http://jossarnottdance.com/emergence/

Emergence, Manchester (2026)

16/10/2026

ANNOUNCING OUR FINAL CHOREOGRAPHERS FOR EMERGENCE 2027/28‼️🌟

JOSS ARNOTT and LISA MARIE ROBINSON
Joss Arnott Dance Lisa Marie Robinson

Joss is the Artistic Director of Emergence and professional dance company Joss Arnott Dance.
Founding Joss Arnott Dance in 2010, Joss is an internationally award-winning choreographer whose artistic vision is fuelled by creating a portfolio of work for a diverse range of audiences which are at the heart of everything he produces, including indoor, outdoor and family-orientated productions. He has a trademark, athletic choreographic language that is grown from classical and contemporary techniques and inspired by music.

Artistically directing Emergence for the past 9 years, Emergence has established itself as a leading postgraduate performance company that tours newly commissioned performance work by internationally acclaimed choreographers each year. The programme’s employability success is evident with dancers having thriving careers in the arts, with graduates joining leading dance companies and sustaining portfolio careers in the sector.

APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN NEXT WEEK FOR OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY COHORT STARTING
SEPTEMBER 2027! 🙌

LISA MARIE ROBINSON Lisa Marie Robinson

Lisa Marie Robinson is a passionate contemporary dance artist originally from the North East of England. Her contemporary dance journey began at Dance City CAT in Newcastle, where her love for contemporary dance was first ignited. She then continued her training at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London.

Eager to deepen her artistry, Lisa completed her MA with Emergence 23. During this time, she toured nationally and collaborated with artists and companies including FLOCK (Alice Klock & Florian Lochner), Anthony Missen and Joss Arnott.

Throughout her training and career, Lisa has worked with a range of renowned choreographers and companies such as Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures (Youth Cast), Shobana Jeyasingh, Alleyne Dance, Southpaw Dance Company, Michaela Cisarikova Dance Company, 201 Dance Company and Robert Anderson.

Now based in London as a freelance artist, Lisa is agency represented and continues to grow her creative practice as a freelance

14/10/2026

ANNOUNCING THE SECOND CHOREOGRAPHER FOR EMERGENCE 2027/2028 - OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY COHORT! 📣

SEIRIAN GRIFFITHS
Seirian Griffiths

Seirian (“Say-ree-an”) (he/him) is a movement artist, choreographer, musician, and teacher based in London, originally from Nottingham. His physical practice ‘Gravity Mechanics’ is centred around bodily efficiency and technical clarity allowing for freedom of motion and expression. Seirian’s work is influenced by his background in a wide range of disciplines including floor-work, tricking, contemporary dance, improvisation, and martial arts.

Since graduating Rambert School he has worked with companies including BalletBoyz, Punchdrunk, Russell Maliphant Dance Company, Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet, as well as collaborating with Kim Brandstrup on ‘Echo and Narcissus’, and ‘Breaking Bach’. As a freelancer, he has featured in campaigns, videos and performances for major brands and high-profile music artists.

Seirian first began choreographing during his time in training and has since go on to make multiple self-produced works, including ‘Dead End Resurrection’ and ‘Parallel Lines Meet At Infinity’. In early 2026 Seirian choreographed a narrative solo work ‘Interchange’ which received critical acclaim, followed closely by ‘Motor Cortex’ for the BalletBoyz 25th Anniversary UK tour - Still Pointless.

Premiering in November at Sadler’s Wells, he is co-choreographing ‘Six Lethargies’ alongside Ivan Perez, and in 2027 will be presenting a new original dance-theatre creation at The Place. As a passionate musician, Seirian often scores his own work, as well as taking commissions for dance theatre and film productions.

APPLICATIONS OPEN NEXT WEEK FOR OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY COHORT STARTING
SEPTEMBER 2027!

APPLY VIA THE LINK IN OUR BIO🔗

12/10/2026

ANNOUNCING OUR FIRST CHOREOGRAPHER FOR EMERGENCE 2027/28 - OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY COHORT! 🤩🤩

YEJI KIM!
Yeji Kim

Yeji Kim is a South Korean choreographer and dance artist known for her powerful, physical work that explores what it means to be human. She is passionate about creating dance work with emotion and authenticity at its heart.

Yeji trained at the Korea National University of Arts and has completed a post graduate diploma at London Contemporary Dance School. For 16 years she was a member of Hofesh Shechter Company, during which she intensely developed her craft as a dance artist, shaping her profound physicality, artistry and commitment to dance. Her dedication led her to become workshop leader and rehearsal assistant for HSC, as well as a certified Pilates instructor.

