Who We are
“The more voices we hear, the louder we become”
Our mission is to unite the dance community with a seamless line of communication that both educates and motivates teachers of our future generation. Creating a movement that is inclusive, informative and provides a safe space for honest conversations along with inciting regular observations of the appropriate delivery of inclusive dance education.
This movement aims to remove the fear of discussing racism amongst peers and colleagues and to ensure that good practices within the dance industry are adhered to. It is an opportunity to share best practice and work as a collective to improve racial equality and representation in the dance industry. We want to develop a continuum of conversation between academic schools, the private dance sector, vocational training and through into the industry. To promote the importance of appropriate teaching methods and language, along with the understanding of what it means to not only be diverse, but inclusive. The TIRED Movement encourages teachers of the next generation to pay respect to the pioneers and celebrate the origins of dance that were influenced by black culture.
Meet the Founders
Laura Grant & Stacey Green
Laura Grant
Laura Grant is co-founder, director and supporter of the TIRED movement.
As a dance lover, charity activist and dance mum of 2 girls she is passionate about creating a safe space for ALL children and young people to enjoy, love and embrace the beauty of dance.
Privileged enough to be part of the community dance school arena as a dancer and then the private dance sector as a dance mum Laura has experienced first hand the lack of diversity for her own children to learn about opportunity and equality for all in these spaces.
As a young person Laura was involved in community inner city dance and drama projects where she was lucky enough to be surrounded by diversity at every stage. Growing up believing in opportunity and access to all she naively believed that everyone was gifted that opportunity.
Since becoming an adult, being involved in national dance events and feeling passionate about bringing her own children up with the exposure she was given she soon realised that unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.
Working in the charity sector for a number of years including up until 2020 a charity campaigning for women’s rights and opportunities she co-founded the TIRED movement with Stacey because from what she had observed and seen over the last 10 years was that the dance industry was not offering opportunity for all and she wanted to be part of driving this change.
Laura brings to the TIRED movement knowledge of business development, fundraising, marketing, strategy planning, budgeting and finance and experience of campaigning.
Her work in charities has been able to drive change by galvanising funding, partnerships, arranging events and creating pathways to an outcome.
Stacey and Laura have worked together over the last four years to build Freedom Foundation demonstrating that their varied strengths and backgrounds come together to build a strong team who take action
Stacey Green
Stacey Green- IOD Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
“From the very first time I stepped into a ballet class back in 1979, I immediately noticed I was different. Even at the age of just four years old, the predominately white environment I found myself in felt strange but I didn’t know why. I do now.
What was apparent then, is still apparent now. The lack of black representation within dance education is clearly something that needs to be addressed. If children and young people don’t see someone that looks like them at the top of the pyramid of power, then how do they aspire to be in that space or identify with that profession?
As the principal of my own performing arts school and over 25yrs of experience working within the industry, teaching children and young people to embrace not just the artform but their ethnicity has always been paramount. As a mixed race educator I have spent the past 42yrs competing in a sector that is predominately white, with very few opportunities to voice my concerns about the lack of representation within The British Festival Federation and various examining boards.”
Meet the board
Click on the photos to find out about our board.
Anna Morgan
“I am thrilled and honoured to join the advisory board for the TIRED movement, as I am truly passionate about working towards racial equality within the dance industry and specifically within the world of Ballet. I would love to see Ballet become more accessible so that everyone is welcomed and celebrated; on stage, backstage and within the audience. I am hopeful that my roles within various schools, colleges and organisations will allow me to promote the mission of the TIRED Movement.“
Anna trained at the Deborah Capon College, and was also heavily influenced by her time training and working in America. She was represented by Terpsichore Entertainment in New York and worked within theatre and television. Following this she became the company’s UK talent representative, responsible for identifying and guiding talented artists seeking legal employment and representation in the USA.
Anna went on to train as a teacher, running her own school for 6 years, achieving her Licentiate and Fellowship qualifications with the ISTD and becoming a mutually recognised teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. In 2015 she became an Approved Tutor for the ISTD and launched Anna Morgan Dance, a teacher training college delivering the ISTD’s Diploma in Dance Education qualification. Anna spent a number of years on the Ballet faculty at Performers College before joining Bird College as a Ballet Tutor in 2016, where she is also the staff representative to the Board of Directors.
In addition to her role at Bird College and her own teacher training course, Anna’s current work includes being an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, and a tutor for the Royal Ballet School’s teacher training department. Anna continues to teach and choreograph in America, most recently choreographing two original works for Bailar Al Sol in New Jersey, and currently working alongside American company Ballet Forté on an original Contemporary Ballet to debut in London.
Emma Jane Thomas
“Creating a link with The TIRED Movement allows me to move forward with confidence knowing that there is a strong network of organisations out there fighting for change. I’m delighted to be a member of their advisory Board and am looking ahead to the huge impact that working together can make within our industry. “
Emma has earned her reputation as a diverse Commercial dance teacher and choreographer, delivering workshops and dance intensives to schools and colleges throughout the Northwest. Emma’s extensive teaching experience has led to many creative links within the community including choreographing for numerous art based events and fashion shows. Emma delivers Commercial classes to the Hammond students and co-ordinates their Associate Programme. Passionate about increasing Racial Equality within the Dance Industry, Emma has more recently stepped into the additional role of Diversity and Inclusion Leader at The Hammond.
Louise Harrison
“I support the TIRED Movement because as a young mixed race girl growing up I felt many obstacles and prejudice, yet they were not always addressed. There wasn’t a voice for people like me.
Now bringing up black children in the dance industry, I want to see change more than ever. I feel I offer personal experience and believe I have a reach to young people particularly now, running my own dance school, that will be valuable to the TIRED Movement. I can help navigate how we tackle this at a grassroots level.
