TRUSTEES
Chair
Elsa Urmston
Trustees
Lyann Kennedy
Cat Stiff
Stephen Mason
Rashila Nama
Megan Gasson
Stuart Waters
Elsa Urmston - Chair of the Board
Dr Elsa Urmston (she/her) is a UK-based independent dance educator and researcher with interests in vocational education, community practice, dance science, and the impact of arts participation. She completed her PhD in Education at the University of Exeter, focusing on the implications of periodisation for dance education. Elsa is an artist-in-residence at Copperdot Studio, Norwich and teaches at numerous Higher Education Institutions including London Contemporary Dance School, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and University of Chichester. She also consults on educational change, having written several dance HE degree programmes, and recently supported London Contemporary Dance School’s adoption of periodisation as part of their curriculum development. She continues to advise on the embedding of dance science education throughout their offer, whilst contributing to longitudinal research focussing on students’ health and wellbeing, and facilitating the teachers’ learning exchange programme at the School. In this role and beyond, Elsa mentors early-and mid-career dance artists, particularly those for whom teaching and dance education are part of their wider portfolio of work. Much of Elsa’s work is also as a researcher-evaluator, exploring dance participation and its impact on people’s lives from social, psychological and health perspectives with companies such as Made by Katie Green, English National Ballet and Dance Umbrella. She is currently evaluating the lasting impact of the Royal Ballet and Opera’s Cultural Champions programme. Previous leadership roles include serving as Chair of the Dance Educators’ Committee (IADMS), Expert Panel Member for One Dance UK Children and Young People programmes and External Examiner for national and international undergraduate and postgraduate dance programmes. She is currently Chair of Dance Network Association, a dance for health organisation based in Essex.
Email:
Board enquiries: elsa@dancenetworkassociation.org.uk
Personal: elsa.urmston@gmail.com
Twitter: @dancescigirl
Lyann Kennedy
​Lyann wanted to be involved with a dynamic and inspirational charity who, with a can-do attitude, are shaping the way dance and movement is seen into this new decade. She has been a consistent member of DNA since we opened in 2015 with various hats to her name, and now sits on the board.
Lyann has worked in community settings for over 18 years within housing, education & training and arts organisations, project managing & facilitating training programmes for socially excluded, unemployed and disabled people across East London and Essex.
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Never wanting to be on stage, Lyann was a founding member of Chain Reaction Youth & Community Theatre, producing and eventually performing in and choreographing many shows over 10 years. Knowing how much confidence the arts brought her personally, Lyann believes in bringing creativity to all, enabling everyone to develop and grow into their ambitions and dreams.
Away from work Lyann enjoys everything the outdoors has to offer, is often found walking, running or horse-riding out in the fresh air.
Rashila Nama
Rashila is an accomplished professional in Human Resource Management, bringing over twenty years of experience shaped by her diverse business and cultural background.
Of British Indian descent with Ugandan-Indian parental roots, she has consistently nurtured organisational growth and development, compliance, and employee well-being through strategic communication, mentorship, and personal values.
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In 2000, after a successful corporate career, Rashila moved into consultancy to address growing HR needs in small and medium-sized enterprises. She has steered private and not-for-profit sectors across various industries, some with international offices focusing on growth, mergers and acquisitions, change management, compliance, and executive support.
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Rashila’s passion for creativity and the performing arts started with her early involvement with Piali Ray, OBE, director and founder of Sampad, Birmingham based dance organisation. This led her to teaching Indian dance for small events and choreographing dance dramas in the community, empowering individuals and enriching local arts and community projects.
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Rashila’s personal and professional journey is deeply influenced by family health experiences. Her experiences have strengthened her advocacy for well-being, inclusion and empowerment, celebrating lived experience as a source of strength.
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Rashila is now eager to leverage her professional expertise to support the growth of a charity that shares her values and passion for dance, wellness and personal development.
Stuart Waters
Stuart is a dance artist, facilitator and accredited coach (EMCC Senior Practitioner) with over 25 years’ experience across performance, teaching and leadership in the UK and internationally. An alumnus of Northern School of Contemporary Dance (BA) and London Contemporary Dance School (MA), his practice has evolved from performing and touring to creating, mentoring and curating projects that centre care, access and inclusion.
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His work explores the intersections of mental health, disability, neurodiversity and queerness within dance, with major projects including Rockbottom (2016–2019), A Queer Collision (2021–2024) and the ongoing Head:ON Conversations.
Stuart has collaborated with organisations such as The Place, Wellcome Collection, FABRIC, South East Dance, Pavilion Dance South West, Arts Council England and Brighton Festival.
He is an advocate for disability and mental health step-change in the sector, currently a trustee of STEPPS, with previous trustee experience at Candoco Dance Company, and is an alumnus of the Unlimited and Clore “Inclusive Cultures” programme.
Megan Gasson
Megan (she/her) is a passionate dancer and advocate for the power of movement to transform lives. Having danced her whole life across a range of styles, Megan brings both energy and versatility to her role as Trustee.
She has previously volunteered with dance-focused initiatives and continues to use dance to support important causes, including participating in awareness campaigns and community-led classes.
Outside of dance, Megan works as a Manufacturing Engineer and Co-Chairs her workplace’s Social and Charity Committee, where she champions physical activity, mental wellbeing and community-building. With experience in choreography, digital media, fundraising and committee governance, Megan is excited to support DNA’s mission through creativity, inclusion and a can-do attitude.
Stephen Mason
Stephen has worked across the arts, dance and education sectors as a dance artist, teacher, and manager. Currently, he is Head of Department of Performing Arts and Senior Lecturer in Dance at Kingston School of Art | Kingston University London where he oversees the dance, drama, and music subject areas and is a member of faculty and university-wide committees. He has held the role of Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Staff Network, worked across the higher education sector external examiner and adviser positions for vocational dance schools and universities, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
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Stephen has worked extensively as a Dance Artist working for schools and dance organisations alongside schools to deliver projects for participants from nursery age to adults. This has included projects for Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance's youth programme, The Place, Greenwich Dance, Richard Alston Dance Company, Danielle Jones' Collective Identity Project, Dance Umbrella, and Loop Dance Company. Stephen continues to work within the dance sector as a Teacher Training Mentor for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
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Stephen is a trained teacher and taught in several further education colleges in London, at a specialist performing arts academy in the West Midlands, working with gifted and talented young dancers and co-directing two youth dance companies. He has been a Board Member for the National Dance Teachers Association and a member of One Dance UK’s Expert Panel for Children and Young People’s Dance.
Cat Stiff
Coming Soon