Helen is a tutor at The Crescent Arts Centre. Current classes include 'Brazilian Flavour Dance Fitness', 'Broadway Jazz' and 'Ballet Bootie'

2017 - Currently shortlisted for an Unlimited Emerging Artist award2016 - ACNI SIAP Travel award - Conference presentation discussing dance and visual impairment at Antwerp University2016 - Love to Dance award from Dance Resource Base to attend samba dance training at London School of Samba.2015 - Arts Council of Northern Ireland ACES award for the project 'Reflective Moves'. 2015 - IDA award from the Arts and Disability Forum to to shadow choreographer Marc Brew 2013 -… Show more 2017 - Currently shortlisted for an Unlimited Emerging Artist award2016 - ACNI SIAP Travel award - Conference presentation discussing dance and visual impairment at Antwerp University2016 - Love to Dance award from Dance Resource Base to attend samba dance training at London School of Samba.2015 - Arts Council of Northern Ireland ACES award for the project 'Reflective Moves'. 2015 - IDA award from the Arts and Disability Forum to to shadow choreographer Marc Brew 2013 - Arts Council of Northern Ireland SIAP Travel award to attend Teacher Training with Candoco Dance Company, London.2013 - Selected from the performing arts department to receive a dance achievement award at the BMC Winter Celebration Awards. Show less

Helen has worked as a dance artist and visual artist for Open Arts. Groups worked with include Angel Eyes, Solas, Junction Club, Jordanstown School for the Blind and Monday Players among others. She currently facilitate dance sessions for Luminous Soul, Open Arts adult dance company, as well as regularly choreograph for the group. Choreography for Luminous Soul includes:2016 All dance elements of the Open Arts production of ‘The Spellbound Boy, (based on Ravel’s Opera L’enfant et… Show more Helen has worked as a dance artist and visual artist for Open Arts. Groups worked with include Angel Eyes, Solas, Junction Club, Jordanstown School for the Blind and Monday Players among others. She currently facilitate dance sessions for Luminous Soul, Open Arts adult dance company, as well as regularly choreograph for the group. Choreography for Luminous Soul includes:2016 All dance elements of the Open Arts production of ‘The Spellbound Boy, (based on Ravel’s Opera L’enfant et les Sortileges). This production will be showcased again this year, 2017. 2016 ‘Connections’, performed at Beat Carnival Village Event with live drumming and Gamelan. Also performed at a Public Health conference at Queens University, Belfast.2015 ‘Dropping’, performed in the Ulster Museum as part of Dance United Bel-fest event.2015 All dance sections within ‘Sky to Sea’, a multi disciplinary showcase of work from Open Arts. 2015 ‘Conversations’ performed at City Dance, Belfast.2014 Choreograph short works as part of Culture Night2013 ‘Unexpected’, performed in numerous outdoor locations around Belfast. Also performed at a Lisburn summer event in Wallace Park. Show less

Selected Examples:2017 Perform extracts from her current work-in-progress solo at ‘Beyond Boundaries’ (Natalie Su Company), The Broadway Theatre, Barking. 2016 Performer alongside Beatndrum samba band during Brazilica festival, Liverpool.2016 Dancer in ‘Fragments,’ a work-in-progress choreographed by Sheena Kelly. Performed as part of Accidental Theatre’s ‘Flight Risk’ project (December, Belfast). Performed in 2015 in Magherafelt as part of Big Telly’s Creative Shops project… Show more Selected Examples:2017 Perform extracts from her current work-in-progress solo at ‘Beyond Boundaries’ (Natalie Su Company), The Broadway Theatre, Barking. 2016 Performer alongside Beatndrum samba band during Brazilica festival, Liverpool.2016 Dancer in ‘Fragments,’ a work-in-progress choreographed by Sheena Kelly. Performed as part of Accidental Theatre’s ‘Flight Risk’ project (December, Belfast). Performed in 2015 in Magherafelt as part of Big Telly’s Creative Shops project, and in Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast.2014 Performer in ‘Endeavour’, choreographed by Jayne Smyth. Performed for Commonwealth Day in Stormont Buildings and at City Dance in the Crescent Arts Centre.2013 Performer in Beat Carnivals ‘Urban Ballet’ project for Culture Night. 2013 Performer with Luminous Soul/Maiden Voyage in ‘Patterns of Play’, at the World Police and Fire Games.2013 Performer in Connect Dance Company in ‘Mixed Bill’, Belfast.2012 Performer with Luminous Soul in ‘Split’, choreographed by Caroline Bowditch, at the Legacy Trust Connections event at the MAC, Belfast.Performer with Luminous Soul in ‘Patterns of Play’ at numerous events:Legacy Trust Connections event at the MAC, Sept 2012 Bounce Festival, The Black Box, Belfast, August 2012Milk Cup opening Ceremony, July, 2012Paralympics Flame Festival, Belfast, July, 2012Paralympic event in London, July, 2012 2009 Part of the Beat Carnival’s ‘Belbobru’ international project. Constructed and performed inside life size puppets. This project was a collaboration between arts organisations in Belfast, Brussels and Bologna and culminated in a street performance in Bologna. Show less

Helen has been a dance artist for Beat Carnival for many years. Through Beat she has received training in Brazilian dance with visiting Brazilian tutors including Anderson Nogueira, Jackson Pinto and Marianna Pinhu, whom she spent time shadowing. Helen assists in the development of dance within Beat. She recently choreographed a piece for seven dancers which was performed at the Pub of the Year awards, Belfast (2016). She also helps develop dance for Beat Carnival events such as the Shankil… Show more Helen has been a dance artist for Beat Carnival for many years. Through Beat she has received training in Brazilian dance with visiting Brazilian tutors including Anderson Nogueira, Jackson Pinto and Marianna Pinhu, whom she spent time shadowing. Helen assists in the development of dance within Beat. She recently choreographed a piece for seven dancers which was performed at the Pub of the Year awards, Belfast (2016). She also helps develop dance for Beat Carnival events such as the Shankil Lantern Parade, Beat Carnival Village, Made in Belfast Parade, Let's party parade, The Day of the Dead parade, and Fly Butterfly, the City Hall reopening event in 2019. Show less