About

Afon Community Dance is based in Rhondda Cynon Taf and works throughout South Wales delivering fun and exciting Creative & Contemporary Dance sessions and projects through the medium of Welsh and English.  All sessions are delivered by a team of highly skilled and experienced dance practitioners, who work in line with the National Occupational Standards. We lead sessions in schools, communities and residential homes.

Inclusion

Afon Community Dance works with all ages and abilities, from 6 months old to adults. Our ‘open door’ policy enables everyone to attend sessions, which are engaging and exciting.

Creation

Afon Community Dance strives to develop and increase the dancer’s skills, confidence and self-esteem and this is achieved through creating artistic and imaginative work. Dancers have the opportunity to perform at various times throughout the year, which gives the participants a sense of pride and achievement.

Progression

It is important for our dancers to be offered progression routes with Afon Community Dance and we support each individual through the process of their development, not only signposting them onto the ‘next step’ with Afon Community Dance, but also assisting with formal dance training opportunities and providing work placements.

 

Meet The Team

 

Louise Prosser – Artistic Director

Following her training at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Louise has continued to work within the community dance sector for nearly 30 years. Louise is passionate about giving as many people as possible the experience of participating in good quality classes, workshops and projects.

In addition to developing the work with Afon, Louise enjoys teaching on the programme and giving the participants the opportunity to progress throughout their dancing lives with Afon. Louise is looking forward to developing Afon Community Dance in the future, taking the work into new communities and developing the team of freelance practitioners.

Zoe Adcock – Dance Practitioner/Administration

Zoe graduated from University of Hull in 2003 with a BA (Hons) Dance Degree and started her career as a Dance Practitioner in the community in 2005, and gained a Dance Leaders in the Community qualification from Laban Guild.

Over her 17 years experience Zoe has worked very closely with Louise in making creative and contemporary dance accessible to children and young people throughout the borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, and has worked with a range of ages and abilities in the community and education sector, as well as mentoring degree students and Community Dance Apprentices. Zoe leads Afon Community Dance’s Early Years Programme and is very passionate about how dance and movement can play a vital role in a child’s early development.

Rhian Lowe – Dance Practitioner

Rhian has always had a passion for Creative arts, finding that it encouraged her to be more independent, confident, open minded and imaginative. Rhian spent three years studying at Bath Spa University gaining a BA Hons in Dance and continued to develop her skills by attending outside dance classes and workshops at Swindon Dance, Trinity Laban and in Bristol, aiming to develop experience in a range of dance styles.

When Rhian moved back to Wales she focused on her passion for teaching and achieved a PGCE (PCET) teaching qualification at Cardiff School of Social Sciences, and completed a year long Community Dance Apprenticeship. On completion Rhian has become a freelance artist delivering sessions in the communities for Afon Community Dance with young people from 4 years old right through to the elderly. Rhian has a huge passion for working in education settings and enjoys delivering education sessions for Afon Community Dance in primary schools working on curriculum themes, alongside teaching both A level and BTEC modules at college level.

Rhian still attends dance sessions to keep up with her choreographic skills and technique, and is a member of Afon Dance Company, which she thoroughly enjoys.

Samantha Kelland – Dance Practitioner

Samantha began her dance training at Rubicon Dance, Cardiff in 2010. This is where her passion for community dance started and she volunteered in numerous inclusive community dance sessions as well as outreach work for adults, young people and children. Samantha continued her studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance for three years where she attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Contemporary Dance in 2015.

After completing her vocational training, Samantha set out do pursue a career in community dance and underwent a year long Community Dance Apprenticeship. Samantha began as a freelance dance leader with Afon Community Dance in September 2016 and has loved being part of the dance team as well as a performing member of the organisations adult dance company. She is passionate about delivering high quality creative dance sessions and has loved the opportunity to work with an array of different ages and abilities. She is excited to continue her work with Afon.