Dawn Holgate, Phoenix Dance Theatre’s education director was one of the company’s first female dancers. She has been a prominent leader in the fields of dance education and community. During her time as a community dance practitioner she designed, co-coordinated and directed a grassroots youth dance programme creating 11 youth dance groups across the East Riding of Yorkshire. She has been the artistic director of East Riding Youth Dance County Company. She was instrumental in creating and directing the Phoenix Dance Academy - still instilling technique, creative and choreographic skills to the youth after 25 years of existence. Her avid community engagement led her to become the resident choreographer and movement director for Leeds Grand Youth Theatre and has spent 10 years choreographing the Company’s annual musical. She has been a dance lecturer at Leeds City College and is on the Board of Trustees of Leeds Heritage Theatres. Holgate is the dance course leader at The Mill School of Performance and is co-choreographing an upcoming Channel 4 series called Dance School.
