals, workshops and youth platforms even if there wasn't funding to cover all of those hours; and more recently co-founding @driftprodance - I devote hours each week so that there is a place for dance professionals locally to gather, train, and network together.

I am sure there are many individuals similarly embedded in sustaining Milton Keynes' current cultural offer - if that is you, do look up the surveys and events to feed into the bid - with your needs, desires, concerns and assurances to seek.

If you would like to be part of a conversation specifically with a dance focus, on 23rd June at 7.30pm (post @oudancegroup class with me) you could join Ciara Callaghan at the Sports Pavilion on the OU campus.

I also totally understand if you feel as an individual who already devotes many unpaid or underpaid hours to the sector, that you don't have capacity to contribute more time to being a consultant with specialised knowledge to offer, without that being remunerated. I, too, feel similarly!

But then life isn't all good news... As well as s

But then life isn't all good news...

As well as some brilliant highs that I've shared recently, there have been a good dollop of lows.

Back at the start of the year, work was quiet, and I spent 6 weeks writing applications for funding and residencies to try and get a new project off the ground. One by one, the unsuccessful outcomes have trickled in - with the last decision taking 12 weeks to be considered and delivered.

I know it'll be a familiar story amongst many artists out there at the mo, and maybe it's helpful to know that I'm in that place too.

So while I am all systems go until July, I'm touching wood that some work offers come in and that future applications may go my way.

Do let me know if you are are looking for a dance performer-teacher-creative on any projects beyond July!

📸 @cypherhead.studio for @driftprodance

Joyful news... Prelude Youth Dance Company (part

Joyful news...

Prelude Youth Dance Company (part of Tring Park Performance Academy - an associated programme of @tringpark_school) have been selected to perform in the National Platform of Making Moves @sadlerswells_east - tickets are on sale now!

The young dancers and I have been working since September on creating a piece using a choreographic toolkit from @thicktightdance

What I have loved is how much the Making Moves programme has prioritised experiencing a creative process - we have presented work at various stages of development along the way - rather than waiting until a full piece has evolved to perform. Our earliest stage performance was hosted by @dewdanceuk @wycombeswan, then we proceeded to a regional performance alongside other Making Moves groups @danceeast, followed by a gala event curated by @mkdancetheatre (who have also been selected for the National Platform - congrats to them too!)

It has been a huge creative undertaking and has been a fantastic source of inspiration and professional development. If you lead a youth dance company, or teach dance in secondary school, applications are currently open for Making Moves 26/27 until Sunday 31st May - so take a look!

📸 @cypherhead.studio for @driftprodance

I'm teaching for @driftprodance in Bedford this Fr

I'm teaching for @driftprodance in Bedford this Friday. Know half term's a funny one - makes it more likely for teachers/ vocational students to be free, but trickier for the dancing parents with school age children. So local dance/ movement professionals, if you can make it, I'd love to dance with you!

Can also hardly believe we've only got 4 more classes before we draw this second year of programming pro class for the South East Midlands to a close.

What has been joyous to witness this year is how those who can have drifted with us much more across our different locations in Milton Keynes, Northampton, Bedford (and occasionally Aylesbury). And it feels like this regular opportunity to dance together is really strengthening our sense of community.

Off the back of this, it is wonderful to feel the shared responsibility for ensuring that classes continue to run. Huge thanks to everyone who makes space and prioritises taking class on a Friday, and to those who so generously have bought a place in class knowing that you can't attend...but wanting the classes and network to be there in the future when you can tap into it again 🙏

And thank you to the widening team of volunteers distributing the workload of keeping classes running - the Drift management committee @jomeredith500 @lauragibsondance @erenabordonsanchez , social media contributor @jasmine_staunton_wellness , and our area ambassadors @liezl_dewouters @_bethanyjarvis_ and @amymillerdance , plus the spaces and people there who so kindly support our activity: @alchemiseyoga @openstagepac @royalderngate
@theplacebedford @discoverbucksmuseum

Thank you to everyone who has taught and attended so far this year (and those of you who want to but haven't quite made it in the room yet!) - and remember, you have 4 more chances to before we pause for summer.

Thanks also to @cypherhead.studio for lending photography skills and capturing some beautiful images of a Drift class in Milton Keynes @alchemiseyoga

It really does take a community to make it all happen - grateful for the cultural community of movers we're growing, and celebrating the desire to continue ✨️

That Freelance Fear Of Missing Out On Work While O

That Freelance Fear Of Missing Out On Work While On Holiday or FFOMOOWWOH!

