Led by the artistic vision of director Danielle Jones, Luminelle creates meaningful and high quality artistic work and experiences rooted in a deeply individual and responsive process. Our work is devised with and for communities through an approach which prioritises the process and experience. We accept and champion vulnerability, follow a journey of deep discovery and self expression, and bring out the personal and unique stories of each individual. Our dance and live art projects, programmes, and events, reveal the heart of human experience. Participants and artists who work with Luminelle are artfully held, heard, and accepted as they are.
Our work is devised with and for communities through an approach which prioritises the process and experience. We accept and champion vulnerability, follow a journey of deep discovery and self expression, and bring out the personal and unique stories of each individual. Our dance and live art projects, programmes, and events, reveal the heart of human experience. Participants and artists who work with Luminelle are artfully held, heard, and accepted as they are.
Our recent enquiries have led to the development of an award winning artistic film ‘a place we go… together’ featuring dancers with Parkinson’s; a nationally touring visual art and photography exhibition ‘who we are now, and then…’ which toured to hospitals, libraries, and arts venues through 2021-22; and a live-art, interactive performance piece ‘Kindred’ for parents and their little ones under five, which premiered at Oxford’s Tiny Ideas Festival, 2023.
Our recent partnerships in dance and health include ‘Undercurrent’, a co-creative project with UCLH stroke wards, and ‘Collective IDentity’ with St. Georges Hospital, UCLH, and St. Joseph’s hospice, bringing dance to multiple locations online and in person for people with Parkinson’s throughout 2021-22. With two decades of experience designing and collaborating with health and arts partners, Luminelle leads groundbreaking dance and health programmes that place dancing at the centre, and champion the intrinsic value of the arts.
Our practice is improvisational and responsive, reflecting people and their experiences on a personal level, meaning we create open and supportive spaces that naturally invite our participants from all places, spaces, and backgrounds, to connect with their creative expression. We joyfully collaborate together to craft interdisciplinary work from dance to music, creative writing, photography, film and visual arts.
Artistic Director
Danielle Jones
Danielle Jones is an industry leading artist, director, and researcher whose work is driven by people and their stories, offering a chance for ordinary human life to be given value and for people to be seen. As a professional artist-researcher, founder and Artistic Director of Luminelle, Danielle has two decades experience developing large scale projects and working with multiple partners including regional, national and international dance companies, NHS and health settings, libraries, and arts venues. Danielle believes in the radical act of care in a careless society, and the value of offering truly person centred experiences to people in a genuine and non-commodified way. Her practice aims to do this, and to build a relationship of trust and mutual respect with others. Jones has been a leading contributor to practice and research in dance and health. She has been a leader of programme design in dance for health and inclusive practice, and has worked internationally in dance and Parkinson’s and Dementia. Jones’ most recent work (2021-23) has seen her contribute and lead international professional exchange and training programmes including with and for companies such as Sadler’s Wells Young Associates, Royal Opera House, Royal Ballet School, Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG), Dance Ireland, Arts Partnership Surrey, PDSW, Dance Base, Casson and Friends, Yorkshire Dance, and People Dancing. Danielle’s work with Luminelle includes award winning documentary and artistic film, live and digital exhibitions, live performances, publicly accessible reports, and conference presentations. Danielle has an MA in community dance (2016), received the Lisa Ullman Travel Scholarship for Dance for health and Parkinson’s (2014-15) and was awarded Dance UK future leaders in dance (2015).
Danielle and Skapin’s long term collaborative relationship is marked by their shared belief in universal creativity, ability to connect through individual and communal use of improvisation and a right to artistic expression. They share the belief in the potential of Dancing with Parkinson’s as a programme at the intersection of community and cutting-edge artistic work and in exploring a more human centred approach to music and art making.
Senior Producer
Emma Kerr is a dynamic dance producer with over 13 years experience of leading and delivering live events, festivals, shows, community dance programmes and participatory projects. Passionate about access to high quality dance for all, Emma was most recently working at Pavilion Dance South in the post of Head of Engagement at Pavilion Dance South West, devising a long term engagement strategy building PDSWs relationships with their local communities. She is an open minded collaborator with experience across producing, engagement and community work through previous roles at Green Candle Dance Company, Rambert Dance Company, East London Dance and English National Ballet. Emma is an RD1st accredited coach which builds on her collaborative ethos and passion for enabling and supporting others towards achieving their goals.
CID tour Producer
Sammy Gillingham is a kind and optimistic creative collaborator, working across the arts sector in roles including Dance Artist, Site Manager, Project Manager & Assistant Producer. Based in Dorset, she has 7 years experience supporting, delivering & leading on community & participatory workshops & programmes; outdoor arts events & festivals; youth advisory & early careers development programmes & developing relationships with partners & supporters. Sammy began working for Activate Performing Arts in 2015, as part of the Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries scheme, and has held a variety of roles since, with current posts as Project Manager for Dorset Youth Dance & Assistant Producer for Inside Out Dorset festival. She has also worked with organisations & individuals including Pavilion Dance South West, Dorchester Arts, Kate McStraw & Butterfly Theatre Company. Sammy is a member of the South West Dance Artist Network and is a Trustee of youth music charity B Sharp.
