People

Rosie Heafford is a performance maker and choreographer, graduating with a BA (HONS) from Laban in 2009 and an MA from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2010. Alongside her work with Second Hand Dance she facilitates, teaches, mentors, choreographs and performs on a range of projects in collaboration with artists and communities.

She is interested in the celebratory aspect of performance. Something that is full of joy. Where dance is reclaimed from awkwardness into a gift; an exchange between viewer and performer. A shared experience of movement.

Tandem Works: is award winning Independent Producer Claire Summerfield. We support companies/artists developing and presenting performance-based work; from one person shows to site specific multi-disciplinary productions to and international tours.

Each partnership responds to the needs of the artist/company and may include artistic and organisational strategy development, project design, partnership development and mentoring. Our portfolio includes: Mars.tarrab ROLLER (The Barbican), Tom Dale Company (I Infinite, Cabin Fever, Refugees of the Septic Heart, Digitopia), 30 Bird (JUNCTURES, Plastic, Poland 3 Iran 2, Majnoun) and Michael Pinchbeck (The Beginning),

In 2017 Claire secured Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation status for Tom Dale Company. Tandem Works has acted as Executive Producer for Second Hand Dance since 2015.

Hazel has worked in the dance sector for over 20 years, with both independent artists and companies. She is an experienced manager and producer and worked as an Administrative Director at Studio Wayne McGregor for a large part of her career. She is delighted to join Second Hand Dance as Company & Projects Producer at such an exciting time in the company’s development.

Cath leads on the artistic direction of South East Dance and works alongside Rachel Gibson, the Executive Director to ensure the effective management and leadership of South East Dance. 

Originally from Australia, Cath’s background is in dance, having been a dancer at Rambert Dance Company and Siobhan Davies amongst others. Cath also taught dance internationally, before moving into producing, mentoring and management. She has curated, written about and choreographed dance during her 40-year career. 

Cath has been on many arts charity boards including Pavilion Dance South West and Brighton Digital Festival, and was Chair of the Merlin Theatre in Frome. 

Dance is still a huge part of Cath’s life, taking regular dance and Pilates classes. She has been known to do the odd yoga session and to get creative in her own silent disco on her allotment too. 
 
How we are working together: 
Cath is on Second Hand Dance’s steering group. 

Favourite Second Hand Dance show:

Grass – such a thoughtful, beautiful, imaginative work for the under 5s. 
 

Having worked in the arts for over 25 years and in more recent years as a director, producer, filmmaker, mentor and disability consultant, Louise has had extensive experience of working with a large portfolio of organisations and individuals across the arts sector both as an artist in a freelance capacity and at senior management level.

She has directed and or produced on many small to large-scale productions both in theatre and dance including for Mansfield Palace Theatre, New Perspectives Theatre Company, Orchestras Live and Mickael Marso Riviere. She produces events - physical and digital programmes on regional, national and international levels and produces for a number of artists disabled and non disabled in developing funding applications, and business development.

Louise works as Director of Engagement for national dance organisation People Dancing where in 2014 – 2019 she produced the 11 Million Reasons to Dance photography exhibition and film programme. She also works for Mercury Theatre as a mentor, and is a mentee on the Media Trust and Screenskills BBCs 50/50 Reframing Disability mentoring programme.

After meeting Rosie through a dance networking event, Louise has joined Second Hand Dance as a trustee. 

Jess Weston studied Drama at Anglia Ruskin University. She has worked as a stage manager/assistant producer/administrator in a variety of venues, events and performances.  

Jess joined Second Hand Dance in early 2022 and she is delighted to have worked on the logistics of the Touch Play Dance tour across the UK, Germany and Japan. Jess is excited to see where the company goes next!