MEET THE IN FOCUS 2026 CHOREOGRAPHERS

Each year, NSCD commissions a breadth of talented artists to collaborate with our CertHE students for their end of year graduation performance – known as IN FOCUS. This year’s choreographers are both passionate about developing the next generation of dancers, and bring their own unique perspectives. In working with them, our students will not only benefit from their technical expertise but also gain valuable insights into the professional world of dance.

The showcase will be taking place on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June at Riley Theatre.

Meet our choreographers:

Amaury Lebrun

Amaury was born in France and trained at the School of American Ballet in New York, where he was chosen by Jerome Robbins for a new creation.

He has worked for various European companies as a soloist including the Ballet du Rhin, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and the Ballet de l’Opéra de Nice, performing works by choreographers including Maurice Béjart, George Balanchine, Nils Christe, Carolyn Carlson, Roland Petit, Hans Van Manen, John Cranko, Jose Limon, Maryse Delente and Myriam Naisy among others.

In 2000, he joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza as a principal, dancing many works by director Nacho Duato as well as works from renowned prestigious choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe, Jacopo Godani, Mats Ek and Wim Vandekeybus.

From 2006 to 2016, alongside his dance and choreographic career, he taught at the Conservatoire of Higher Education in Madrid, Spain. He is often called to teach workshops and masterclasses worldwide and is a member of Nacho Duato’s foundation to stage his work around the world.

As a choreographer, Amaury has created many award-winning original works for companies including Ballet de l’Opéra de Nice, Compañía Nacional de Danza, Centro Coreografico Gallego, Ballet de la Generalitat, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Northern Ballet. His piece Left Unseen (2018), created first for Northern School of Contemporary Dance and then with Phoenix Dance Theatre in its extended version, has been widely acclaimed by critics.

Darren Carr

Darren is a choreographer and educator whose practice is grounded in inclusion, collaboration, and music. His work was shaped by a formative period in the USA studying the technique and performing repertoire of Doris Humphrey, and in reconstructions of choreographers work such as Mark Morris and Paul Taylor.

His choreographic voice is defined by an integrated, ensemble-led approach, bringing together dancers through processes of dialogue and shared authorship. A strong interest in music and sound scoring initiates his work process, he enjoys the constructs within choreography through layered group structures, where rhythm, timing, and spatial patterning create a textured, evolving composition.

Humphrey’s influence is evident in his sensitivity to breath, fall, rebound and recovery, and the dynamic relationship between weight and flow. These principles inform a choreographic style that balances structure with responsiveness, often building complex group landscapes that feel both architecturally precise and organically driven.

Alongside his creative work, Darren maintains a strong commitment to dance education and employability, ensuring his practice remains connected to accessible, real-world contexts.