We’d like to take this opportunity to let you know about some changes to staff roles within LCDS, as well as updates about new people joining and returning after leave.

Senior Management Team:

In her role of Chief Academic Officer, Dr Lise Uytterhoeven is a key part of the Senior Leadership Team of The Place, alongside Clare Connor (Chief Executive), Caroline Busby (Chief Financial Officer) and Eddie Nixon (Artistic Director). Under the strategic guidance of the Chief Executive (who remains Accountable Officer reporting directly to the Office for Students) and in line with the mission, vision and values set out in the strategic plan 24-29, Lise will continue to lead the growth and innovation of London Contemporary Dance School’s Higher Education programmes as a world-leading dance education and research institute.

As Director of Higher Education: Performance and International Development, Baptiste Bourgougnon will support Lise in leading the growth and innovation in undergraduate and postgraduate Performance courses, with a particular focus on artistic innovation and excellence, as well as to spearhead new, and strengthen existing, international partnerships throughout LCDS. Baptiste will be responsible for the artistic and operational leadership of LCDS’s Performance courses to ensure an outstanding student experience leading to world-leading student outcomes. He will also lead the innovation and strategic development of short courses, workshops and intensives.

Josh Slater, in the role of Director of Higher Education: Pedagogy and Enhancement, will support Lise in leading the growth and innovation in our higher education courses, with a particular focus on pedagogic innovation, teaching excellence and quality enhancement. He will be responsible for the pedagogic and operational leadership of the LCDS faculty and lead the innovation and delivery of current and future undergraduate and postgraduate study courses and pathways. Josh will join Lise as Co-Chair of the School’s Senior Management Team.

They will continue to work alongside Anna Helsby as Director of Student Well-Being and Lifecycle and Efrosini Protopapa as Director of Research,

Erica Stanton’s contract as Interim Head of Postgraduate Courses has come to an end, with the line management of postgraduate staff now integrated with that of undergraduate staff through the new SMT structure. We will continue to work with Erica in a different capacity this year to support the re/validations of postgraduate courses.

Sharon Coleman is taking on the oversight of the Library alongside her previous responsibility for Costume and AV Resources as Head of Learning Resources. Sharon is also continuing as BA1 Year Group Coordinator and Unit 1 Leader.

We are delighted to welcome back Beth Burrage who is returning from maternity leave to the Head of Registry and Quality role. Earlier this week, we said goodbye to Yvette Curtin, whose maternity cover contract had come to an end.

Finally, one of our Senior Management Team members is now using a different name: Stephanie Mattiussi (née De’Ath), who continues in the role of Head of Dance Science and Health.

Faculty:

We are delighted that Olu Alatise will be taking on the responsibility of BA2 Year Group Coordinator, alongside continuing to be Unit 4 Leader.

Khyle Eccles will be taking on the new role of Cert HE Coordinator, supporting the implementation of the new Cert HE Preparation for Contemporary Dance course. He will continue in his existing role of Lecturer in Physical Development (Strength and Conditioning).

Kate Rogan, Lecturer in Physical Development (Pilates) will be leaving LCDS mid-September to take on an exciting new full-time role in a different organisation. Term 1 Pilates classes will be delivered by Ashley Brain.

In June, we welcomed Léa Tirabasso to the MA Dance: Performance team as Artistic Coordinator.

Amarnah Amuludun will take on the role of Unit 1 Leader on the MA Dance: Performance this autumn term.

School Office / Student Services:

Christy Paul takes on the role of Assessment and Quality Officer and Assistant to the Chief Academic Officer. She will be the key contact for students and staff in relation to assessments and is responsible for the efficient operation and enhancement of administrative systems, policies, and procedures, for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Christy will oversee the Student Voice aspects of quality enhancement and continue to support financial processing for LCDS, the Student Fund and LCDS Bursary. Christy will be supporting Lise with diary management and certain projects.

George Frampton’s role of Space, Timetable, and Staff Administration Coordinator has become more focused on the efficient operation and enhancement of timetabling systems and procedures for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. She is also responsible for coordinating the contracting of hourly-paid staff and freelancers engaged with the School.

Grace Roscoe will continue to contribute to the smooth running of the day-to-day responsibilities of the School Office and provide administrative support to staff generally as LCDS Administrative Assistant. She supports student space bookings, student societies, student records, attendance registers and assessment administration.

Rho Thomas's contract as Producer (LCDS Creative Projects) has concluded. Going forward, LCDS will engage freelance producers as needed for specific projects. We thank Rho for all their work and hope to be working with them in a freelance capacity in the future.

Recruitment and Outreach:

Working with Cindy Cheung and Andrea Barzey, Laura Goodwin has begun her role as Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, supporting our widening participation work through partnership development, outreach activities, and recruitment initiatives.

Following Megan Bader and Emma Tweedie’s departures from the organisation, we will be recruiting a new part-time Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator to work alongside Cindy Cheung this year whilst we work on the development of a CRM system to support our admissions cycle.