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In 2008 Watson was one of 26 aspiring leaders from around the globe selected to attend Dance East’s fourth Rural
Retreat, an intensive four-day think-tank exploring the challenges of the role of Artistic Directors in the 21st century. Prior to taking up post at Phoenix she also spent eight months as
187:
Sharon Watson became the seventh
Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre in May 2009, continuing a relationship with the company that stretches over 20 years. She first joined Phoenix as a dancer under the stage name Chantal Donaldson, from 1989 to 1997, during which time she choreographed the
199:
She returned to
Phoenix in 2000 as Rehearsal and Tour Director, following which she embarked upon a fellowship with the Clore Leadership Programme, while continuing her freelance work mentoring emerging artists, lecturing in vocational dance schools and delivering bespoke training programmes.
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was appointed as
Artistic Director in 2002 and oversaw a complete rebranding of the company, changing the name to Phoenix Dance Theatre. During his tenure as Artistic Director from 2002 to 2006 Phoenix also began performing in predominantly large-scale venues.
207:
In 2010, she was named as one of the
Cultural Leadership Programme’s Women to Watch, a list of 50 influential women working in arts and culture in the UK selected by a distinguished panel made up of figures from the cultural and creative industries.
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In 1987, David
Hamilton left the company to pursue a solo career, and in July Neville Campbell joined Phoenix as Artistic Director. In 1990 Phoenix won the Grand Prize at the International Choreographic Competition in
80:. By the summer of 1982, Phoenix had acquired two other dancers, Merville Jones and Edward Lynch, both members of Harehills Youth Dance Theatre in Leeds, and, in 1985, the company moved to its first permanent base in
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area of Leeds by three young men – David
Hamilton (Artistic Director), Donald Edwards and Vilmore James – who had begun dancing at Harehills Middle School. They were taught there by
220:. It is the largest space for dance outside London and is the only space for dance to house a national classical and a national contemporary dance company alongside each another.
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In autumn 2010 Phoenix moved from its home of more than 20 years at
Yorkshire Dance into a purpose-built dance centre in the centre of Leeds, alongside
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817:"NBT's Director of Learning & Access takes on new role as Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre"
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led the company until 2000. In July 1998 Phoenix was commissioned by the BBC to perform with
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627:"OLYMPIC ARTS REVIEW/Dance - Energy to Try Just About Anything - Review"
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Following
Margaret Morris' departure in 1997, Artistic Director
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at the
Windrush Gala concert, which was broadcast nationally.
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companies. The company tours nationally and internationally.
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Director of Learning and Access at Northern Ballet Theatre.
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for the Most Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Dance.
649:"Entertainment | Stars mark Windrush anniversary"
247:" THE RITE OF SPRING " - Choreographer Jeanguy Saintus
234:" BERNSTEIN DOUBLE BILL " - Choreographer Dane Hurst
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1017:
179:, closing the festival with the final performance.
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752:, Clore People, The Clore Leadership Programme.
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8:
845:. Culturalleadership.org.uk. Archived from
76:, who went on to be the first principal of
22:Headquarters of the Phoenix Dance Theatre,
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990:
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673:. Nationaldanceawards.com. 25 January 2007
496:Ignite Programme Autumn 2009 / Spring 2010
357:- Choreographers Uri Ivgi and Johan Greben
919:. Theatre Royal Wakefield. Archived from
444:Pave Up Paradise - Choreographer Lost Dog
167:He was succeeded as Artistic Director by
441:What It Is - Choreographer Philip Taylor
945:. Phoenix Dance Theatre. Archived from
714:Ferguson, Stephanie (16 October 1996).
671:"National Dance Awards Critics' Circle"
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263:" Kirke" - Choreographer Sandrine Monin
151:Marcus Jarrell Willis (2023 - present)
1147:Dance companies in the United Kingdom
1012:Dance companies in the United Kingdom
977:Phoenix Dance Theatre YouTube channel
519:- Choreographer Darshan Singh Bhuller
363:- Choreographer Darshan Singh Bhuller
326:- Choreographer Christopher Bruce CBE
320:- Choreographer Christopher Bruce CBE
173:Critics' Circle National Dance Awards
78:Northern School of Contemporary Dance
68:was formed in 1981 in the inner-city
7:
893:. Leeds in Barcelona. Archived from
693:"La Biennale di Venezia - 2005–2007"
819:. Building Momentum. Archived from
139:Darshan Singh Bhuller (2002 – 2006)
625:Dunning, Jennifer (29 July 1996).
