The scheme provides an Associate Dance Artist with an award of £1,000 to undertake an individual professional development programme, and to deliver a project or event as part of Hampshire Dance’s programme. The Associate Artist must be a Hampshire-based dance practitioner committed to developing their career.

The scheme suits artists who work in any dance style and can demonstrate their commitment to developing their particular field of dance practice eg: as a performer, choreographer, teacher or dance manager. It would be suitable for an artist early in their career, or could benefit a more experienced artist.

Selection is made by Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Dance and is assessed on how clearly the application demonstrates the benefit of the scheme to their own professional development and to dance development in Hampshire.

The scheme runs from October to July each year and the Associate Dance Artist is managed by Hampshire Dance’s Programme Manager.

• Tara McKinney - Arts Resources Officer, Hampshire County Council, tel 01962 846024
• Sophie Amstell, Programme Director, Hampshire Dance, tel 0845 076 1245

Libby Battaglia  

Libby began her career as a professional dancer after training at Elmhurst Ballet School. She continued in the entertainment business as a choreographer, production manager and producer working throughout Europe and America. She started her first business in 1989 and since then has been successful in creating a variety of different companies including an Italian restaurant and more recently a dance studio and retail dance shop. She has worked within the education sector teaching, training and lecturing dance in schools and colleges. In partnership with Lincolnshire Dance she created and designed the curriculum for “Lincolnshire Dance Academy” the local authority’s initiative to support the development of talented dancers across the county.  

More recently Libby has set-up Arts Ambitions which provides producer and project management services to arts organisations, companies and individuals. She has worked on a variety of projects within the performing arts sector including “Disney in Concert” produced by AW Events for the Queen’s Jubilee in Hyde Park and “Moment to Shine” an intergenerational performance project at LPAC for Lincolnshire Dance with over150 performers. Having been selected as an Associate Dance Artist, Libby aims to use the opportunity to explore combining all her previous knowledge and develop new skills to provide all round bespoke producer services that bring creative ideas to life.

Kate Weston

Kate is a Choreography and Dance graduate from the University of Winchester, who has lived and danced in Hampshire her whole life. Upon graduating in 2010 Kate has worked on many dance projects and internships and is now currently company manager of Tailor Made Dance. A local company based at The Point in Eastleigh, Tailor Made Dance create dance experiences and perform around the South East.

At the beginning of 2012 Kate returned to Winchester University to begin a Masters in Cultural and Arts Management, which she is finding not only educational but also inspirational. Although dance is her passion Kate is also interested in other art forms, and enjoys working collaboratively.  

Her aspirations are to work within the area of dance management and producing, and as Associate Dance Artist Kate plans to attend courses and seminars on fundraising and book keeping as well as dance specific events and conferences.