Associate Artists

Bonachela Dance Company

Bonachela Dance Company is a dynamic touring company, working collaboratively across art forms and disciplines to develop a highly innovative new language and context for contemporary dance, under the unique artistic direction of acclaimed choreographer Rafael Bonachela.

Founded on Bonachela's interest in the physicality and emotional impulse of the body, and his belief that movement is an intelligent action and a self-sufficient expressive medium, BDC brings together artists from diverse practices to create revolutionary new work which makes each performance an extraordinary experience.

Wayne McGregor | Random Dance

In 2002 Wayne McGregor | Random Dance was invited to become Resident Company at Sadler's Wells. The theatre had recently been rebuilt as the UK's leading dance house and the invitation acknowledged Random's own status as one of Britain's most important modern dance companies.

In the last 14 years Random has become celebrated not only for its dancers and repertory but for its pioneering use of science, new media and technology on stage, and for its extraordinary record in accessing new audiences. The company was founded by Wayne McGregor in 1992 and became the instrument upon which he evolved his drastically fast and articulate choreographic style.

It was during McGregor's major trilogy The Millennarium (1997), Sulphur 16 (1998) and Aeon (2000) that the company became a byword for its radical approach to new technology - incorporating animation; digital film; 3D architecture; electronic sound and virtual dancers into the live choreography.

Technology has also been crucial in Random's project to deliver dance to the public in new ways. Among the company's ground breaking projects have been web casting live performances, and exploring broadband bi-directional performance where two companies perform simultaneously in different parts of the world. The results are experienced by both live and on-line audiences.

It has also incorporated technology into its outreach work, which is high on the creative agenda. The company's educational team System R engages hundreds of young people each year in school and community projects that focus on the creation of new work. They also maintain the company's distinctive focus on new technology.

Random has worked with DanceEast on a number of collaborative projects over the past 10 years and was announced as DanceEast's first Associate Company in 2006.

Heather Eddington

Heather's training began at The University of Birmingham, where she gained a BA First Class Honours in Dance and Theatre Arts. She then went on to study dancefilm on The Dance for Screen course directed by David Hinton at London Contemporary Dance School.

State of Flux Dancefilm Company was founded by Heather in 2003, is dedicated to the creation of fresh, exciting and original work through a fusion of dance, film and design. Heather's sensitive, quirky and adventurous style generates an accessible and enjoyable dancefilm experience.

With ongoing support from DanceEast for her research and development, Heather is also an Escalator Artist, an Arts Council England (ACE), East scheme investing into artists to produce high quality professional work within the eastern region.

Heather has been involved with DanceEast since 2000 and has created numerous works that have been showcased over the years in various Platform East evenings, and has also worked on a number of community and education projects. Heather has worked with experienced dance artists such as Delphine Gaborit and Nyanda Yekwai and in May 2007 worked alongside New Art Club to create a Dancefilm for DanceEast's Red Shoe Appeal. Heather has shown her work in a range of venues including The Place, DanceEast, The Junction and Sainsbury Visual Arts Centre.

Isobel Cohen

Cambridge-based dancer/choreographer Isobel Cohen trained at London Studio Centre and The Ailey School, New York. After graduating she remained in America and worked as a freelance dancer for a further year, before returning to Europe. She has worked with Leslie Partridge and Pascal Rekoert (USA); Katja Wachter (GER); Glidas Diquero; Nuno Silva; Sara Crow and Dancers; Louise Katerega, as well as for Robert LePage, Michael Keegan-Dolan and Vivienne Newport at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

In 2005 Isobel created, devised, produced and performed The Great Escape as part of Resolution! at The Place, and has since created three further professional works: For Better, for Worse..., Between the Lines, and Damned Beautiful, which have been performed in the eastern regions and nationally. In June 2008 she made her first foray into film with A Little Romance, which aired on BBC Look East in July.

Damned Beautiful was made with the support of Arts Council England (ACE) East and DanceEast, and completed a run at The Pleasance as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe earlier this year. Isobel has been selected for Escalator for the Performing Arts, an initiative by ACE, East to support young artists in the region.

In October 2008 Platform East, DanceEast's annual showcase of new dance by some of the Eastern region's most talented choreographers, premiered a new work by Isobel, the romantic comedy, Clown with Love.