Behind the scenes
Richard is Ballet Black’s Live Touring and Digital Producer, bringing creativity, energy, and decades of diverse experience to the role. A graduate of the Sydney School of Art and Design, he spent several years as a freelance sports photographer and photojournalist before returning to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science at Sydney University. Richard ran a successful physiotherapy practice on London’s Harley Street for 20 years before fully dedicating himself to the ballet world.
His diverse background includes extensive sports coaching, leading athletes to national representation levels in swimming, triathlon, and alpine ski racing, where he served as assistant coach for the Australian Men’s Alpine Ski Team and supported the Australian Paralympic Ski Team. In 1994, he competed at the World Championships in Lech, Austria, as a race guide for a visually impaired athlete. He also held classification roles in international disabled sports competitions and was a member of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Medical Commission.
Prior to leaving Australia in 1996, Richard served as an honorary beach inspector, inshore rescue boat captain, patrol captain for beach lifeguarding, and first aid officer. He brings over two decades of expertise as a Pilates and Gyrotonic instructor and served on the board of the Pilates Foundation UK.
As an entrepreneur, Richard has founded and held board positions in companies across insurance, recruitment, social networking, and e-commerce sectors, successfully raising venture capital and focusing on trademark application and protection. Additionally, he founded and edited PhysioLife magazine, a publication dedicated to the physiotherapy profession.
Richard has a passion for outdoor adventures, having climbed and skied off Europe’s highest peak, Mt Elbrus in Russia, completed the world’s most challenging kite surf journey—a 500km downwind trip from Dakhla, Western Sahara, to Mauritania—and cycled road stages of the Tour of Britain. He has been diving for over 40 years. Currently, Richard’s interest lies in exploring microfinancing initiatives, particularly how they can sustainably support families in remote communities, notably in Madagascar.
With a longstanding 20-plus-year relationship with Ballet Black, beginning as a video and photographic archivist, Richard now passionately champions our digital storytelling through the #BBonFilm initiative.
Christina is a creative producer and storyteller with experience across factual television, theatre, journalism, and community outreach. She was a digital content producer and production coordinator for BAFTA winning documentary companies, where she worked on titles including a major Titanic documentary and a series exploring the world of high end buffets.
As a theatre critic and journalist, Christina has interviewed actors, writers, and directors both in person and on the red carpet, championing inclusive storytelling and emerging talent. She also co-produced and co-hosted a podcast that spotlighted Black creatives in theatre.
Outside of the arts, Christina is a professional skincare and beauty specialist who regularly volunteers with a food bank, a winter shelter, and a charity that supports cancer patients through skincare and makeup guidance. She has a deep commitment to making meaningful change in her community, improving equity, and representing underrepresented voices to help drive diversity forward.
Simone is a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) qualified teacher and a key member of the Ballet Black Junior School faculty, where she shares her knowledge and enthusiasm with the next generation of dancers. She is also a certified Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor, offering a contemporary and holistic approach to ballet training that supports strength, flexibility, and injury prevention.
Simone joined Ballet Black in 2023, returning to her lifelong passion for classical dance after over a decade working in Creative Management within the retail industry. Her love for ballet began at the age of four, evolving through years of dedicated training and performance throughout her childhood and young adulthood. Now, she brings together her professional experience and artistic background to help shape confident, expressive young dancers at Ballet Black.
Claire currently serves as Company Assistant and Junior School Administrator at Ballet Black. Her lifelong passion for ballet began at just two and a half years old. Claire trained with the Royal Ballet School Associates for eight years and made her professional debut at age 10, performing with The Australian Ballet at The London Coliseum in their international tour of Swan Lake. During her early training, she also toured with The London Russian Ballet School, where she debuted in the Principal role of Le Spectre de la Rose, and performed Soloist and Corps de Ballet roles in classic ballets at prestigious venues such as The Hurlingham Club and City Hall for the Mayor of London.
Claire continued her education at Central School of Ballet, graduating with a BA(Hons) Degree in Professional Dance and Performance. Following this, she joined the Cinevox Junior Company in Switzerland, performing Principal and Soloist roles across classical, neo-classical, and contemporary repertoires, and showcasing her own choreographic work.
Parallel to her ballet career, Claire has worked extensively as a dancer-model for renowned brands including Tod’s, Apple, Hyundai, and Canon, participated in a fashion show with Scuderia Ferrari, and has appeared multiple times in Vogue Italia. She is also a qualified dance teacher, having led dance departments at various schools and colleges, teaching both dance technique and academic courses in Performing and Production Arts.
In addition to her role at Ballet Black, Claire continues to perform freelance, notably with The London Festival Opera, the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Classical Spectacular at The Royal Albert Hall, and various television productions.
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.
Chloe has over 10 years experience in arts administration and management and has worked with Michael Clark Company and Tavaziva Dance amongst others, overseeing company administration and operations as well as touring logistics and special events.
She has an MA in Arts Administration & Cultural Policy and a BA(hons) in Drama & Theatre Arts from Goldsmiths, University of London. She is also a Level 3 qualified bookkeeper and member of the Institute of Charter Bookkeepers (MICB). Chloe joined Ballet Black as General Manager in early 2022. She is currently taking a break from her general manager position and is working on our fundraising initiatives.
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.