top of page

Meet The Team

Screenshot_20251121_140229_Instagram_edited.jpg
Gemma is posing with one arm holding the opposite elbow above her head. She wears a denim shirt, unbuttoned and a black turtle neck shirt underneath. Her hair is in breaid and she looks to the right of the camera, posing mid dancing.

Gemma Pilgrim 

Freelance Movement Artist, Choreographer and Educator (QTS).

Being part of a co-operative is an exciting opportunity to collaborate, grow, and support one another within the arts community. The Midlands is home to so many talented artists across different disciplines, and by working together, we can create more opportunities, share resources, and amplify each other’s voices.

​

As a dancer and creative, I’m passionate about connecting with others, expanding my practice, and continuously learning. I’m especially looking forward to CPD opportunities, meeting new dance artists, and contributing to a thriving, inclusive arts scene in the Midlands

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
Gen is mid-speech standing and holding a microphone. She wears a white jumpsuit with black polka dots and had short and curly brown hair with blonde highlights.

__

Genevieve Say

Choreographer.

I’m really interested in how we as dance artists can carve out a culture of working collaboratively in a world where it often feels like you need to be in competition with your peers. This feels like a creative and exciting way of coming together with people to make brilliant things happen with are art-form.

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
Helen is holding a pose in front of a purple background. She wears a denium blue and lilac short and beige trousers. She is stood on one foot, leaning forwards holding her other foot and balancing it on top of the opposite leg. Her opposite arm extends out to the side and she looks directly into the camera.

Helen Calcutt

Freelance Choreographer and Writer. 
https://helencalcutt.com/bio/

I’m excited to reach and hear the thoughts and opinions of dance artists, makers, and directors across the Midlands region and beyond, and explore together how we can establish a place for artists, by artists in the city. My hope is to co-create a space where dancers can regularly engage in robust opportunities to up-skill, soundboard, and further their careers - not only within dance, but supporting disciplines. 

  • Instagram
Holly is posing with one arm high above her head and the other bending at the hip with an open palm up and her ring finger and thumb reaching to each other. The image is black and white. The background is a woodland.

Photography by: Shirley Jones

​

Holly Jones 

Freelance Dance Artist.

I feel so lucky to be part of a strong, friendly community in Birmingham, I look forward to watching the pool of artists expand as we welcome new members! I’m also excited to exchange with other freelancers through initiatives like CPD and the Borrow Box to help support and develop our practices. We have so much to learn from each other and I believe these opportunities will help create a more diverse and accessible environment!

  • Instagram
India is posing in front of a big wheel. She is wearing a burgundy T-shirt that matches her burgundy hair.

India-Rose Cox

Freelance Dance Artist.

I am most excited about striving to create a sustainable landscape for our community. We are so lucky to have such a strong community spirit in Birmingham and I’m very excited to collaborate with fellow members, upskilling ourselves and continue to cultivate a diverse community of artists who truly support one another.

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
Katie is posing, off balanced on one knee, with the other extending upwards as her weight is on her foot. She leans away from this knee and her arms are bending at the elbows to her chest. She wears an electric blur jumper and black trousers with a white stripe down the side.

Katie Albon

Freelance Dance Artist. 
https://www.eekandwild.com/

Being an independent artist can feel lonely at times and like you’re constantly in competition with other artists. Becoming part of DCB felt like a brilliant way to tackle these issues because Co-ops place a high value on equality, democracy and caring for others.

I’m particularly excited about the Borrow Box- an initiative that will encourage artists in the region to share their resources. Sharing resources will have a positive impact on the environment as well as the artists and cultivate a culture of support.

  • Instagram
Karen is sat with a microphone, mid-conversation. She wears bright green trousers and a clack long sleeve shirt. Her curly hair is light brown and blonde.

__

Karen Wood

Freelance Dance and Movement Artist, Educator, Facilitator and Consultant.

Being part of a cooperative offers an alternative way to resource and create as an artist. I’m amongst amazing and brilliant artists, working together to support each other and it feels good! I’m excited to see where this goes as DCB will endeavour to sustain a community of artists who have the potential to be excellent cultural leaders. We are already great collaborators, that is the nature of being an artist, but cooperative working takes that a step further - we identify as a collective and we lead with each other in mind. We say move over individualism, which is what capitalism encourages, and welcome collectivism and those that embrace it.

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
Rob is smiling to the camera. He had blonde hair and is wearing a smart white shirt and navy blue blazer.

Rob Hemming

Freelance Dance and Movement Artist.

​It is very exciting to be part of a new initiative such as Dance Co-Operative Birmingham. Independent artists need to navigate many aspects of their career alone and this is not always easy. By incorporating in a cooperative structure our local freelance ecology will be able to amplify its voice, allow artists to share resources and encourage dancers to form a stronger community. I cannot wait to see DCB grow, offer ethical leadership and to become a flagship for alternative forms of working for artists in and beyond the West-Midlands.

  • Instagram
bottom of page