“I saw project Dance for the first time in 2022 and I was blown away with the level of passion and talent from James and all the dancers on stage. The creativity and story telling of the show was so heart-warming and human. It took the audience on an emotional journey and I believe that anyone who watched it, whether they have an interest in dance or not would feel a connection.” ~ Lisa Welham discussing Project Dance’s production, ‘Growing Pains’ Lisa has always had an interest in many styles of dance. At the young ages of 11 and 12 Lisa won both IDTA Nationwide Ballroom and Latin Championships. Lisa graduated from the Northern School of Contemporary dance with a 1st Class BA Honours Degree and won the Armees Prize for overall highest degree mark 2002. For the next 10 years Lisa performed and toured Internationally with the UK’s top Contemporary Dance companies and choreographers including Phoenix dance Theatre, Bonachela Dance Company, Darshan Singh Bhuller, Javier de Frutos, Henri Oquike, Didy Veldman, Rui Horta and Cameron MacMillan. Lisa’s other Contemporary dance performance work include the opening ceremony of London’s 2012 Olympic Games with Akram Khan, Anna Karenina film directed by Joe Wright and choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and AIDA opera at London’s Royal Opera House choreographed by Fin Walker. Lisa then restaged AIDA Opera at The Palau De Les Arts in Valencia. Lisa’s commercial contracts include:
- Orange Mobile phone advert
- Seven Seas supplement advert
- Pet Shop Boys ‘Electric” Tour
- Live performance on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing
- Assistant choreographer – ITV’s ‘So You Think You Can – Dance’ (Choreographer Lynne Paige)
- Assistant Choreographer to choreographer Richard Marcel on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing
- Dancer on ‘Heartbeat of Home’ Tour produced by Riverdance (Latin specialist couple)
- Strictly tours – Pasha Kovalev, Robin Windsor, Kristina Rhianoff and Gleb Savchenko
Even though Lisa still loves to perform, over the last 5 years she has found a new love for Choreography and now works mainly as an Associate Choreographer in Film and Theatre. Recent jobs have included:
- West Side Story at The Curve Theatre 2019 – Associate Choreographer (Choreographer Ellen Kane)
- Last Night in Soho Film 2019 – Assistant Choreographer (Director Edgar Wright and Choreographer Jennifer White)
- A Chorus Line at The Curve Theatre 2021 – Associate Choreographer (Choreographer Ellen Kane)
- House of Flameka 2022/23 at The Peacock Theatre – Associate Choreographer (Director Arlene Phillips and Choreographer James Cousins)
- Matilda the Musical Movie 2022 – Associate Choreographer (Director Matthew Warchus and Choreographer Ellen Kane)
- Barbie the Movie 2023 – Associate Choreographer (Director Greta Gerwig and Choreographer Jennifer White)
- Lisa very recently delved in to her own world of choreography, which she is keen to develop. Check out artist Antslive ‘Captain Ants’ video.
“Project Dance enables our younger generation to feel a part of a community, which is important to build confidence and self esteem. On top of that they have wonderful guidance from James, a safe space to be themselves and freedom to move and create in their own way. Project Dance gives young dancers an incredible platform to showcase their talent and individuality and a springboard in to the Professional world of performance. I am extremely excited to be a patron of Project dance because I believe the work James is doing to be really important in developing the confidence and skills of our younger generation of dancers. The project is lead by the heart, which is always my first priority and I can see such benefits of everyone involved in the company by working in the open environment James has created and producing top quality work. I love the ambition of Project Dance and I can’t wait to see how it develops and what opportunities arise for the dancers involved.” ~ Lisa Welham