Gil Graystone - Head of Touring
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"During the last ten years at Ludus I have been involved in five productions, organised tours all round the world, initiated a dance tutor training programme and mentored a good few dancers!"I knew I wanted to dance from the age of two and spent most days improvising round the dining room furniture to the radio sounds of ‘Children’s Favourites’. Sixteen years later and a tad more skilled in dance, I sped off to broaden my horizons at The Laban Art of Movement Studio in Surrey. |
When I left university, I was qualified and equipped to teach dance in schools. However, the performer was always in me and as fate would have it, I enrolled on a weekend course in Kendal, where I met a new and emerging British dance company – Ludus Dance.
I joined this pioneering company in 1978. Performing, devising and teaching was my ultimate dream job and I toured Britain, Canada and Berlin with Empire Street, The Adventures of Mr Lear, Power and Thunder Tree. A parallel freelance career widened my opportunities and I began working as Movement Director with a variety of theatre companies whilst also teaching a range of dance classes for participants aged 2 to 94!
The call from Ludus was strong and I returned to work with them as their first ever Community Dance Worker in 1981. Seven years later and following the birth of my daughter, I left to pursue the freelance option once again. A highlight during that time was winning an award for a joint project with The Liverpool Philharmonic. Together we won best dance award (Liverpool Daily Echo Awards) for the Hot House Project. After a short stint as a Lecturer in HE, I realised how much I missed the professional world of dance and came back to Ludus for a third time, after successfully applying for the role of Head of Touring in 2000.
Aside from working with three very interesting and talented choreographers for Consequences, this Triple Bill is a new development for the company. So right now I'm ‘champing at the bit’ to align the Teachers Resource Pack with the New Primary Curriculum and the Cross Curriculum Dimensions for Secondary teachers.. EXCITING changes!
