We are delighted to announce the appointment of three new staff members to our team. We welcome Gail Ferrin as Coordinator of the Children and Young People's Dance Network North (CYPDNN), Joseph Mercier as Lecturer in Creative and Contextual Studies and Brian Brodie in the role of Chair of Governors.
Gail Ferrin holds a degree in dance and has worked in the performing arts for over 25 years. She has had a portfolio career including performing, community and outreach roles, programming, producing, tour booking, festival and event management, dance commissioning, fundraising and the development of international networks through showcases and cross-border working.
Managing the organisation and delivery of activities across the Children & Young People’s Dance Network North (CYPDNN), Gail is responsible for the coordination of partners, network meetings, fundraising, membership, and consultation. She is also responsible for the network’s digital communications, reporting, evaluation and future artistic strategy.
Gail joins CYPDNN at an exciting time and will help energise the network, bring new direction, vision and action in dance engagement for children and young people across the North. Working on increasing the network membership and new partnerships, she will implement a digital initiative to help partners, organisations, festivals, teachers, dance artists and individuals to engage with, continue to advocate for, and promote dance opportunities for children and young people across the North.
Joseph Mercier joins us in the role of Lecturer in Creative and Contextual Studies.
Originally from Canada, Joseph is a choreographer and performance-maker working between and across disciplines, primarily in dance, live art and contemporary theatre. He works as both an independent artist and as co-director of performance company PanicLab. The company’s 2016 production ‘Theseus Beefcake’ was awarded ‘Best British Production’ at Birmingham’s BE Festival.
Joseph studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he completed his MA in Advanced Theatre Practice and a PhD in Dance, Performance and Queer Studies.
His work has been supported and commissioned by Dance City, The Place, Homotopia, The Unity Theatre, The Albany, Cambridge Junction, Soho Theatre, MDI, Yorkshire Dance, GLYPT, Barbican Plymouth, Chisenhale Dance Space, Live Art Bistro and Fierce Festival.
Joseph will join our Academic Staff supporting students across various disciplines including choreography and composition, creative practice and interdisciplinary making, dramaturgy, improvisation, practice as research and critical theory.
After eight years as a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Dance, Brian Brodie brings his wealth of experience in academic governance and a rewarding career in the banking sector to this vitally important role for the School.
Brian is currently CEO of Freedom Finance having held senior positions in a range of financial services businesses during his career. Prior to Freedom, Brian was Sales & Marketing Director for Virgin Money and was one of the executive team which floated the business in 2014. Prior to that Brian was CEO of HML Ltd which was and still is the largest Mortgage Servicer in the UK. Brian has a real passion for leading digital and operational transformations to deliver great outcomes for customers.
In the role of Chair of Governors, Brian will help the School deliver its ambitious strategic plan, raise the school’s profile and ensure our future sustainability.