In 2025 Yeji co-founded YAK Dance with Kenny Wing Tao Ho to create groundbreaking dance and film work exploring integrity, authenticity and the human experience. Their first work ‘ARRIVAL’ was sponsored by ONE ArtCentre’s International Choreographic Residency Program and was previewed to critical acclaim in Shanghai. Her choreographic work has been presented internationally and she has been commissioned by Korea National University of Arts, Rambert School, Fengling Productions, New Earth Theatre, X Young Dance School, Central School of Ballet, and The Greater Bay Area Dance Festival. Recent work includes ‘ARRIVAL’ and ‘Pigs in Heaven’ for YAK Dance, and ‘The Golden Future’ for X Young Dance School.

Yeji continues to inspire people around the world, teaching workshops and residencies around the world. In addition to developing her choreographic work she is also a diligent Pilates teacher. She continues to work with Hofesh Shechter as a rehearsal director for Shechter II and is studying a Masters Degree in Choreography at Central School of Ballet.

APPLICATIONS TO JOIN OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY COHORT OPEN NEXT WEEK!

Stay tuned to see who our next choreographer is! ⭐️⭐️

07/10/2026

INTRODUCING EMERGENCE '27🌟

Next up we have...

Emma Wolstenholme
emma wolstenholme

Emma is a dancer of Japanese and British heritage, born and raised in Greater Manchester. Her love for dance was evident from a young age, with improvisation naturally being an instinctive form of expression. She began training at six, studying ballet, tap and modern at local dance schools, later branching into jazz and lyrical.

Her passion for contemporary dance took shape through the CAT scheme at the Lowry, where she began developing her artistic voice and growing in confidence as a performer.

After studying dance at Ashton Sixth Form College and performing many styles in shows, Emma went on to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, graduating with a First-Class Honours BA in Contemporary Dance. Her time there empowered her to refine techniques, hone her personal style and strengthen the curiosity and drive that fuel her professional ambitions. During her studies, she collaborated closely with choreographers such as Lea Anderson, Joseph Toonga and Stephanie Schober, as well as musicians, gaining hands-on experience of professional creative processes and the discipline of working environments.

Improvisation remains at the heart of Emma's practice - it's where her dance journey began in her living room, and where she continues to explore, release and grow. She finds a unique sense of expression and connection through spontaneous movement with music, embracing every chance to improvise.

Emergence is the next step in Emma's professional path: a space to learn, perform and push her abilities to their fullest. She aims for this to launch her into her professional career in a company, performing while teaching and continuing to develop her creativity.

This concludes all our introductions to our Amazing Dancers !!!
HAWK PHOTO FILM

07/10/2026

INTRODUCING EMERGENCE '27 🌟

Next up we have...

Madeleine Upward
madeleineupward

Madeleine was born in Edinburgh and began taking baby ballet classes at age 3 at her local dance school, Dance for All. Here she studied the RAD syllabus where she found her love for dance, leading her to be a part of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Associates at age 12.

After successfully auditioning for Northern Ballet School, she moved to Manchester at age 17. In her second year, she specialised in the classical pathway where she focused on ballet and contemporary. This course helped her discover her passion for contemporary dance and give a new outlook into movement. During her training, she got the opportunity to perform at Ballet Nights in Manchester Opera House in 'The Bellwether Suite' by Gavin McCaig, alongside performing on 'Move It!' main stage 2025/2026 in choreography by Ryan Upton. In her graduate show, she got to perform her own group choreography 'Figures', being the first student piece in the final year show before graduating with a Level 6 Diploma in 2026.

Madeleine has also taken part in summer intensives that have helped her develop as an artist and work with renowned choreographers. Attending Mark Bruce Company and Scottish Dance Theatres intensives, she studied company repertoire and learnt choreography by Sofia Nappi, Edouard Hue and Roser López Espinosa.

Who's next ?
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07/10/2026

INTRODUCING EMERGENCE '27 🌟

Next up we have...

Perdie Smith!
perdie

Perdie is a contemporary dance artist from Brighton, where she trained with Ceyda Tanc Dance youth companies alongside completing her Dance BTEC at Varndean College. This ignited her passion for dance through providing her with a varied training, mix of Turkish Folk, contemporary and improvisation, and a space to experiment with her own movement style.

She recently graduated with a First-Class Honours from London Contemporary Dance School at The Place. Throughout her training, Perdie developed her sense of self within her movement and gravitated towards ground based and improvisational practices. Her interests lie in fluid and intricate movements and she has a distinctive movement vocabulary that is constantly inspired by the people she works with. She finished her degree by performing in the UK premiere of Stephanie Lake's 'Colossus' at the Southbank Centre and in Galway International Arts Festival.