609:"Rekindled Phoenix burns brightly"
607:Craine, Debra (27 February 2006),
452:Declarations Programme Autumn 2010
447:Melt - Choreographer Sharon Watson
127:David (Leo) Hamilton (1981 – 1987)
14:
413:- Choreographer Ana Lujan Sanchez
281:- Choreographer Christopher Bruce
136:Thea Narissa Barnes (1997 – 2000)
724:from the original on 26 May 2022
466:- Choreographer Isira Makuloluwe
368:Particle Velocity Programme 2013
267:Windrush: Movement of the People
1116:Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company
476:Maybe Yes Maybe, Maybe No Maybe
430:Reflected Programme Spring 2011
417:Maybe Yes Maybe, Maybe No Maybe
843:"Women to watch:Sharon Watson"
763:"The National Voice For Dance"
743:"Clore Fellows: Sharon Watson"
585:. Arts Council. Archived from
513:- Choreographer Douglas Thorpe
483:Leeds in Barcelona Spring 2010
478:- Choreographer Aletta Collins
419:- Choreographer Aletta Collins
399:Crossing Points Programme 2012
388:- Choreographer Douglas Thorpe
376:- Choreographer Richard Alston
275:- Choreographer Sandrine Monin
142:Javier De Frutos (2006 – 2008)
130:Neville Campbell (1987 – 1991)
1:
972:Phoenix Dance Theatre website
525:- Choreographer Sharon Watson
491:- Choreographer Sharon Watson
472:- Choreographer Philip Taylor
425:- Choreographer Kwesi Johnson
394:- Choreographer Sharon Watson
338:- Choreographer Caroline Finn
332:- Choreographer Sharon Watson
294:- Choreographer Sharon Watson
269:- Choreographer Sharon Watson
253:- Choreographer Amaury Lebrun
133:Margaret Morris (1991 – 1996)
1152:Organisations based in Leeds
1121:Siobhan Davies Dance Company
1106:Richard Alston Dance Company
1086:National Dance Company Wales
460:- Choreographer Warren Adams
407:- Choreographer Henri Oguike
351:- Choreographer Didy Veldman
720:. London: The Independent.
145:Sharon Watson (2009 – 2020)
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382:- Choreographer Jose Agudo
307:- Choreographer Kate Flatt
96:and was nominated for the
92:for Aletta Collins' piece
1157:Culture in West Yorkshire
1040:London Children's Ballet
748:18 February 2019 at the
651:. BBC News. 22 July 1998
148:Dane Hurst (2021 – 2023)
103:Under Artistic Director
1035:English National Ballet
1030:Birmingham Royal Ballet
943:"Phoenix Dance Theatre"
583:"Phoenix Dance Theatre"
435:Switch - Choreographer
1111:Scottish Dance Theatre
559:Reynaldo Junior Santos
177:La Biennale di Venezia
98:Laurence Olivier Award
31:
1126:Studio Wayne McGregor
1101:Rambert Dance Company
1096:Phoenix Dance Theatre
161:Darshan Singh Bhuller
156:Phoenix Dance Theatre
66:Phoenix Dance Company
35:Phoenix Dance Theatre
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1076:DV8 Physical Theatre
891:"Leeds in Barcelona"
392:Repetition of Change
343:Mixed Programme 2014
312:Mixed Programme 2015
299:Mixed Programme 2016
286:Mixed Programme 2017
258:Mixed Programme 2018
242:Mixed Programme 2019
229:Mixed Programme 2021
897:on 30 November 2010
871:. Building Momentum
869:"Building Momentum"
237:40 YEARS OF PHOENIX
112:Thea Nerissa Barnes
949:on 6 February 2013
849:on 29 January 2012
464:Locked In Vertical
224:Current repertoire
122:Artistic Directors
55:contemporary dance
32:
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923:on 9 October 2011
917:"What's On Diary"
458:The Audacious One
386:Tender Crazy Love
196:for the company.
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470:Haunted Passages
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349:See Blue Through
169:Javier de Frutos
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1081:Motionhouse
538:Alana Cowie
194:Never Still
24:Quarry Hill
1141:Categories
953:22 October
765:. Dance UK
569:References
562:Yuma Sylla
423:SoundClash
374:All Alight
82:Chapeltown
613:The Times
523:Fast Lane
116:Roni Size
70:Harehills
927:26 March
901:26 March
875:26 March
853:22 March
827:26 March
801:26 March
769:26 March
746:Archived
728:26 March
722:Archived
699:26 March
677:22 March
655:22 March
633:22 March
593:26 March
355:Document
330:TearFall
90:Bagnolet
1071:Candoco
361:Mapping
324:Shadows
292:REfined
279:Shadows
188:pieces
61:History
51:England
1018:Ballet
405:Signal
795:(PDF)
788:(PDF)
517:Class
511:Beast
411:Catch
336:Bloom
318:Shift
273:Calyx
43:Leeds
39:dance
37:is a
28:Leeds
955:2012
929:2010
903:2010
877:2010
855:2010
829:2010
803:2010
771:2010
730:2010
701:2010
679:2010
657:2010
635:2010
595:2010
502:1976
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