People

Emma Diamond trained privately as a ballet dancer with Dame Merle Park before joining the Royal Ballet School where she won the Ursual Moreton Choreographic Competition for her piece ‘Flight for Freedom’. At 18 she began her performing career as a ballerina at the Hanover Opera House, Germany, performing roles in Swan Lake (Big Swans and the Russian Princess) Nutcraker (Mirlitons) Coppelia, Petrushka, Firebird and Giselle. She experimented with her first ballets in Hanover, choreographing the music of Stockhausen, Lutoslawski and Berio winning first prize at the International Competition for Choreographers, Hannover for her piece ‘My Name is Mr. X.’

Her passion for choreography took her to New York to study contemporary dance, where she was soon invited to become first an apprentice and then a full-time member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. She toured internationally with the company for six years during which time Cunningham created parts for her in 15 of his works. In New York, Emma began developing her own style of choreography, forming her group, Diamond Dance and giving her first full-evening of work while still a member of MCDC.

On returning to England Emma was commissioned by the Royal Ballet to create ‘Signed in Red’ featuring Deborah Bull, Billy Trevitt, Adam Cooper and Zenaida Yanowsky et al, with sets and costumes by Allen Jones. Other choreographic commissions include ‘Off on a Tangent’ for ballerina Cynthia Harvey, and works for the Rotterdam Dance Group, Holland, Ballet Central and Columbia University NYC. She is a winner of the Bonnie Bird Choreographic Award and has been nominated for a Paul Hamlyn and Jerwood Award. She holds a BA in philosophy from the State University of New York.

Emma has created over 30 works for Diamond Dance, performing in theatres, schools, universities and alternative spaces across the UK, US and Mexico. She has enjoyed collaborating, working with many composers including Giles Perring, James Lavino and Academy Award winner Dario Marianelli and lighting designer Simon Bennison and many others. Two years ago she began composing her own music for dance. Her moving exhibition SKIN marks her debut as a composer, which includes specially written music for harp, lute, violin, cello, percussion and voice, creating an immersive musical lanscape for her installations for which she is also director, micro-choreographer, filmmaker and editor.

As a teacher Emma has been a member of the faculty at the Cunningham Dance Studio, Barnard College (Columbia University), and the Central School of Ballet, London. She has been a guest teacher at New York University, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem and the Centro Nacional de las Artes, Mexico City, London Contemporary Dance School, and Royal Ballet School, as well as many professional dance companies.

Richard is an actor, voice artist, producer, writer and teacher. He trained at RADA under the late, great Doreen Cannon and has worked with directors as diverse as Peter Stein, Richard Curtis, Howard Barker and Phyllida Lloyd. Richard has worked extensively in theatre including at the Royal National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, English Touring Theatre, Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Manchester Library and in the West End. Screen work includes Love Actually, The Libertine, The Office and Foyle’s War. Richard is a prolific and sought after voice artist having narrated seven documentary series for the Discovery Channel, as well as productions for Cineworld, BBC/Two Four Productions among others. He is also the voice of the dastardly Shadow in the animated feature film Ploey - You’ll Never Fly Alone.

Richard has also been a producer for the non-profit organisation Peace One Day since it’s inception, where he was a key player in the production of 11 major concerts, with artists including Sir Elton John, Annie Lennox, Lenny Kravitz, Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, Kasabian, Youssou N’Dour and many others. He was an Associate and Co-producer on two major documentaries for the organisation.

Richard has been a friend and passionate supporter of Diamond Dance for over 20 years, and has rolled up his sleeves, both figuratively and literally, during most of the company’s key transitions, from the development and opening of Diamond Dance’s original studio in Old Street, to the most recent apprenticeship scheme at The Hidden Space. Richard is thrilled to continue to his involvement with Diamond Dance in 2019, in what he considers to be the company’s most exciting year to date.

Trained at Phyllis Adams School of Dance, Great Yarmouth and then at Arts Education School, London. Claire was a member of Scapino Ballet, Amsterdam and with several German Ballet companies, including ten years with the Hannover State Ballet Company. Claire was featured as leading lady dancing in Emma Diamond's first choreography for the company entitled: Masada Must Not Fall Again. Work since then has included being a mother, teaching ballet, teaching English to German children, working on school projects with UNICEF Hamburg, writing dance critics and teaching Pilates, Yoga and relaxation techniques in a small studio south of Hamburg.

