Anjali, whose name means 'joining of hands', began life informally in January 1993 at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire, as a follow-up to a series of integrated contemporary dance workshops (i.e. for people both with and without learning disabilities). These were conducted by performance arts tutor Nicole Thomson. Despite the success of this approach Nicole recognised a unique and powerful quality that could emerge from a discrete group of people with learning disabilities. This group became Anjali. The company went on to create highly original dance works developing a strong aesthetic style which embraces the unique and engaging quality of the dancers.

In 1998 Anjali was awarded £94,000 from The National Lottery Funded Arts For Everyone (A4E) Main Scheme through the Arts Council of England. This enabled the company to commence an ambitious three-year training and touring programme called Moving On Up. During this programme the company conducted its first tour Moving Ideas comprising works by Claire Russ and Anjali Dance Company.

In August 2000 the Company was commissioned by the Royal Festival Hall to create a new work which was premiered as part of the Blazing Dance Festival 2000. As part of this Festival Anjali hosted a national debate with professionals in the field of disability arts, funders and critics around the title Beyond a Sympathetic Response. The Company were subsequently invited to perform at the Royal Opera House with dancers from the Royal Ballet. Responses to Anjali's work to date have been unequivocally positive. (This included a four star review in The Guardian.)

Anjali offers a vibrant context for choreographic process, performance, ongoing professional dance training and artistic debate and exchange. Anjali's dancers are central to the choreographic process and are encouraged to achieve technically as well as creatively. Works by well-known choreographers and in-house pieces are presented with high production values. Most works have a strong collaborative element with one or more other art forms. The company's work is known for its power and technical achievement. By devising and touring dance work of the highest standard, the company demonstrates a disarming and engaging aesthetic that brings a new edge to contemporary dance.

Anjali Dance company is one of the first of its kind in the world. It has inspired and often astonished audiences nationwide.

Mark Barber
Mark joined Anjali in 1998 for his first performance of Rock and M&Min the Moving Ideas tour. Mark also performed in Through New Eyes 2000, which toured to London's Royal Festival Hall, PurcellRoom and The Royal Opera House and WYSIWYG in 2003. Mark toured the UK in Something Wild in 2007. He regularly speaks on behalf of the company at seminars and conferences. Mark studied at Oxfordshire College of Further Education and obtained an NVQ in Performing Arts. Mrk is also Associate Director (Education) at Anjali and leads the Educatiion Team.

Hannah Dempsey
Hannah joined Anjali in 2007, making her debut in Something Wild in Germany. Previously, she trained with Magpie Youth Dance. Hannah also competes in the Special Olympics in both swimming and skiing and won a silver medal in the winter 2009 games in Idaho.

Nick McKerrow
Nick joined Anjali in 2007. Previously, Nick trained with Candoco and performed with Corali Dance Company. Nick performed in Unexploded Stories in Dec 2008.

Alex Hyde
Alex joined the company after being a member of Anjali Open Class. After he joined the company's apprenticeship scheme early in 2002, he was invited to take part in the 'WYSIWYG' tour. He toured the UK in Something Wild in 2007. Alex also performs with Leamington-based Side By Side theatre group.

Daisey Garrett
Daisey joined Anjali in 2009 and appeared in an Anjali show for the first time at the Oxford Gala performance in Headington. Daisy made her touring debut in Genius in Madrid in September 2009.

Jason Manito
Jason is the newest member of the Company. He first became involved with Anjali at a pilot weekly class in Oxford in 2007. Since then he has danced with Anjali's Youth Dance Company, taking part in the U.Dance National showcase at the Birmingham Hippodrome, and joined the main Company in T4TWO in March 2010.

The Education Team Page contains biographical information on members of Anjali's Education Team.

Artistic Director: Nicole Thomson
Nicole studied Performing Arts at Middlesex University and graduated in 1982. Since then, Nicole moved to Oxfordshire and worked with a number of dance and physical theatre companies before founding Anjali Dance Company in 1994.

Nicole specialises in creating contemporary dance opportunities for people with learning disabilities and Anjali Dance Company's existence was borne from her understanding and belief in the enormous creativity of people with learning disabilities via the means of dance and movement expression. Her vision has led Anjali to become one of the foremost touring dance and disability Companies in the UK, performing to national and international acclaim. It has also seen Anjali progress to become one of the first dance companies to offer accredited learning opportunities to people with learning difficulties.

As Artistic Director, she has collaborated with Wolfgang Stange, (Director of AMICI) and noted British choreographers Claire Russ and Matthew Hawkins. She also participates in a range of arts and disability related debates (alongside Anjali's performers) and sits on numerous committees including the Foundation for Community Dance's 'Dance and Disability Steering Group'.