Our newly selected Dance Partners Projects for 2024-25 are Alethia Antonia, Kayleigh Price and Phil Sanger. They join previous artists who have benefitted from the programme, including Vanessa Grasse, Bakani Pick-Up, Lewys Holt, Jem Clancy, Charlotte Jones and Alicia Meehan.

Dance Partners receive tailored producing & dramaturgy support from our Artist Development Producer João Maio, seed funding, bespoke professional development workshops and residency space to support the development of their projects.

Alethia Antonia  – Sis? (working title)

With their new project, Sis? Alethia aims to create a physical, emotive, multi-dimensional work which explores notions of community, sisterhood, and challenges colonial ideas of gender and race. Sis? will play between the darker elements of experience that connect with feminine blackness but also the joy, healing and sense of community that can still exist in that identity.

Alethia Antonia is a British Caribbean, UK-based choreographer, performer, teacher and researcher. Alethia’s practice incorporates a variety of movement practices, music and singing to explore artistic and socio-political questions related to identity.  

Their work aims to present narratives and provoke discussions around feminine blackness that move away from stereotypical representation or invisibility. They also explore accessibility, decolonisation and use dance to reimagine and heal. 

Kayleigh Price – Untitled 

“Growing up I always thought there was something different about me, but I could never pinpoint exactly what it was. I was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia and visual stress issues when I was 19.

Then, at a later point in life, I was diagnosed with a generalised anxiety disorder at the age of 28. At the age of 31, after working with a psychotherapist – I was informed I have all the symptoms of ADHD and could be considered a highly sensitive person. Now 33, I feel compelled to find out more about myself.”

Kayleigh Price’s Untitled work, in collaboration with artist Daniella May, works with an Applied Behaviour Analyst Therapist to explore their neurodiversity through conversation around their lived experiences.

Kayleigh is the Artistic Director of Company K, a dance company that aims to create safe practice and space for all creatives through autobiographical work. Kayleigh has also guest lectured at London Studio Centre, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds Beckett University and Swindon Dance.

Phil Sanger – WIG (working title)

Phil Sanger’s project WIG is a multi-media cabaret-esque platform, on which artists explore the aesthetics of care & tell stories about radical acts of self-care. The title comes from the acronym for ‘Wear It Green’ which is an initiative to raise awareness for mental health. WIG uses live audio-descriptions to prioritise accessibility.  

Phil Sanger is a self-producing artist, performer, choreographer, teacher, and life coach. He has produced and led multiple independent projects, touring productions and artist development programmes.

His projects focus on addressing social themes and advocating for better representation in the sector. Phil has performed with Slanjayvah Danza, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company and Phoenix Dance Theatre. 

Images (Top to bottom): Alethia Antonia © Sean Miller, Kayleigh Price © Daniel Phung and Dancer Michael Marquez © Boneshaker Photography