Meet the NEW GROUND 2025 choreographers - NSCD
 

MEET THE NEW GROUND 2025 CHOREOGRAPHERS

Tuesday 4th November 2025, 3:40pm Meet the NEW GROUND 2025 choreographers

In NEW GROUND, watch three distinct new works made for and with NSCD’s undergraduate students by international guest choreographers:

  • Kevin Edward Turner MBE (Company Chameleon)
  • Iolanda Portogallo
  • Amaury Lebrun

Each brings a different perspective. See the results of their collaborations alongside original student work.

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Kevin Edward Turner MBE (Company Chameleon)

Kevin started dancing at the age of eight with Trafford Youth Dance Theatre. His formal studies were at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance where he gained a first-class degree.

Kevin’s professional engagements include working with Rambert Dance Company, Scottish Dance Theatre, Phoenix Dance Theatre, CassaniDance, Rubberbandancegroup (Canada), Henri Oguike Dance Company, Company Decalage, Mad Dogs Dance Theatre, Finn Walker and Roda. He has worked as an independent artist in collaboration with Gansango in Seattle, Crossfade in Budapest and Navala Chaudhari in London. He has taught in most major British contemporary dance institutions, as well as in Canada, USA, Hungary, Trinidad and Tobago, South Korea, South Africa and all-over continental Europe.

Kevin co-founded Company Chameleon in 2007 and has since created, performed, led, directed, produced and facilitated performances, masterclasses, workshops, residences, interventions and participatory projects nationally and internationally.

In 2025, Kevin was appointed MBE and recognised in the New Year Honours list, for his services to dance and mental health.

Iolanda Portogallo

Iolanda is a freelance artist based in Leeds from Italy.

After graduating from Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) in 2019, she performed and toured with Extended Play and Mobius Dance.

Her professional choreographic journey started at Resolution 2022 with the piece IO and in 2024 she had the pleasure to be the Artist Associate for Phoenix Dance Theatre, sharing pieces such as GYOCO77 and GYOCO99.

From 2022/23 she was a former member of Leedears, an all-style busking crew where she enriched her movement with freestyle training helping develop her Impro Session and sharing her language with people.

In 2025, Kevin was appointed MBE and recognised in the New Year Honours list, for his services to dance and mental health.

Amaury Lebrun

Amaury Lebrun 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 RhinDeutsche Staatsoper Berlin and the Ballet de l’Opéra de Nice, performing works by choreographers including Maurice BéjartGeorge BalanchineNils ChristeCarolyn CarlsonRoland PetitHans Van ManenJohn CrankoJose LimonMaryse 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 KylianOhad NaharinWilliam ForsytheJacopo GodaniMats 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 NiceCompañía Nacional de DanzaCentro Coreografico GallegoBallet de la GeneralitatPhoenix 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.

TICKETS ARE LIVE

NEW GROUND 2025

Wednesday 3 December – Saturday 6 December 2025 at 7.30pm

 

Book now