MA Dance Training and Education, Distinction, London Contemporary Dance School, 2008
BA(Hons) Contemporary Dance, London Contemporary Dance School, 2004
Northern Ballet School Diploma (R.A.D. TC and 4 ISTD Associates), Distinction, 1997
Additional Qualifications & Continuing Professional Development
Clore Discover Programme 2021
Culture Reset Programme Summer 2020
Relational Dynamics 1st, Life Coach, June 2017
Clore Emerging Leader, 2016
Role and responsibilities:
Francesca manages the effective delivery and ongoing development of undergraduate programmes at NSCD. She works closely with the Principal, Vice Principal, and heads of department to support students and staff to thrive in the NSCD environment.
Key responsibilities include:
I am thankful for a career in dance, something I have always been passionate about and fortunate enough to be supported with. I began my professional training when Local Authorities offered grants by audition. which enabled me to move away from my family at the age of 16, from suburban Essex to the big city of Manchester to attend ballet school.
Ballet school was an experience not to be forgotten. It certainly formed the foundations of my desire to support students’ physical and mental health just as much as their physical, creative and artistic skills and understanding.
My subsequent training and career in contemporary dance have brought me great joy. There have been challenges along the way, of course, but I am keen for people to see that a career in dance/the artistic and creative sector is possible for them. It can be exciting, allows you to travel the world, and can also bring contentment
My wife and I have adopted two sons which has made me even more acutely aware of the challenges experienced by young people today. We are faced with a number of social, economic and environmental challenges which are felt as an immense pressure by many young people. I believe the transformative power of dance can alleviate this pressure, allowing us to reflect what we see and feel, to comment on it, and to change it. I believe this, because I have experienced it. Dance changed my life and I would not be where I am now had I not been offered the funded opportunity to attend ballet school aged 16. I owe a great deal to that opportunity and to my parents for supporting me. It’s my desire to pay that good fortune forward.
During her first experience of vocational dance training at Northern Ballet School, Manchester, Francesca developed a clear interest in teaching. After graduating with multiple industry-recognised teaching qualifications and a range of performance experience, she moved to Tromsø, Norway. Whilst working here, Francesca discovered a passion for contemporary dance which ultimately led her back to the UK to train at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS), after one year at Roehampton University. During her years as a student at LCDS and on graduating, she built a teaching portfolio delivering classes for Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, LCDS, Middlesex University, and The Urdang Academy amongst others. Keen to develop her practice further for the conservatoire sector specifically, Francesca embarked upon the MA Dance Training and Education course at LCDS, graduating with Distinction. Since joining NSCD in 2007 Francesca has enjoyed a number of different roles in the institution ahead of taking up the post of Head of Undergraduate Studies.
Key aspects of her current role are:
