About

 

Biography: Mel Simpson (she/her) [BA hons; DBS], is an award winning choreographer, dance artist and education specialist, advocating equality and wellbeing for all. After training on scholarship at both Trinity Laban and subsequently Bird College, she graduated with a BA (hons) degree in Dance and Theatre Performance and in recent years has begun studying and teaching the anatomically mindful Simonson Technique (NYC). Mel has worked internationally with contemporary & physical theatre companies, with actors and singers in musical theatre and opera, and collaborated on numerous large scale projects such as Secret Cinema, Opera Holland Park and the London Olympics 2012. Alongside choreographing, Mel designs and delivers diverse dance curriculum workshops and CPD/INSET for Primary, KS3, GCSE, BTEC and A Level Dance Provision. Mel runs an online global community ‘Dance or Draw’, is a public speaker for Dance and the Performing Arts (BEP, Aldridge Foundation, ASPIRE Power Arts) and has contributed to One Dance UK’s wellbeing articles.  https://linktr.ee/melsimpsondance / http://www.melsimpsondance.co.uk/

 

Profile image by Photographer Lesley Ann Albiston

Cover image: Collaboration with Elly Platt (Take it up; wear it out) and photographer Michael Shilling (London in 360)

Contact: [email protected]

Website

http://www.melsimpsondance.co.uk

Portfolio

My choreographic work tends to centre around our struggles against adversity – be it conflict, injustice, climate change, or the conflicts within our soul.

“It is the other side of light, the shadow, they are both always present” – Viv Bridson

JOY is a disruptor… My community project ‘DANCE or DRAW’ gathers diverse artists (and diverse HUMANS!) into the same space, where everyone is invited to observe live dance, resulting in a creative response – whatever that may be – a poem, song lyrics, dance notation, a painting, a charcoal, or something else!!

VIDEO: ‘We Dance For Life’ – Award-winning film exploring HOPE in cancer research and treatment – in collaboration with the Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton Council, the Royal Marsden, and the London Cancer Hub.

PHOTO 1 & 2: CLOTHING DISCARDED – in collaboration with Elly Platt ‘Take it up; Wear it out’

PHOTO 3: Wandle vs the WetWipes http://takeitupwearitout.blogspot.com/2024/03/wandle-vs-wet-wipes.html#:~:text=South%20London’s%20River%20Wandle%3A%20an,art%20made%20from%20upcycled%20plastics.

PHOTO 4: Exploring our connection to our landscape in collaboration with Chan Vi http://melsimpson.squarespace.com/gallery/choreographer/

PHOTO 5 & 6: DANCE or DRAW http://melsimpson.squarespace.com/dance-draw/

FOOTAGE of ‘SHE’S FREE NOW’ (Live Dance with Video Projection) in collaboration with ‘Kieron Editor’ MOLG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii5cKJQT0-4