Staff A-Z

Will trained at London Contemporary Dance School where he gained BA Hons in Contemporary Dance. He then went on to become a member of Transitions Dance Company at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; a programme that brings together the worlds most exciting choreographers and exceptional young dancers which toured the UK, Japan and Singapore.

Simonetta has collaborated as a dancer and choreographer in many Companies in Italy: Jazz Ballet, Encanto, Pudore ben in Vista, Dark Camera, La Fabbrica dell’Attore, MDA. Her choreography has been shown in Italy, UK, Turkey, Japan, and Colombia. Since 1999 MDA Produzioni Danza has produced her choreographies in Italy. Simonetta has been teaching for more than 20 years in Italy (Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Contact Improvisation, Improvisation, and Feldenkrais) and she has also taught in France, Germany, Colombia, Norway, and Israel. She recently moved to London and has taught at London Contemporary Dance School, Moving East, Independent Dance, Goldsmiths and Trinity Laban.

Research interests and areas of supervision: 

• Choreographic processes 
• Spectatorship 
• Dance analysis 
• Emotion and dance, expression, embodied emotion 
• Embodied cognition 

Kim Amundsen trained at the Oslo National Academy of Dance and Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung Ballett Akademie Hochschule fur Musik und Theater in Munich.

He has danced with several global recognised Ballet and contemporary Companies and productions includiding Bavarian State Ballet, Wayne Sleeps World of Classical Ballet, Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance Company, Matthew Bournes Adventure In Motion Pictures Swan Lake (World Tour) Ballet Ireland, Moving Art A Nordic Dance Company, Wildfire, Oslo Danse Ensamble, Traveling by Molly Molloy, Les Ballet de Trockadero, Julius Cesar Opera Lille, Song of the City Akademie, Street Dance the Movie, Three Cities Dance, Speak Easy Secrets by Julia Gleich and many more.

Robert Anderson is an independent dance artist based in London. He teaches improvisation and contact improvisation at Trinity Laban, Rose Bruford College and in a variety of settings in the UK and abroad.

Graduating from the London Music School in 2001, Damien promotes connection to, and reflection of, sound in his classes, and encourages self-expression.

In class, you can expect sessions focused on the student’s success with an emphasis on application, authenticity and expression.

Clare has taught widely throughout Europe, Asia, and South Africa, as well as on the independent circuit in London.

Clare holds a BA in Dance Theatre and has an Advanced Performance Diploma from Laban.

Stephen trained at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and began his professional career before graduation, working with choreographer’s Lloyd Newson and David Massingham.

After graduation, Stephen began an apprenticeship with Rambert Dance Company before joining Diversions, (now National Dance Company Wales).

From there he joined Mark Bruce Company, who he has worked with on many productions, Company Wayne McGregor, Red Rain, V-Tol, English National Ballet, Irish Modern Dance Theatre and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures (Swan Lake and Car Man).

Luke Birch is a lecturer on the BA(Hons) Contemporary Dance programme.

James is an experienced Senior Lecturer with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. James works for Kingston University as the course director for the Sport Science BSc (Hons) programme. He has been at Laban since 2014 teaching biomechanical and movement analysis. James delivers lectures on the MSc Dance Science programme and has supervised a number of MSc projects across biomechanics for performance enhancement and injury prevention. He has presented work at both IADMS and PAMA.

Research interests and areas of supervision:

• Performance analysis
• Biomechanics
• Nutrition
• Dance Science
• Performance science

Hannah is an independent dance artist and teacher based in London. Since graduating with an MA in Dance Performance (Trinity Laban) she has danced with Nina Kov, Masha Gurina, Nutshell Dance Company, SKADooSH Dance, Daisy Farris Dance Collective and as part of the Olympics Closing Ceremony directed by Kim Gavin.

Upon graduation Otis performed with the Red Tape Dance Company as part of the Malta Arts Festival 2008 going onto further engagements with ACE Dance and Music for their Autumn Tour of SKIN and Turandot at the Royal Opera House 2008, 2017 & 2023. From 2009-2013 Otis danced with Rambert Dance Company working with choreographers including Henri Oguike, Henrietta Horne, Tim Rushton, Marguerite Donlon, Itzik Galli and Mark Baldwin as well as performing in works by Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor. 2013-2014 included performing as a Signet and Medium Swan in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake National and International tour. 2015 marked the start of a recurring working relationship with Barry Kosky and Otto Pichler creating both the Glyndebourne Opera’s Production of Saul and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden production of The Nose with Saul going on to be presented as part of the Glyndebourne 2015 Tour and the Adelaide Festival 2017. During this time Otis was also engaged with CIE 7273 (Geneva), performing Tarab in Europe, Serbia and the Middle East. Other notable work includes End of Line by Goshka Macuga preforming at the Lowry Gallery 2017.

Otis has presented work as part of the Rambert season of new choreography at the Place Theatre 2011, has choreographed for Moveo Dance Company (Malta) 2022 as well as assisting rehearsals with the Choreographer Mbulelo Ndabeni in subsequent seasons.

Raymond has work in classical ballet, musical theatre and television. He danced with the National Ballet of Portugal where he danced a repertoire of classical and contemporary works which includes Napoli, Raymonda, Rite of Spring, Graduation Ball, Carmina Burana among others. Musical theatre productions include CATS, Miss Saigon, Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate and The King and I (Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, London West End).

Koel specialises in Global Shakespeares and Academic English in Higher Education. She has interests in crossover pedagogical practices in the classroom and in applying literary and pedagogical research to affect policy change.

Melanie Clarke is Programme Leader for the MA MFA Dance Leadership and Community Practice, Graduate Certificate in Dance and Graduate Diploma Dance & English. She is also a Module Leader within the BA Contemporary Dance and MA MFA Creative Practice programmes. She teaches Release-based dance technique and Choreological Studies, supervises student research as well as creates original choreographic work on students. She is a Teaching Fellow of Trinity Laban and in recognition of her leadership in Higher Education, she has been awarded a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

Marina Collard graduated with an undergraduate dance degree from Trinity Laban, returning to gain an MA in Dance Studies (Aesthetics, Choreography and Visual Design) in 2001. In 2009 she completed the Living Anatomy course at the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust (CTET) and went on to qualify as a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist with CTET in 2010.