Am taking a bit of a break shortly, and inevitably it feels like now is the time that all the auditions have come up, and commission briefs have come in...

...but I also know that taking some time to travel will refuel me with creativity, inspiration and family connection, and I don't want to miss out on that either!

It's got me thinking back to a family holiday as a child, where I happened to meet dance principal Amanda from @kilburnschool who gave me some advice that has definitely stuck with me - "you have to be prepared to look silly" as a dance teacher.

And many years later, here I am channelling that advice in this photo from recent @l_uminelle project 'We Are Kin'

So I'm making peace that while I might miss out on some immediate work opportunities, who knows what learning I'll take away from this next holiday and how it might feed into my life and career!

📸 @wilsoncookphotography

Whoa - 17 years since my first headshots! Taught

Whoa - 17 years since my first headshots!

Taught a school's workshop yesterday and realised I've been making a career out of dance longer than these secondary school students have been alive 😯

As a mid-career artist now, I'd love to be able to continue to contribute the skills and knowledge I've gained since training to the sector, while still growing my experiences and learning from both those older and younger than me. I have never stopped loving going to dance class - learning and sharing the studio space with other dancers is why I started, and so I continue to nurture attending class as a habit in my practice (and it's why I'm passionate about @driftprodance - see you in class soon?!)

My diary for May and beyond is very tentative - waiting on funding outcomes (keep everything crossed that the projects I've pencilled are given the green light 🙏). If you are looking for a performer/ teacher/ devisor/ collaborator or see any callouts for May 2026 and beyond and think of me, please do send opportunities my way!

📸 @calvert_photo

Thinking back to giving performance day choreograp

Thinking back to giving performance day choreographic notes as part of @l_uminelle project: We Are Kin. Moment captured by @wilsoncookphotography 📸

Teasing out those last few snags and tangles to give the young people and piece the space to fly!

🪁 🪁 🪁

Will shortly be arriving at the same part of the process with Prelude Youth Dance Company on their #MakingMoves @sadlers_wells journey - just 2 more sessions left before we head to the East regional platform @danceeast. After diving into the choreographic toolkit from @thicktightdance and receiving their generous feedback in January, we have continued to untangle our collective ideas. I am very much looking forward to handing over fully and giving the dancers space to inhabit the piece in performance mode!

🪁 🪁 🪁

Have also been getting a similar feeling working through residency and funding applications recently, grappling project ideas onto forms, meeting submission deadlines, and then handing over to the decision makers knowing I've done all I can. Here's to hoping some of these ideas and creative projects might get to fly later this year 🙏

Putting the Eek into week for my first performance

Putting the Eek into week for my first performances of 2026!

A joy to return to the studio at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital yesterday: creating some new options for the @eekandwild menu, and trialling them on the wards - getting joyous feedback, suggestions, and demonstrations from patients and their families to realise our ideas 💡

And today we were back at Milton Keynes University Hospital with our performance offering of 'the sculptures that couldn't keep still' for the children's wards. In this session, the most popular choice of sculpture to bring to life from the hospital art collection was Squatting, Holding, Looking by Glynn Williams. You can spot it in the small courtyard near the Eaglestone restaurant if you are ever there.

📸 Luca Felice

End of 2025 = quiet on the grid, but eventful in l

End of 2025 = quiet on the grid, but eventful in life!

You'll have to imagine this is a carousel post with all the relevant images to scroll through:

1. Things fell through in September, so I pivoted to doing my tax return...

2....and joined a beginner's running group with @redwayrunners

3. Devised a new show with @eekandwild - 'the sculptures that couldn't keep still' to bring to life some of the sculptures in the @arts_for_health_mk_collection at @mkhospital_ We've been performing for children and their families on the wards, waiting rooms, and play areas since November and will continue into 2026

4. Collaborated with @l_uminelle on 'We are Kin' with Windmill Primary School in Oxford. Moving and mark making for both film and a live sharing event. Working with @danielle_cjones @emmaelainebrown @oojamaflick @wilsoncookphotography

5. Performed in an inflatable frog costume inspired by protesters in Portland for 'Disparate Harmony' by @jomeredith500 A pop-up foyer performance at @royalderngate as part of GenFest 2025

6. In a 9-day consecutive stint of work, injured my back putting on my rucksack while getting off a train. Shout out to Melissa @stgilesphysiotherapy who managed to fit me in for an emergency appointment and made it possible for me to move and perform again the next day!

