Lucy Nicholson

Lucy uses her interest in Laban-Bartenieff Movement Systems to underpin the work she does with UCLanDance; her proposed practice methodology was published in The Dancer Citizen journal and is being used to develop projects in collaboration with The University Of Central Lancashire's Criminal Justice Partnership and forms the movement direction for the Creative Writing and Performance Project, Reading The World. Lucy's delivery on the BA Programme focusses on composition: returning to the body for our creative starting points, facilitation: resourcing ourselves with the skills to facilitate creative, engaging, inclusive movement sessions and studio practice: prioritising connectivity and versatility.

As a dance development artist for Bradford City Council, Lucy set up a dance for Mental Wellbeing programme, working in partnership and as lead artist with Bradford Mind, Bradford & District Autism Support Group and The Grove Resource Centre. While creating performance and Youth dance training initiatives with Yorkshire Dance, York Arts Service, 2nd Stance Youth Dance Company, Trigger Point Dance Company, Lincolnshire Dance, South Lakeland Youth Dance Company, Dare Dance & Ludus Dance Company, Lucy's work specialised in working with non-dancers with specific needs and moved into a particular focus on developing dance within the criminal justice system as a dance artist and project director with Dance United. Lucy contributed to the creation of Dance United's Academy, an alternative education programme, leading contemporary dance training for young people who had offended or were at risk of doing so. Lucy was also a director of the community element of their Destino National tour, working in collaboration with Professional choreographers, Hofesh Shechter, Adam Benjamin, Russell Maliphant and Junaid Jamal Sendi as well as being the rehearsal director for the company’s Graduate Performance Company. Her work at UCLan continues to delve into the value of movement when working with non-dancers considered hard to reach or socially excluded and is particularly interested in the role bodily awareness has to play within this context. Lucy has been involved in the development and mentoring of a number of dance artists and continues to share her passion for engaging and effective dance practice with her students as they begin their careers.