Coordinator
Jasmine Hall is a community dance artist and arts project coordinator based in London. She specialises in working with people with Parkinson’s, Dementia and other neurological conditions, as well as young people with physical and learning disabilities. From delivering dance projects in care homes, residential establishments to SEND schools and community centres, Jasmine devises her own programmes of work and has collaborated with a range of arts organisations. These include Trinity Laban, Dance East, Royal Academy of Dance, Green Shoes Arts, Dash Dot Dance, SLiDE and Luminelle. Inclusivity, connection and freedom is integral to Jasmine’s work and she is passionate about creating movement opportunities for all. She is currently a Lead Artist for the Royal Academy of Dance’s inclusive primary school dance programme called RADiate and is delivering projects in schools around London with Step Into Dance.
Jasmine began her journey with Danielle as a mentee in 2018, which led her to take on the role as Supporting Artist for the Dancing with Parkinson’s programme. She facilitated classes at St. Joseph’s Hospice in collaboration with musician, Jaka Skapin. Jasmine is now Luminelle’s coordinator as well as a Collaborating Artist on our pilot programme UNDERCURRENT, based in the Acute Stroke Ward at UCLH.
Music Director (CID Project)
Jaka Skapin is a UK based artist, singer, improviser, composer and producer, originally from Slovenia. He has worked with Danielle Jones and the Dancing with Parkinson’s programme since 2016. As collaborators, Skapin and Danielle have worked as co-designers of the CID project approach and bring together a strong team of multi-disciplinary artists. Skapin’s live work is based on collaborative vocal improvisation, and its potential for interdisciplinary convergence with movement, image and sound. Recent partners include Tate Modern, Royal Opera House, Sound Connections, PRS for Music, Southbank Centre, Universal Music UK and Sony Music UK. Skapin has produced music that featured on BBC 6, BBC 2, JazzWise, Afropunk, KCRW, Earmilk, Clash Magazine, Jazz FM, The Selector, The Independent and BBC 1Xtra. Over the last 12 months, he has received commissions from Sound & Music, and The British Music Collection, as well as produced the world’s first fully improvised, song based, six voice album, due for release in 2021.
Collaborating Artist
Effie McGuire Ward is a contemporary dance artist based in Milton Keynes. She undertakes work as a performer, choreographer and teacher across community dance, educational and professional settings. Her interests lie both within performing & devising pieces and facilitating spaces where each individual is valued within a community.
Performance projects have seen Effie work with Shobana Jeyasingh, Rosemary Lee, Gary Clarke, Hannah Pickett, Stopgap Dance Company, Ffin Dance, NOCTURN and Two Thirds Sky. In most recent years, Effie has collaborated with JoinedUp Dance Company for BBC Contains Strong Language Festival; and has appeared as a Fairy for the Brook Theatre’s Christmas productions in Chatham: created by resident companies Loop Dance, Play on Words Theatre Company and Icon Theatre.
Effie currently teaches contemporary classes for Tring Park Associates. Her teaching and facilitation roles have included delivering classes, workshops and choreographic residencies for Rambert, Rambert School, DanceXchange, Motionhouse, Arts1 School of Performance, Hull Dance, and Yorkshire Movement and Dance. She also co-founded and co-directed MÓTUS, a dance festival for Milton Keynes for its first five years.
Effie began connecting with Danielle Jones in 2019 through the Collectivity and Identity Project and Dancing with Parkinson’s Company at Poplar Union. Since then, the CID Project has been an important companion of reciprocal nurture, trust and possibility for Effie.
Collaborating Artist
Ella Fleetwood is an independent contemporary dance artist.
Ella trained on the CAT scheme at The Place and graduated with a First Class degree from Trinity Laban in 2016. Ella has enjoyed performing with Springs Dance Company, Bicycle Ballet and in her own work through ella&co. She has previously received choreographic commissions from Big Ideas, GradLab Project and Newcomen Collet Foundation. Her interest in people drives her socially engaged practice and has involved creating new work with refugee groups and young people. Her work is currently supported by Arts Council England. Ella is a community dance artist and facilitates in a range of community settings. Inclusivity, creativity and play are at the heart of her practice. Ella is a lead dance artist for The Place, Sadler’s Wells, DanceWest, Springs Dance Company and Magpie Dance for people with learning disabilities. Ella recently consulted in Parable Dance’s film ‘Inclusive practice is good practice’, which brought together 42 of the UK’s leading inclusive dance practitioners.