Perdie has collaborated with a variety of artists including Sir Richard Alston, Monique Jonas, Grace Nicol, Simeon Qsyea, Amici Dance Theatre, Chess Dillon-Reams, Stephanie Lake Company and Holly Blakey.

Now based in Salford, Perdie is eager to evolve her practice further and continue to collaborate with a variety of different artists. She aspires to forge inclusive and accessible dance spaces so that movement can be enjoyed by everyone.

Who's next ?
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04/10/2026

INTRODUCING EMERGENCE ‘27 🌟

Next up we have…

Neve Noonan
Neve Noonan

Neve is a contemporary dance artist from Harrogate, who has recently completed her degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, where she completed her BA in Contemporary Dance.
Neve began her contemporary training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance CAT scheme, which developed her performance skills and technique.
During her time at Trinity Laban, Neve worked with choreographers such as Otis- Cameron Carr, Tough Boys and Divya Kasturi, which has exposed her to a wide variety of techniques and styles, allowing her to become more versatile and nurture her creativity. In her second year at Trinity Laban, Neve did her exchange at NYU Tisch School of the Arts where she worked with companies such as Dual Rivet, Komoco Dance and Uprooted Jazz Education. This experience allowed her to work collaboratively and develop her skills in pertormance.
Neve is excited to continue evolving her practice with Emergence and is excited for the opportunities to come.

Stay tuned to see who’s next!
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03/10/2026

INTRODUCING EMERGENCE ‘27 🌟

Next up we have…

Toby Newell
TM_Motus

Toby Newell is a dance artist, performer and dance scientist whose movement practice spans contemporary dance, breaking, street dance and rhythm-based movement.
He holds a BSc in Dance Science from the University of Chichester and is currently completing his MA Dance Performance and Professional Practices (EMERGENCE) at the University of Salford. During the second year of his undergraduate degree, Toby undertook an international exchange at the University of Calgary, Canada, where he expanded his artistic and movement practice through training with artists and companies including W&M Physical Theatre and Marie France Forcier.
Toby has performed and worked with companies including ZoieLogic Dance Theatre, FuzzyLogic, ORB Dance Company, Hampshire Youth Dance Company, Luke Brown Dance Company,
ANIMATE and Lila Dance. His experience spans professional performance, touring, collaborative creation, interdisciplinary work and community-based projects.
Drawing from contemporary dance, breaking and his background in Dance Science, Toby is particularly interested in rhythm, physicality and movement exploration. His practice continually looks for ways to challenge habitual movement, push physical boundaries and discover new possibilities for expression throuah the body.

02/10/2026

INTRODUCING EMERGENCE ‘27 🌟

Next up we have…

Chelsea Mitchell mitchell

Originally from Kent, Chelsea first explored dance independently, teaching herself through online videos alongside her training in karate, before developing an interest in contemporary dance. Her background in karate developed her discipline, strength and physical awareness, which she later brought into her dance practice.
She continued her dance training at Highworth Grammar School for Girls, studying GSCE and A Level Dance before progressing to the University of Chichester where she graduated with a BA (Hons) Dance Performance.
During her time at the University of Chichester, Chelsea developed her practice as both a performer and emerging artist and in her final year, she became a member of 3Fall Dance Company under the Artistic Direction of Abi Mortimer, performing and touring works by choreographers including Ceyda Tanc, Kj Mortimer and Luke Birch across venues in the South of England. Alongside performing, she developed her own choreographic work exploring the relationship between movement, music and physicality. She is excited to be a part of Emergence and develop her skills further.
Outside of dance Chelsea enjoys music, traveling, yoga and keeping active.

Who’s next? 👀
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01/10/2026

INTRODUCING EMERGENCE ‘27 🤩

Next up we have…

India Mallorie
india mallorie

India Mallorie is a contemporary dance artist born in Bath and based in London. She trained at London Contemporary Dance School, graduating earlier this year in 2026 following performances at Southbank Centre and Galway International Arts Festival.

India trained in classical ballet before discovering contemporary dance and is passionate about Cunningham, release and improvisation. During her time at The Place, she performed works by Stephanie Lake, Sir Richard Alston, Monique Jonas, Hofesh Shechter and Company Wayne Mcregor. Throughout her time with Emergence, she plans to continue developing her technique and further explore her choreographic practice in her MA dissertation.

As well as dance, India is passionate about fashion, art, music and writing, sometimes incorporating spoken word into her performances.

Most of all she is looking forward to touring across the UK and bringing contemporary dance to audiences that may not have encountered it before.

Can you guess who is up next?

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