Behind the scenes
Richard is Ballet Black’s Live Touring and Digital Producer. He is a graduate from the Sydney School of Art and Design (photography), having then spent several years working as a freelance photographer and photo journalist in the sporting world before returning to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science at Sydney University.
He has coached several sports to national representation level primarily in the fields of swimming, triathlon and alpine ski racing where he was assistant coach for several years for the Australian Mens Alpine Ski Team. He has also worked with the Australian Paralympic Ski team for a number of years and competed in the 1994 World Championships as a race guide for a visually impaired athlete. He has acted as an international classifier for disabled sport (summer & winter) for international competition and was a member of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Medical Commission. He also has over 20 years experience as both a pilates and Gyrotonic teacher & also sat on the board of the Pilates Foundation UK for a number of years.
For over 30 years Richard has been a company director and has held several non-executive board positions. He has founded several companies across a range of business sectors that include professional indemnity insurance, recruitment, social networking and e-commerce sectors. He has also been successful in raising venture capital for a global community platform. He has a keen interest in trademark application and protection.
Richard also has experience in print media having founded and edited the print magazine, PhysioLife, a publication directed to the physiotherapy profession. He has a 20 year relationship with Ballet Black having originally been our video and photographic archiver. Over that time he has worked with the management team across all areas including, budget preparation and over-site, financial planning, website development, implementation and management, development of the company friends program, direct marketing, e-commerce and merchandise, contract negotiation and review, and BB’s live touring. His current focus is on the development of our Digital productions via our #BBonFilm initiative.
Sarina is a recent graduate from the University of Kingston with a first class Bachelor of the Arts (Hons) degree in Dance. She has a strong dance background, having attended regular dance classes in all disciplines from a very young age. Sarina has had previous experience working with Casson and Friends as the Communications Assistant. She also teaches dance at a local stage school at the weekend. Sarina joined Ballet Black as Administrative Assistant in September 2021.
John is the founder and Director of John Cotton Associates, JCAPR www.jcapr.co.uk, an international public relations and marketing services company working in travel, luxury goods/lifestyle and the arts.
John has worked with Ballet Black for over 10 years and is the primary contact for all Press & Public Relations enquiries. This includes questions related to the founder and artistic director, Cassa Pancho MBE, the Ballet Black company as a whole and individual dancer enquiries.
Dwaynica is a Neuroaesthetician investigating the socio-cognitive effects of performing arts on audiences and performers. She has achieved a BSc Psychology degree at City, University of London, and was a graduate in the first cohort of students on the MSc Psychology of the Arts, Neuroaesthetics and Creativity programme at Goldsmiths, University of London. Working in Audience Research and Development means that Dwaynica assists with Ballet Black’s audience research projects.
Kelly is a freelance Producer who has worked in television production for over ten years, on entertainment and arts programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. Her credits include The South Bank Show and the South Bank Sky Arts Awards, with Melvyn Bragg, through which she worked on a documentary about Ballet Black. She has also worked on programmes about theatre with Nicholas Hytner, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Judy Craymer and Michael Grade. Besides TV, she has worked in film, theatre and radio. Kelly is a dance enthusiast and regularly attends classes – she’s even tried ballet! In 2012 she was a volunteer dancer in the Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Contact Kelly to talk about Ballet Black on tour, education and workshops, and any film and TV opportunities for the company and/or individual dancers.