The artists of SWDT

There is no show without punch...  

Anna,  Emily,  Nicola, Silvia, Katarzyna and Seba

Anna  

Born in London, Anna began training in Cecchetti Ballet at the age of 3, and later attended classes alongside dancers of the Royal and English National Ballet Companies.  Her performing career began with a London based ballet company, Chelsea Ballet, as a soloist performing roles in ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘Coppelia’.

In 2006, she moved to Tokyo, continuing her training at K Ballet and the Tokyo Ballet Company.  In Tokyo, she also discovered salsa and performed with a Latin troupe by the name of Sabor in Roppongi.

Alongside her training and performance Anna has eight years’ experience teaching ballet, which began with Starlight Theatre School in Golders Green and Chelsea Ballet School in Chelsea, where she was a former pupil.

On returning to England, she performed with Ballet Bristol as a founding member and soloist before forming SWDT with Laura Rowlands. Although Laura has sadly since left the company, it has been exciting to see SWDT continue to attract dancers of such brilliant, eye-catching a calibre and multi-faceted talents.

Photo courtesy of Derwood Photography

Emily

Emily began dance training at the young age of 4 joining a local Ballet School. She then attended the Annette Adams School of Dancing to study classical ballet, repertoire and modern.   

She met Anna and Laura through Ballet Bristol.  Taking part in The Bristol Fashion Show was her first professional performance at the age of 18. “I loved every minute of it, so when the girls asked me to take part in a number for SWDT's Gangsters & Molls, I couldn’t wait to do it all again.”  Emily has since uncovered a natural aptitude for choreography as well as performance and has also now joined Anna as co-director of the company.

She is currently taking a break from dancing during maternity leave but continues to support the company with as a co-director

Photo courtesy of Derwood Photography

Nicola

Nicola started dancing at the age of three at her local dance school in Milton Keynes. Whilst studying ballet, tap and jazz she had the opportunity to perform in many amateur productions, pantomimes and dance shows at local venues.

In 2007 she moved to Bath to study Music at Bath Spa University, where she became involved with some local youth theatre groups. She is now choreographer for Merriman Theatre group based in Midsomer Norton, and runs Merriman Dance Academy which she set up to provide younger members of the group the opportunity to further develop their dance technique. Joining South West Dance Theatre has provided an opportunity to really focus on dance and put her ballet and contemporary technique to the test.

While Nicola no longer performs with the company, she remains a member of the directoral board. 

Silvia

Silvia aka Bgirl Danger started her dancing journey in 2010. Throughout the years Silvia has acquired valuable multidisciplinary dance experience taking parts in shows and competitions all over Europe. Some examples are “Les Riches Contre Les Pauvres” with the Dance company Wiz’art, and “Wind In The Willow” by Metta Theatre Company this latter reached the West end stage. She has also competed in Major breakin events such as: Break the floor in Slovenia and Bonnie and Clyde; IBE in the Netherlands. Silvia joined SWDT in 2022 and loves combining various dance styles. Her favorite move is the Windmill.

Katarzyna

Meet Katarzyna, a talented dancer and choreographer who graduated from University with a specialization in Dance. With a passion for movement and expression, Katarzyna has honed her skills through various experiences, including participating in nationwide contemporary dance workshops and an international summer school dedicated to contemporary dance. Her dedication to the art form is evident in her involvement in dance performances like "Antiquity - Dance in Re-construction," where she brings history to life through movement. Not only does Katarzyna excel on stage, but she also shares her expertise by conducting dance classes, inspiring others to explore the world of dance. From the age of 7, Katarzyna has been immersed in the world of dance, and her journey continues to be one of creativity, passion, and artistic growth.

Seba

Sebastián Morales Castillo is a dancer and multidisciplinary artist dedicated to Breaking, with 16 years of training. He has been involved in various audiovisual, theatrical, and choreographic projects including works with Breakin' Convention, ACTA Theatre Bristol, and Immersive Cypher