7. Continued supporting Prelude Youth Dance Company @tringpark_school on their creation journey for @sadlers_wells #MakingMoves programme. The company were hosted for a local performance in High Wycombe by @dewdanceuk. We've submitted our rehearsal and performance footage so far, and are looking forward to getting feedback from @thicktightdance in January

8. Taught pro and open classes for @brum.proclass @emdanetwork @driftprodance
@derbydancenetwork @oudancegroup

9. Kept driving onwards with the @driftprodance management committee, area ambassadors, and social media team - all members volunteering their time so that we can keep running a much needed pro dance class in the South East Midlands. Class will return on 23rd Jan in Northampton

10. Celebrated my December birthday with @meggriff27 - dreaming up new creative adventures

📸 @laura.gibsonphotography

September = launching a new school year for the Sa

September = launching a new school year for the Saturday contemporary students @tringpark_school

It's been quite the beginning of term what with Prelude Youth Dance Company being selected to be part of #MakingMoves 25/26 organised by @sadlers_wells

Last weekend I attended 2 days of intensive training with our toolkit choreographers @thicktightdance, and this Saturday I was able to share some technical repertoire, initial choreographic tasks, and some passionate/ heated(!) theme discussion with the students.

What a journey we are embarking on together, embracing a choreographic toolkit which expands all of our comfort zones. And all with matching notebooks to document our process! Time to turn that passion and heat into charm, fun, and movement; watch this space...

@laura.gibsonphotography

September = launching a new school year for the Sa

September = launching a new school year for the Saturday contemporary students @tringpark_school

It's been quite the beginning of term what with Prelude Youth Dance Company being selected to be part of #MakingMoves 25/26 organised by @sadlers_wells

Last weekend I attended 2 days of intensive training with our toolkit choreographers @thicktightdance, and this Saturday I was able to share some technical repertoire, initial choreographic tasks, and some passionate/ heated(!) theme discussion with the students.

What a journey we are embarking on together, embracing a choreographic toolkit which expands all of our comfort zones. And all with matching notebooks to document our process! Time to turn that passion and heat into charm, fun, and movement; watch this space...

📸 @laura.gibsonphotography

September = launching a new school year for the Sa

September = launching a new school year for the Saturday contemporary students @tringpark_school

It's been quite the beginning of term what with Prelude Youth Dance Company being selected to be part of #MakingMoves 25/26 organised by @sadlers_wells

Last weekend I attended 2 days of intensive training with our toolkit choreographers @thicktightdance, and this Saturday I was able to share some technical repertoire, initial choreographic tasks, and some passionate/ heated(!) theme discussion with the students.

What a journey we are embarking on together, embracing a choreographic toolkit which expands all of our comfort zones. And all with matching notebooks to document our process! Time to turn that passion and heat into charm, fun, and movement; watch this space...

📸 @laura.gibsonphotography

Looking down and checking my dancing feet are stil

Looking down and checking my dancing feet are still there...

It's no secret that it's tough out there for artists right now. Cc: @freelancersmaketheatrework

There have definitely been some changes for the better over the years - rather than being ghosted after putting job/ funding applications in, I now receive rejection emails telling me how many other applications I was up against - circa 1500 is the record on a single application so far this year!

One of my main motivations for keeping going, is hoping that I can make a difference so that the next generation of freelance dancers never feel this low, idealistic I know. I once witnessed and consoled my mentor whilst she cried in a car park, and it's a cycle I'd rather not repeat, however close the tears are for me here and now.

If I'm going to teach and inspire young people to join the profession - I feel responsible for at least trying to shift our collective experience of working in dance. And I'm hoping that we can do this by growing the local freelance initiatives and communities of support across the country - so many of which are built on vast hours of voluntary resilience.

So please champion and support these much-needed communities for freelance dance artists any way you can - with funding, with space, with promotion, with advice, volunteering your skills...and being present to shape the spaces being created:

@driftprodance
@brum.proclass
@dancecooperativebirmingham
@brumdancenet
@emdanetwork
@movement_connects
@creativeproexchangeleicester
@bothdanceclasses
@cambridgeproclass
@derbydancenetwork
Coventry Pro Initiative (@ascensiondanceuk)
@prodanceoxford
@gather_up_dance
@groundwork_collective
@danceartistsnortheast
@movemanchester
@danceinglos

Please tell me who is missing from this list too - let's map who's out there making sure dancing can keep happening at all levels, including with dance professionals/ workers/ artists! And thank you if you're already supporting - these spaces are so important, now more than ever.

📸 Paul Trask for @ffindance [2013]

Looking down and checking my dancing feet are stil

Looking down and checking my dancing feet are still there...