Milly Ellis started working in the film industry in 1983 first in documentaries as an assistant editor, then with the poetic and visionary director Jamil Dehlavi, whose film QAF was one of the first ' art house films' to be seen on the then new, Channel 4. As a result of this, she was invited to work with Peter Greenaway, on his second feature film A Zed and Two Noughts. She subsequently worked with him for fifteen years and many feature films amongst them, The Cook, The Thief His Wife and Her Lover and Prospero's Books. Her role changed from Editor to Actors Coach and as a consequence made enduring friendships and working collaborations with Sir John Gielgud, Sir Michael Gambon and Dame Helen Mirren. She then worked with Robert Altman on Vincent and Theo and later with Nick Cage on Shadow of a Vampire with John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, and later with Robert Downey Jnr on The Soloist, before returning to England and directing a dance on film for the BBC a version of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Rime of The Ancient Mariner narrated by Sir John Gielgud, performed by Sir Anthony Dowell, Michael Nunn, Learie Ortueta and choreographed by William Tuckett for the BBC. After this. she went on to direct a series of documentaries for Channel 4, such as Restless in Thought and Disturbed in Mind. She worked on the series Fortitude with Michael Gambon, and on The Viceroy House' and more recently on ' Assasins Anonymous starring Gary Oldman and Suki Waterhouse. She also worked briefly on The Crown. Alongside this, Milly is passionate about working with writers, designers, corporate business people, lawyers, prisoners, members of the Royal family, students and anyone with a voice who needs to ' Be heard '.

Sandi combines the practices of yoga, mindfulness and relaxation to promote centering, brightness and ease. She balances fluid and dynamic sequences with yin postures and meditation techniques to establish connections to energy and intuition. Sandi has been teaching for over twenty years and holds certificates in Insight Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Birthlight Diplomas in Well-Woman, Pre and Postnatal Yoga, Baby Yoga and an Itec Diploma in Massage. She is a member of the Insight Yoga Institute and mentors trainees. Her teaching style is non-dogmatic. As well as being one of the founders of Yogamatters, she has held specialized classes in pregnancy yoga at The Hidden Space (Diamond Dance’s base) for nearly 7 years, providing an indispensible service helping mothers across Haringey give birth with greater ease and well being. Sandi lives in North London with her three children, her interest is in bringing the transformation, healing and insights from practice into life.

Stephen Wicks trained at the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge, graduating to the upper school in 1974. One year later he joined Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet and in 1990 the Royal Ballet. During his 19 year career Wicks worked with many choreographers including Aston, Macmillan and David Bintley. But was particularly known for his interpretations within the Macmillan rep. Created roles include the central character in Bintley’s Outsider, Albert Prosser in Bintley’s Hobson’s Choice and Baron Tusenbach in Macmillan’s Winter Dreams. Wicks retired in 1994 to open Bloomsbury Flowers in Covent Garden with fellow dancer Mark Welford. This year marks the shop’s 25th Birthday. Recently Stephen has worked with the Royal Ballet coaching principals in Macmillan’s Winter Dreams and helped reconstruct Macmillan’s Playground, not seen since 1978 for Yorke Dance Project.

Désirée Ballantyne is a former soloist with English National Ballet. Since 2016, Désirée has danced with the Michael Clark Company and toured internationally as the principal ballerina with Raymond Gubbay, created the lead role Clara in the new multimedia Nutcracker & I, by Alexandra Dariescu among other projects. She is a regular collaborator with Diamond Dance and taught on 2018 apprenctiship programme. As a teacher Désirée regularly teaches for the engagement department at English National Ballet as well as guest teaching at Rambert School, private teaching at vocational level and sharing her passion for dance with adult learners. Désirée trained at the Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet School.

Emilia Cadorin begun her dance training in Italy at the ballet school "Il Balletto" in Castelfranco Veneto, her birthplace, where she remained until the age 17. Here she completed her RAD Advanced 2 Diploma and participated in many national and international competition, such as YAGP where she received the 3rd place at the European Semifinal, and as well as many national and international summer program for some which she was awarded scholarships (Royal Ballet School Summer Course and National Trainee scholar at ABT). At the age of 17 she was invited to join the Boston Ballet Trainee where she danced alongside the company dancers for two season, from 2009 to 2011. In September 2011 Emilia joined Estonian National Ballet where she danced for two season. In 2013 she moved then to Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse and in April 2015 Emilia joined the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. In august 2015, Emilia joined English National Ballet, where she currently dances.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she began her ballet education. She started her training in the Balleteatro Infantil, directed by Nana Hudo and the Conservatorio de Ballet Concierto directed by Carlota Carrera. After passing from the school to the company in Ballet Concierto, she got offered a scholarship by Mikko Nissinen to join the Boston Ballet as a trainee, where she spent two years. After leaving Boston she danced with different companies like the Ballet de l’Opera de Bordeaux and the Royal Ballet of Flanders. Later on, she signed a contract with the English National Ballet, directed by Tamara Rojo, where she currently works.

