Laura Mercer is a highly experience dance artist who has worked in the community dance sector and across education settings for 15 years. Originally from Warrington, Laura recently moved back to the North West after living in New York City and London for the past 15 years. Whilst in NYC, Laura worked as Director of Schools and Community Programs, at Dancewave, Inc developing dance in education and community programmes across the five NYC boroughs. Prior to that, Laura worked as Projects Manager and Dance Artist at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in the Learning and Participation department, managing large-scale youth dance festivals, community workshops, dance and disability initiatives and schools projects.
Laura enjoys working with young people through Youth Leadership projects and developed the Trinity Laban Young Dance Ambassadors scheme in London and Dancewave’s Youth Leadership Council in NYC; providing opportunities for young people to develop project management and leadership skills by producing their own arts events for the community.
Whilst studying for her BA (Hons) Dance and Culture degree at University of Surrey, Laura developed a keen interest in how dance can bring communities and cultures together in the UK and around the world. Since then, Laura has travelled to The Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, delivering dance projects with community arts organisation, Arts Odyssey.
Laura has delivered dance workshops in a wide range of settings and believes every person should have the opportunity to dance. Laura has delivered sessions for paediatric patients at the Royal London Hospital, working with physiotherapists to develop creative practices on the Respiratory and Trauma Wards, delivered family workshops in the Clore Ballroom at the Southbank Centre, as well setting up her own early years company delivering parent/carer-toddler dance sessions to communities and within EYFS settings.
Laura is now delighted to be working as Education and Youth Development Artist at Cheshire Dance, developing dance in schools, cross-curricular education projects as well as leading on Cheshire Dance Young Producers and many other youth development initiatives.
Partnership project between Cheshire Dance and The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training (CAT), hosted at The Boaty Theatre.
Cheshire Dance works with schools and educational facilities to integrate the art form into learning. Dance in Education forms an integral part of the Cheshire Dance annual programme.
Cheshire Dance works within the community and in education settings to enrich young lives through dance. Dance & Young People forms an integral part of the principle Cheshire Dance Programme.
Cheshire Dance works with educational settings to deliver school improvement plans and to enrich the current curriculum framework through quality dance practises that add real value.
The Cheshire Dance Young Producers programme provides 12 young people aged 14-21 with the opportunity to take part in the planning, management, and delivery of the annual Now Northwich Festival.
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Cheshire Dance is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.
The Hive, 49 Lever St, Manchester M1 1FN
Cheshire West and Chester Council is committed to celebrating diversity and promoting equality in everything it does, to improve the quality of life for everyone living, working and visiting Cheshire West and Chester.
Customer Service Centres, 1 The Arcade, Northwich
The Boaty Theatre looks to always to create a sense of belonging and community that extends beyond the walls of the theatre, making live performance and the creative arts accessible to all.
Whitby Rd, Ellesmere Port
The Lowry CAT is the North West Centre for pre-vocational training and delivers classes at key venues across the North West; the majority of training taking place at the renowned The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays, with satellite classes taking place in Penrith, Cumbria.
Salford, Manchester
Cheshire Dance is proud to be an Artsmark Partner, supporting educational settings to embed arts and creativity across the curriculum and working to enrich pupil’s cultural education.
Overseeing the iconic Parr Hall, Warrington Museum & Art Gallery and Pyramid Arts Centre, Culture Warrington is your one-stop shop for art, history and entertainment in the heart of Warrington’s Cultural Quarter.
Warrington
