about project female
Founded in 2018, Project Female's vision is to create a space where young dancers who identify as female or non-binary could feel free from judgement. Where they didn’t need to be a certain body type, or feel pressure to fit a certain mould to be a dancer. Where they could join with other young dancers to produce high quality dance performances, and push their dancing to the next level.
Project Female aims to redefine the preconceptions of youth dance. We teach a unique fusion of contemporary/hip-hop dance. Dancers feel empowered to express themselves unapologetically and grow in confidence. We support dancers to take risks and challenge the boundaries set by society.
Project Female's unique creative process places youth voices and experiences at the centre of developing new performances. We create an environment to support personal growth, youth leadership and social action. We aim to create performances that reflect the lives of young females that resonate with all audiences.
In 2019, Project Female’s first full length show ‘What Doesn’t Make the Cut’ achieved sell out success at the Brighton Fringe Festival. This resulted in more performance opportunities, including ‘StraightUp ‘19’ at the Brighton Dome Theatre, and the Breakin’ Convention Tour 2020 (unfortunately cancelled due to the pandemic).
The team
Ellie Bishop-williams
Artistic Director
Ellie was born and raised in Brighton and studied Fashion and Business at Brighton University.
Ellie has always been an active member of the local dance community. Over the last 5 years she has successfully realised her vision of creating a safe space for young female dancers to develop and express themselves through dance theatre.
Ellie’s unique ability to empower teenage girls is key to the success of Project Female. Her teaching style is positive and encouraging whilst ensuring the dancers achieve their full potential.
Ellie is grateful to receive ongoing support from the Arts Council, South East Dance, UnrbanFlo, Marina Studios and Thirty10 Arts.
Pip Sayers
Producer
Pip’s role with Project Female is multifaceted. She brings her understanding of the challenges faced by young people today. Her producing skills and her creative eye for enhancing great choreography. Along with contemporary costume design.
This partnership provides an over-arching component Project Female. It ensures efficient delivery of the various classes and performances. An eclectic visual component to the costumes, and a focus on wellbeing to ensure a positive experience for our young dancers.
Dance teachers
Mareih Balocura
Mareih is a recent graduate from the UEL Urban Dance practice course and is trained in many styles, particularly disciplined in Hip-Hop and contemporary.
Mareih has trained with the Royal Academy of Dance, NYDC England and is a current member of London crews Project Pac and GVO.
Mareih has worked professionally under artists and companies such as Nike for various campaigns. She is a passionate dancer, choreographer and teacher and has been part of the Project Female team for two years.
Phoebe Tompsett
Phoebe Tompsett is a contemporary dance artist and teacher based in Brighton. As a choreographer, Phoebe enjoys creating socio-political work and since graduating from her Masters in Dance Performance at the University of Chichester, has created her first work ‘The Daily Male’ and co-created Glitch Dance Collective.
zoe warren
Zoe is a freelance dance teacher who is based in Brighton and is a core member of the Project Female team. Zoe has extensive training in streetdance and ballet which she has combined to create her own unique style of commercial dance.
lorna cross clark
Lorna Cross Clark is a freelance dance artist based in North London. Since graduating with an MA in Dance Performance from the University of Chichester, Lorna has performed in Norway and across the UK with Flexer and Sandiland. During her training, Lorna also studied at the Escola Superior de Dança in Lisbon.
Lorna specialises in teaching and choreographing contemporary dance. She also teaches tap, commercial, ballet, and jazz. She has lead commercial workshops at the University of Chichester to BA students, and has also taught workshops at London Contemporary Dance School and Dance East supporting Flexer and Sandiland.
Lorna has recently co founded Glitch Dance Collective with two collaborators - aiming to premier a new performance in 2024/25.
Manon servage
Manon servage (she / they) is a professional dance artist based in London. After following the professional ballet / contemporary education at Dance Area Geneva, she travelled the world dancing with some of the most prestigious choreographers and companies. Furthermore, interested in exploring the complexity of the human’s bodies and souls, she has been developing her own work as a choreographer and creative.
Teaching Assistants
Our Teaching Assistants are offered the Level 2 Dance Leaders Qualification and are mentored in their practical delivery of dance teaching by Ellie Bishop-Williams.
All our assistants are members of Project Female Dance Company and are developing essential skills to take their dance careers to the next stage.
Their input includes choreographing and delivering dance sessions for our younger dancers and providing input and ideas for the creation of new projects for our dance companies.