Adela Ramirez was born in Terrassa, Barcelona and began dancing at the age of eight. She began her professional training with Pastora Martos (dancer, ballet teacher and critic). Giving her first performances with the prestigious Catalonian Ballet Company Jove Ballet de Catalunya. Adela continued her studies with Fernando Lizundia and Asuncion Aguadé giving a notable tribute to the Spanish master Joan Magriñà in Flower Festival in Genzano.

Adela joined the English National Ballet School in 1992, then began her career with London City Ballet. Three years later she became a member of Vienna Staatsoper Ballet Roles include; Blue Bird. Nutcracker dolls and pieces by the neoclassic choreographer and director Renato Zanella. She joined the English National Ballet in 1998 and continues to tour internationally as a First soloist. She has performed in galas in: Australia, China, UAE, USA, Hong Kong, Japan and much of Europe particularly Spain. Her repertory includes: Sugar Plum Fairy, The Nutcraker, Odette/Odile Swan Lake, Gerda in The Snow Queen, The lead in Cinderella and Le Corsaire.

Harry Alexander was born in London and trained at Italia Conti and Bird College prior to joining the Michael Clark Company. He has also performed with Julie Cunningham and Company, worked on projects with Lea Anderson and appeared in 'McQueen the Play' at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2015. Harry is represented by Storm Model Management and has worked with photographers such as Oliver Hadlee Pearch and Tim Walker for titles including British Vogue, Vogue Italia and NOWNESS. In 2017 Harry was awarded 'Best Emerging Artist' at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards.

Born in Essex, UK, Eryck Brahmania trained at The Royal Ballet School before joining the Hong Kong Ballet in 2001. In 2006 he joined Rambert Dance Company and performed works by choreographers including Christopher Bruce, Itzik Galili, Richard Alston, Merce Cunningham, Siobhan Davies, Garry Stewart and Mark Baldwin.

Eryck has also worked with Michael Clark Dance Company, Protein Dance, Company Chameleon, Alexander Whitley Dance, New Movement Collective and Musemotion. He has also worked on movement development for numerous West End musicals including Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Groundhog Day and Frozen.

In addition to dancing Eryck teaches vinyasa flow yoga and trained under renowned teacher and practitioner Claire Missingham. He teaches at numerous studios across London.

Born in Leeds, Paul started dancing under the guidance of Nadine Senior MBE at the Harehills Middle School Leeds, then went on to study at the London School of Contemporary Dance, he was a member of London Contemporary Dance Theatre 1987 to 1992, Irek Mukhamadov & Dancers 1994, Rambert Dance Company 1992 to 2004 and Scottish Ballet as a soloist in 2004 to 2010. In August - December 2010 Paul danced as a guest artist with Phoenix Dance Theatre in the Declarations Tour and during 2011 he danced with David Hughes Dance Productions & Simon Rice's Abundance.

Paul has danced works by some of the world's most prominent contemporary-modern choreographers. Amongst those are: Christopher Bruce, Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Merce Cunningham, Twyla Tharp, Hans van Manen, Paul Taylor, William Forsythe, Glenn Tetley, Robert North, Anthony Tudor, Trisha Brown, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Lindsey Kemp.

He was awarded the Cosmopolitan/Scholl Award in 1985, represented Great Britain in the Eurovision Young Dancer of the Year 1987, and received the BBC Yorkshire Black Achievers Award 1992. In 2005 received the Critic's Circle Award for Outstanding Male Dancer 2004 (Contemporary) and in June 2009 he was awarded the MBE in The Queen's Birthday Honours for services to dance, he also received the Critic's Circle National Dance Award 2009 (The Dancing Times Award for Best Male Dancer).

Paul has taught at Middlesex University, Central School of Ballet, Arts Ed Tring, and Legat School of Dance. He has been a guest teacher for Phoenix Dance Theatre, Michael Clarke Dance Company, Matthew Bourne New Adventures Company, Rambert Dance Company, and Yorke Dance Project. Paul is currently on the teaching faculty at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, London Studio Centre & Guest lecturer at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Mbulelo trained in South Africa, North America and the UK. He studied styles in African Dance, Contemporary Dance and Ballet. His work as a performer has allowed him to tour across the UK and internationally with companies such as, Cape Town City Ballet, New Adventures, Rambert, Cape Dance Company, Didy Veldman, Company Chameleon, Alesandra Seutin | Vocab Dance, Company Wayne McGregor, Tavaziva Dance and Ballet Black. He also works as a movement director and has worked with companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company.

As a choreographer, he has been commissioned to create works for the Cape Town City Ballet, English National Ballet School and has worked with award winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Goshka Macuga and Daniel Brandt, to name a few. He is also a recipient of the One Dance UK/DAD Trailblazer 2015-2016 and Dancer's Career Development fund. His mission is to create culturally significant and uplifting choreography that intends to challenge existing false narratives within society regarding people of the African Diaspora.