It's no secret that it's tough out there for artists right now. Cc: @freelancersmaketheatrework

There have definitely been some changes for the better over the years - rather than being ghosted after putting job/ funding applications in, I now receive rejection emails telling me how many other applications I was up against - circa 1500 is the record on a single application so far this year!

One of my main motivations for keeping going, is hoping that I can make a difference so that the next generation of freelance dancers never feel this low, idealistic I know. I once witnessed and consoled my mentor whilst she cried in a car park, and it's a cycle I'd rather not repeat, however close the tears are for me here and now.

If I'm going to teach and inspire young people to join the profession - I feel responsible for at least trying to shift our collective experience of working in dance. And I'm hoping that we can do this by growing the local freelance initiatives and communities of support across the country - so many of which are built on vast hours of voluntary resilience.

So please champion and support these much-needed communities for freelance dance artists any way you can - with funding, with space, with promotion, with advice, volunteering your skills...and being present to shape the spaces being created:

@driftprodance
@brum.proclass
@dancecooperativebirmingham
@brumdancenet
@emdanetwork
@movement_connects
@creativeproexchangeleicester
@bothdanceclasses
@cambridgeproclass
@derbydancenetwork
Coventry Pro Initiative (@ascensiondanceuk)
@prodanceoxford
@gather_up_dance
@groundwork_collective
@danceartistsnortheast
@movemanchester
@danceinglos

Please tell me who is missing from this list too - let's map who's out there making sure dancing can keep happening at all levels, including with dance professionals/ workers/ artists! And thank you if you're already supporting - these spaces are so important, now more than ever.

📸 @bethhalfordphotography [2024]
Movement Direction: @lauragibsondance
Lighting: @james_westlake

Looking down and checking my dancing feet are stil

Looking down and checking my dancing feet are still there...

It's no secret that it's tough out there for artists right now. Cc: @freelancersmaketheatrework

There have definitely been some changes for the better over the years - rather than being ghosted after putting job/ funding applications in, I now receive rejection emails telling me how many other applications I was up against - circa 1500 is the record on a single application so far this year!

One of my main motivations for keeping going, is hoping that I can make a difference so that the next generation of freelance dancers never feel this low, idealistic I know. I once witnessed and consoled my mentor whilst she cried in a car park, and it's a cycle I'd rather not repeat, however close the tears are for me here and now.

If I'm going to teach and inspire young people to join the profession - I feel responsible for at least trying to shift our collective experience of working in dance. And I'm hoping that we can do this by growing the local freelance initiatives and communities of support across the country - so many of which are built on vast hours of voluntary resilience.

So please champion and support these much-needed communities for freelance dance artists any way you can - with funding, with space, with promotion, with advice, volunteering your skills...and being present to shape the spaces being created:

@driftprodance
@brum.proclass
@dancecooperativebirmingham
@brumdancenet
@emdanetwork
@movement_connects
@creativeproexchangeleicester
@bothdanceclasses
@cambridgeproclass
@derbydancenetwork
Coventry Pro Initiative (@ascensiondanceuk)
@prodanceoxford
@gather_up_dance
@groundwork_collective
@danceartistsnortheast
@movemanchester
@danceinglos

Please tell me who is missing from this list too - let's map who's out there making sure dancing can keep happening at all levels, including with dance professionals/ workers/ artists! And thank you if you're already supporting - these spaces are so important, now more than ever.

📸 Legge Photography [2014]

Thanks to Taira Foo for having me on board as an e

Thanks to Taira Foo for having me on board as an ensemble dancer for this short film project. Am on the look out for future projects - if you need a mover for film, live performance, or anything in between, get in touch.

S I C K , short film of one man’s fight with depression - copyright TF Dance Co. CIC. @s_i_c_k_bytf

Choreographer: @tf_dance_co @taira_foo

Artists:
@matty_brion @anna_watkins @laurenmcguire123
@ashers.menagerie @josh.leon4 @lauragibsondance and 🙋‍♀️

📸 @lidia.crisafulli

Thanks to Taira Foo for having me on board as an e

Thanks to Taira Foo for having me on board as an ensemble dancer for this short film project. Am on the look out for future projects - if you need a mover for film, live performance, or anything in between, get in touch.

S I C K , short film of one man’s fight with depression - copyright TF Dance Co. CIC. @s_i_c_k_bytf

Choreographer: @tf_dance_co @taira_foo

Artists:
@matty_brion @anna_watkins @laurenmcguire123
@ashers.menagerie @josh.leon4 @lauragibsondance and 🙋‍♀️

📸 @lidia.crisafulli

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effie@mcguireward.co.uk

Photo credits - Stu Allsopp, Alice Underwood, Beth MacInnes

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