Bringing Communities Together Through Dance
Our Mission
At Dance Centred, we believe that dance has the power to bring people together, spark creativity, and transform lives. We are a not-for-profit company driven by a simple mission: to make dance accessible, meaningful, and inspiring for all. Through movement we create unique spaces and nurture creativity and connection in communities.
OUR Values
Human Connection - Dance is about people. We create nurturing spaces where personal expression and intimacy can thrive.
Inspirational Experiences - We believe in the transformative power of dance to uplift, energise, and inspire.
Equality of Opportunity - Everyone should have access to the joy of movement. We actively challenge prejudice and remove barriers to participation.
Our Vision
We see a future where dance is woven into everyday life—where movement sparks creativity, builds resilience, and strengthens communities. Every step, every class, every project we create is designed to make this vision a reality. As a Community Interest Company, all our profits are reinvested to further our mission. Your support can help us expand our reach and impact. Consider making a donation to support our ongoing projects: Donate here
Meet the Team
Lois Taylor and Sam Lawrence
Co-Directors Lois Taylor and Sam Lawrence lead the management and creative direction of the company. They are experts in bringing together teams of freelance artists and managers who share the values and ethos of Dance Centred. You can find out more about Sam and Lois in the sections below.
Lois Taylor - Co-Director and Freelance Dance Artist
Lois is an improviser, choreographer, and creative facilitator who explores ideas through dance, often in non-theatre contexts. She takes risks and believes in dance’s transformative potential for individuals and communities. A former lecturer at Plymouth and Falmouth Universities, she co-founded Attik Dance, Physical Postcards, The Vital Spark, and Dance Centred. Her performance work includes improvisation with Physical Postcards, Trans-Form, Shallal Dance Theatre, and solo pieces. Lois is also a mentor and contributes to the strategic development of dance in Cornwall and the South West.
Lisa Townsend
Lisa Townsend is the Dance Centred Project Manager overseeing creative projects and marketing since 2021. Lisa also freelances, working with social enterprises to make the world a better place. She mainly helps them with all things marketing helping them to work in a clear and focused way on their most important projects.
Find Lisa on Linkedin or email lisa@onthesameteam.uk
Sam Lawrence - Co-Director and Freelance Dance Artist
Sam is a dance artist with a background in visual arts and theatre, bringing a multi-disciplinary approach to her work as a facilitator, maker, and performer. She has a long-standing commitment to community arts and a belief in the arts as a tool for change. Sam trained in contemporary dance and has worked in a wide range of settings, including care homes, day centres, and schools. Recent work includes community choreography and performance projects such as Grace with Unit 3, Passage for Par with Rosemary Lee, and The Moon is Huge Tonight for Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival. She runs regular dance classes for adults and children, and is Co-Director of Dance Centred and Unit 3 CIC.
Associate Artists and Creatives
A dedicated ensemble committed to the values and ethos of Dance Centred.
Sally Robbins - Dance Artist
Sally has spent almost 20 years using dance to creatively explore ideas and connect with others. Sally has taught in Cornwall College, Plymouth University and TR2, alongside a broader Dance Artist role at Attik Dance.
Antonia Eden - Artist
Antonia’s work explores indices, memories, and traces, using domestic imagery to convey narrative and highlight the personal as political through material and interaction. Antonia is currently based at UNIT3 Studios in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.
Find Antonia at Atonia Eden and on social media here: Facebook, Instagram
Stephen Tolfrey - Designer
Stephen is a dynamic visual storyteller who began designing for music legends like Kate Bush. Now a sought-after director, he crafts bold, award-winning motion work for top global brands and broadcasters.
Find Stephen at Studio Wallop
Melanie Chadwick - Illustrator and Designer
Melanie Chadwick is a full time illustrator and designer living and working in Cornwall. who freelances with individuals, small businesses, and design studios.
Find Melanie at Melanie Chadwick
Advisory Board
A team offering diverse expertise and experience in company management.
Hayley Bentley
Hayley has worked with organisations such as, Barbican Theatre Plymouth, Exim Dance Company, and Plymouth Dance and currently runs Ebb & Flow Dance Studio - dance classes for young people.
Find Hayley at Ebb & Flow Dance
Jae Hainsworth
A lifelong dance enthusiast, Jae loves moving to music for wellbeing and joy. She’s proud to support Dance Centred in helping others stay active, laugh more, and connect through movement.
Sarah Hawken
Dance was central to Sarah growing up. Rediscovering it through Lois’s classes reignited her passion. She now dances regularly and proudly supports Dance Centred’s mission to make movement accessible for all.
Jackie Taylor
Jackie first met Lois during the Vital Spark project in Liskeard and has since collaborated on many creative projects. She admires Dance Centred’s joyful, committed approach and proudly supports their work.
Find Jackie at Jackie Taylor
Rebecca Mordan
After graduating from Bristol Old Vic and working in film, theatre and television, Rebecca Mordan created her own company, Scary Little Girls, populating stories with fascinating, diverse female characters.
Find Rebecca at Scary Little Girls
