We’re delighted that our partner in our new building, Phoenix Dance Theatre, has announced its new leadership team. The Artistic Director is Sharon Watson who has been working with NBT over the past 10 months as our Director of Learning & Access (maternity cover). Lesley Jackson has been appointed as Phoenix’s Executive Director.

This is Sharon’s last week at NBT, we would like to thank her for her contribution over the past 10 months and wish her good luck for her new role. We look forward to working with you in the new building Sharon!

Selina McGonagle, NBT’s Director of Learning & Access will be returning from maternity leave in July.

Sharon becomes the seventh Artistic Director of Phoenix, which in 2011 celebrates its 30th anniversary. Speaking about her appointment she said: “I feel both honoured and privileged by the company’s faith in me. Since 1989, when I first joined the company as a dancer, Phoenix has been a huge part of my life. This appointment is a wonderful opportunity for me to play a crucial role in the future of this proud and great Yorkshire dance institution.”

A graduate of London School of Contemporary Dance, Sharon worked as a dancer with some outstanding British dance artists such as Michael Clark and Darshan Singh Bhuller prior to joining Phoenix as a dancer in 1989. Sharon remained at Phoenix for nine years where she took on additional roles as teacher and choreographer. She was Artistic Director with her own company ABCDance and has undertaken a large number of diverse commissions from the Royal Armories to Scottish Millennium Festival. Sharon is a fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme, Creative Producer of Arts Beyond Contemporary Dance and has also served as a Lecturer at Northern School of Contemporary Dance for an extensive part of her career.

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