ỌKAN

Executive Cultural Production, Strategic Funding & International Touring

The Place / Arts Council England

Served as lead producer for Ọkan, a £120,000 nationally commissioned dance production co-produced by The Place and supported by Arts Council England.

A key leadership achievement was securing £80,000 in Arts Council England funding, for which I independently developed and delivered the full funding application from concept articulation through budget design, strategic alignment, and submission. This funding enabled the project’s transition from development to fully realised production and touring work.

I led the project across its full lifecycle, from early-stage research and development through to international residency, premiere, and UK touring. This included full budget oversight, contract negotiation, casting, creative team assembly, and multi-partner coordination.

Working across institutional and international contexts, I secured residency opportunities in Italy, negotiated venue partnerships, and managed complex production logistics involving a large interdisciplinary creative team including choreographers, dancers, designers, composers, and dramaturgs Ọkan | The Place.

The role required compliance with public funding requirements, financial reporting, and stakeholder accountability while ensuring artistic integrity and delivery standards.

Through strategic production and funding leadership, Ọkan successfully evolved into a fully realised touring production, strengthening organisational partnerships and expanding the reach of contemporary dance across diverse audiences.

IS THIS A DANCE?

International Touring Strategy, Cultural Partnerships & Multilingual Adaptation

The Place / Arts Council England

Served as lead producer for the international touring phase of Is This A Dance?, a nationally commissioned production by LAVAELO supported by Arts Council England and The Place Is This A Dance? | The Place.

I assumed responsibility for the project at a critical stage of its lifecycle, leading its transition into an international touring work. This included full oversight of touring logistics, venue negotiations, artist contracting, and management of complex multi-currency touring budgets across multiple European territories.

A key strategic achievement was forging a partnership with the Korean National Dance Company, securing an international residency that enabled collaboration with local choreographers and community engagement activities involving school children. This initiative strengthened institutional relationships between UK and Asian dance networks and expanded the project’s global reach.

I also secured and delivered international festival tours, including presentations at Krokus Festival in Belgium and Mercat de les Flors in Barcelona, establishing new European partnerships and extending the company’s touring footprint.

In addition, I led the multilingual adaptation of the production into Dutch and Catalan, overseeing translation processes, recording coordination with child voice performers, and ensuring full compliance with international safeguarding and ethical standards. This work enabled the production to reach new audiences while maintaining artistic integrity and cultural sensitivity across different linguistic contexts.

The role required advanced problem-solving within high-pressure touring environments, including managing emergency casting replacement for an international engagement and ensuring continuity of artistic delivery without disruption to touring schedules.

Through strategic production leadership, the project successfully transitioned into a fully realised international touring work, strengthening global partnerships and enhancing the international visibility of UK contemporary dance.

DONUTS

National Rural Touring Strategy & Complex Production Delivery

The Place / Arts Council England

Served as lead producer for the touring phase of DONUTS, a critically acclaimed dance production by Extended Play, co-produced by The Place and supported by Arts Council England and national partners DONUTS | The Place.

I assumed full responsibility for the tour’s strategic planning and delivery, overseeing its transition into a rural touring initiative (RTDI) across England. The project expanded beyond traditional theatre venues, activating unconventional spaces including libraries, community centres, and pubs, significantly broadening audience access and engagement.

Operating within a multi-partner, publicly funded framework, I managed all touring logistics, venue negotiations, artist contracting, royalty agreements, and budget oversight. The role required navigating complex stakeholder dynamics, resolving creative tensions, and maintaining momentum within a demanding artistic environment.

I secured multiple presenting partners across rural regions, negotiated touring agreements, and ensured operational delivery across varied technical infrastructures. This included managing scheduling challenges, adapting production requirements for non-traditional venues, and safeguarding production quality in diverse contexts.

The tour demanded advanced problem-solving under pressure, including managing last-minute contract negotiations, complex royalty structures, and artist relations, while sustaining financial compliance and public funding reporting standards.

Through strategic leadership, the project successfully reached audiences beyond metropolitan centres, strengthening regional partnerships and expanding the touring footprint of contemporary dance across rural England.