Chisenhale Dance Space is a registered charity, led by a Board of Trustees.
CDS’ board is composed of individuals, who are legally and ethically responsible for the charity. The role of the Board of Trustees is to support the strategic vision and leadership of the company and ensure CDS remains true to its values, relevant to our artistic and local communities, well managed and financially sustainable.
CDS’ Trustees work with the Artist Committee and Staff to lead the organisation and oversee its management.
The Trustees can be contacted by emailing theboard@chisenhaledancespace.co.uk.
Steven Brett (he/him) – Interim Chair
Steven currently works for British Council as Theatre and Dance Programme Manager for the Americas, Caribbean, and EU Europe.
Born in Australia in 1965, Steven danced for Nederlands Dans Teatre II under Jiri Kylian and Rambert Dance Company directed by Richard Alston and Christopher Bruce where he also worked as rehearsal director and from 2000 Associate Artistic Director.
In 2004 Steven joined the British Council as a Drama and Dance Projects Manager with responsibilities for Western Europe, Latin America and Southern Africa. In 2008 Steven was appointed Executive Producer of Pacitti Company and SPILL Festival of Performance, for the 2009 edition. From 2010 – 2015 he ran the Nightingale Theatre in Brighton, a small pub theatre, artist development and residency space. He continues to assist choreographer Christopher Bruce, setting his pieces on companies in Europe and the USA.
Bakani Pick-Up (he/they)
Bakani is a Zimbabwean born UK based Choreographer & Artistic Lead for Bakani Pick-Up Company. His artistic interests observe ways of being across a broad range of communities. With practice as research at the core of his work, he explores decolonisation through dance practice, haptic visuality and choreographic composition.
Bakani has also worked with several organisations nationally including co-curating the ‘How to Tune into Sensation’ programme alongside The Place & CDS as part of the The Place’s Spring festival 2021. More recently Bakani worked at Leeds Playhouse as Dance Programmer, Co-Curator at Yorkshire Dance for Encounters, a LGBTQIA+ festival and Festival Programmer Producer for the Northern School of Contemporary Dance’s Colour Festival.
They also serve as a critical friend in Advisory Groups for National Dance Company Wales, Yorkshire Dance & Four Hands Company.”
Headshot by Johnny Griffiths
Sally Rose (she/her)
Sally is an experienced senior contemporary freelance arts producer. Over 14 years she has specialised as a creative partner to artists and organisations with expertise in development and fundraising, strategic planning, and project delivery. She champions work that sits outside the mainstream and aims to have a positive impact in wider society and the arts and culture sector. Her experience encompasses participatory projects, theatre, experimental choreography, curating, developing artist films, installations and work that takes place outside of traditional art spaces.
In 2015 she founded Producer Gathering with Xavier de Sousa and they recently established this as an ongoing support structure to support, nurture and sustain freelance producers, with Marlborough Productions. She has recently worked with artists & organisations including: Abigail Conway, Kayza Rose/BLM Fest, Duckie, Marlborough Productions, Sheila Ghelani, Rosana Cade, and CONTINUOUS Network amongst many others.
She believes strongly in values of collaboration, experimentation and equity and strives for them in each project through her role as a producer, always open to change and challenging structural issues.
Naomi Taylor (she/her)
Naomi is currently an official at the media & entertainment trade union, Bectu. She’s worked with members in cinemas and theatres, but now mainly works with non-performance workers in live events and the arts.
Day to day, she negotiate better terms on behalf of Bectu members, helps union members to organise their workplaces or freelance sectors, and advises/supports individuals with employment issues.
Prior to that, Naomi was a subtitler for a BBC contractor, an English teaching assistant in Japan, and a student of American Studies & English Lit at sunny Swansea University!
Image credit: Stretch Conference Event, 2024. Photo by Tiago Lopes.