About Us

Leicester ProDance Initiative was founded by Lisa Ziemann, a dance artist based between Leeds, Birmingham & Leicester. Lisa grew up in Leicester & then trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance and achieved a BA (hons) and MA in Contemporary Dance Performance. During her apprenticeship, Lisa performed and toured with Company Chameleon. Lisa has worked with Anjali Dance Company, DaDance (in Mexico) Beyond Boarders, Birmingham Dance Network, Creature Encounters, Tom N Rob & ThickSkin Theatre. 

​

Photo credit: Anastasia Jobson 

Esmé is a Leicester-based freelance dance facilitator and LPI's social media manager. She trained at De Montfort University to gain a BA (hons) in Dance and an MA in Performance Practices. She has participated in R&D projects and performances across the Midlands, led by Danni Spooner, Jo Breslin & Chris Foster, Lucy Suggate, and Will Dickie.

​

Esmé also works as an arts project administrator and evaluator, and has enjoyed working alongside artists and organisations which focus on disability inclusion within the arts. They have an interest in queer performance practices, and hope to undertake their PhD to research and develop work in this field.

Amy Dalton-Hardy is a freelance Consultant, Producer, Senior Leader, Mentor & Advisor, with a background & specialism in dance. Originally from Leicester she holds a BA (hons) in Dance & Culture from University of Surrey, along with postgraduate study (PGC:DC) from Trinity Laban. Amy now works across the Midlands region, on a varied portfolio supporting artists, companies & organisations to realise their ideas and, find the money! 

Louise Katerega (she/her) is a versatile contributor to the UK dance scene and especially acknowledged for her national and international development work in dance involving disabled people. Based in Braunstone, Leicester, she has enjoyed a broad 25-year portfolio career as a performer, teacher, choreographer, mentor and adviser to individuals and organisations. Her main role now is as Associate Producer for Change, an equity, equality, diversity and inclusion role, at People Dancing, Britain’s lead organisation for community and participatory dance.

Louise trained at London Contemporary Dance School, Coventry University (Performing Arts) holds a first class degree in Film and Literature from the University of Warwick and trained as a life coach. She serves the boards of Phoenix Dance Theatre, ArtReach, Turned On Its Head Early Years Dance Theatre, Sidekick Dance, ASSITEJ UK and NeSSie.  

​

Photo credit: Benedict Johnson

​

Robert/Rob Hemming is a Dutch- British dance artist based in Birmingham UK. He studied at ArtEZ University of the Arts in the Netherlands & London Contemporary Dance School / The Place where he received a BA (Hons) degree in contemporary dance. As a performer, Robert has worked with companies and artists including, Kirsten Adkins, Altered Skin – Shane Shambhu , LYNNEBEC, Cristina D’Alberto, INFUSEdance and others. Robert is a steering group member for Birmingham Professional Class and co-director of Tom N Rob. As a duo, with Tom Bright, Tom N Rob are associate artists with Open Theatre, BBC New Creatives and UK New Artists. Rob is further a lead artist with Anjali Dance Company, with whom Robert has created El Moviemento, a film collaboration with DaDance in Mexico for Unlimited and the British Council. Within these various roles Rob shares his inclusive dance & theatre practise, creating & supporting staged work and dancefilm. 

​

Rob supports LPI in various ways behind the scenes and advises and advocates for the integration of artists who may or may not identify as neurodiverse or disabled. He further supports LPI in writing formal boring documents and tedious applications.