PG Diploma in Performance (Distinction)
BPA (Hons) Contemporary Dance
PG Diploma in Arts Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (Distinction)
Role and responsibilities
Lecturer in Dance and Curriculum Lead (Pedagogy)
MA Dance Teaching & Facilitating Course Leader
Careers Co-ordinator
Module Leader: Performance in Context 2, Teaching Dance 2
“As a relatively late starter, dance was introduced to me during my college education. It started as a hobby before progressing into something more serious that I wanted to pursue professionally. My inspiring teacher recommended auditioning at NSCD. So, having never done any formal technique training I arrived completely clueless (& very nervous) to my audition. Somehow I made it through the day, I was awarded a place on the degree course and moved to Leeds that September to begin the start of my new life… What a life that would turn out to be – exploring the world through dance; travelling, performing, making and teaching; every day something new but always being able to do what I love – MOVE.
Now a dad to a beautiful little girl, life’s challenges continue to shift and evolve, but there’s still something new every day to keep me motivated.
About my work:
My work is very movement focused and is a hybrid of contemporary techniques that use full-bodied connectivity to explore the ideas of weight, momentum, gravity, energy and expansiveness. My virtuosic vocabulary moves through the space and in and out of the floor with an emphasis on efficiency, use of breath and sensitivity.”
Matthew holds a BPA (hons) Contemporary Dance, PGDip in Performance and PGDip AltHE. Matthew is Head of Undergraduate Studies at NSCD and has been teaching in HE since 2014, following work in performance, community dance, and the outreach sector. Matthew Programme Leads the MA Dance Teaching and Facilitating course at NSCD and demonstrates his commitment to dance teaching and learning through the on-going delivery of teaching dance modules, inclusive practice design and delivery and extensive support of the student experience from entry to graduation and beyond. Matthew has contributed to curriculum design, assessment strategy review, periodic programme review and revalidation at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level, QRS inspection. Matthew is a committee member of LTQAC and has led sub-groups for BA revisions and Cert HE validation. Matthew has been Staff Governor at CDD (2018-2021) supporting the establishment of the Dance4’s Centre for Advanced Training scheme. In 2017 Matthew received a nomination for a One Dance UK Award for Teaching in Higher Education. Internationally, Matthew has established a remote exchange project between NSCD and George Mason University (GMU), Virginia, US.
Matthew began dancing at the age of 17 whilst studying A-Level Performing Arts and went on to train at NSCD, graduating in 2005. He toured with VERVE before completing a postgraduate diploma at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) and toured internationally as a member of Edge in work choreographed by Sue MacLennan, Trisha Brown and Siobhan Davies.
Upon graduating from LCDS Matthew joined Yael Flexer’s Bedlam Dance Company and toured as part of her production of Doing, Done and Undone alongside working for Retina Dance Company in their graduate project PAGE1. He worked with Retina Dance Company extensively between 2006 and 2014 as a Dancer, Rehearsal Director and Education Manager.
In 2010 Matthew joined the staff at NSCD as Education & Community Dance Worker (later Learning & Participation Officer) and in 2014 became a Lecturer in Technique & Performance Practice (Contemporary), teaching contemporary technique, partner work, performance practice, teaching dance, choreography and repertory. Matthew was a Staff Governor of the CDD Board between 2018 and 2021. In 2021, he was appointed as a Curriculum Lead at NSCD with responsibility for the pedagogy strand. In 2022, Matthew completed his PG Diploma in Arts Learning & Teaching in Higher Education, graduating with a distinction. Matthew currently leads the MA Dance Teaching & Facilitating course at NSCD whilst continuing to deliver into undergraduate modules, co-ordinating the school’s careers programme and being heavily involved in student access, recruitment and progression. Matthew guest teaches around the UK and overseas, and enjoys connecting with new talent through a shared love of movement.