Being on the advisory board for TIRED is one of my proudest moments, because I feel this is something that can create opportunities and truly give a voice to those who are underrepresented.
TIRED is innovative and is actively trying to create change and this is what makes me proud to be a part of the Movement.”
Born in Manchester, Louise moved to London 20 years ago to become a professional Commercial dancer and is now Mum of 2, Principal of Ignite Dance Company in Hertfordshire and The England Women’s Gymnastics Choreographer and Coach.
Louise trained in many disciplines of dance including Ballet, Tap and Jazz from the age of 3 and at age 17 became a member of Hip Hop crew Culture shock, Dance 2XS and Zoonation.
Louise then went on to specialise in the commercial field, working with numerous artists internationally from Mariah Carey to NE-YO.
Tori Drew
“I support the TIRED movement because everyone in the dance sector should! It’s a no brainer. We all need to work together to ensure everyone has equal access, limelight, exposure and time in the dance sector!”
Tori is Education Manager at ACE dance and music: a nationally and internationally recognised leader in the field of Contemporary African and Caribbean Dance. She has over 20 years dance teaching experience from education to community settings.
Oskar Odiakosa
“l am proud to be amongst such a passionate
team, committed to achieving greater diversity, equity and inclusion in dance. To achieve this, it is important that we include all dance disciplines, which is why I am delighted to join the TIRED Movement Advisory Board and represent Ballroom and Latin American dancing.
I believe that the only obstacle standing in the way of Black dancers reaching their true potential, is the opportunity to do so. I know by being part of the TIRED movement we will create those opportunities and I encourage everyone to be a part of this exciting journey”
Oskar is a competitive Latin American Dancer and Dance Teacher with over 16 years’ experience. Oskar has consistently competed at the highest level and represented England at National and International competitions and is currently the Highest-ranking competitive dancer of Black Origin in Europe.
Oskar is on the Advisory Board for the TIRED movement, representing Ballroom and Latin American and is the Founder and Director of “Black in The Ballroom” a project driven in partnership with the TIRED movement, to racial representation of people from Global Majority backgrounds in Ballroom and Latin American Dance, particularly from Black African, Caribbean, Mixed, Latinx and other Black-identifying backgrounds
Yolanda Offodile
“The Tired Movement means so much to me as it’s a platform for all shades to feel seen, heard and fought for within the industry and beyond. It really does have such a huge impact on fighting injustices and stigmas attached to being a person of colour. As a person who is half Nigerian with a lighter skin complexion, I often felt unsure of who I was or was supposed to be growing up. I changed aspects of who I was to fit in with the ‘IN’ beauty standard whilst having very little access to my heritage growing up in the care system. This is why I believe this platform is super important and incredible, so that young people who experience similar things have access to support and information that will 100% positively impact and benefit their future.”
Yolanda is a professional vocalist, dancer, choreographer, actress and multi-skill performer who has experience performing in the UK and Overseas.
Performances include:
- Production shows
- Small scale theatre tour/tribute
- Weddings
- Stilt walking and fire
- Various corporate and commercial events (including arena show, boxing, adverts and Christmas lights)
Working for companies such as House of Bonita Entertainment, Valcato, AREA51 and more.
Whilst her love and passion lies on the stage, she is also a fully qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer and greatly devoted performing arts teacher graduating with a BA Hons in Performing Arts (2:1) and a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Yolanda has taught a range of classes over the past 4 years including private 1 to 1 and group singing, dance, drama and musical theatre to ages 2-20 in various schools and colleges within Leicestershire and Rutland areas.
Jo Leahy
Andrew James Crawford
“I’m proud to be asked to participate and utilize my past experiences, skills and talents to support the TIRED movement Philosophy. We are truly descended from the seeds of Dance and Movement born from the length and breadth of the African Continent. We are tired of being over-looked. We Master our own Destiny. We are tired of being manipulated. We control our own outcomes. We are tired of being set aside, we Dream, we Inspire we Rise…”
His Motivational Book ‘From a Flicker to a Flame’ helps you understand the power that you already have within you to achieve whatever you set and focus your mind on.
His e-book ‘Protect Your Brand’ was bourne out of the many emails received regarding Fitness Professionals wanting to protect their business, name and brand. It is summarised as much as possible to ensure you can implement the techniques quickly providing future protection for your business.
He delivers talks, Seminars and workshops on a variety of subjects covering Business and Personal Development.
Ryan Francois
I’m really and truly honoured to be joining the advisory board of the TIRED Movement.
All my adult life I’ve lived the struggle of separation between my racial identity and the unrealised desires and ambitions denied to me because I didn’t fit what was considered the racial norm. Always silent, never speaking out because of the fear of punishment for daring to say I matter. Finally, something exists that gives me and so many others like me a place for my voice to be heard without fear. But with the strength to cry out that we matter. Thank you TIRED you represent our future door to real change. “
Producer, choreographer, dancer, instructor and historian, Ryan Francois.
Ryan was part of the Black British resurgence of dancers of African originated dances, that was growing in popularity in eighties Britain.
Technically described as an untrained dancer, nonetheless Ryan developed his knowledge of dance especially the Authentic Jazz Dances from their original source, chiefly Pepsi Bethel and Frankie Manning.
A modern-day pioneer of the vernacular arts he has formed two successful dance companies, choreographed and starred on Broadway. Appeared in and choreographed numerous movies and TV shows including Malcolm X, Swing Kids, Strictly Come Dancing, So You Think you can Dance, Britain’s Got Talent and Dancing With The Stars to name a few. Ryan is also a proud patron of Bird College.
Meet our Dance Ambassadors
