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 nation-wide.

Mark Barber - Dancer
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.



Kristian Robertson - Dancer
Kristian joined Anjali in 1995 and performed in the Moving Ideas and Through New Eyes tours. After completing the Stepping Stones course at North Oxfordshire College he joined the Anjali Open Class. Kris's interest in Sci-Fi movies was the inspiration for Buzz Off, a piece created by the Anjali dancers. Kristian toured in Something Wild in 2007

Alex Hyde - Dancer
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.

Frances Weir - Dancer
Frances joined the main company in 2005 having previously been a member of Young Anjali. She performed with the company for the first time at The No Limits Festival in Berlin in October 2006, appearing in the premiere of Saloon. Frances toured the UK in Something Wild in 2007.

Nick McKerrow - Dancer
Nick joined Anjali in 2007. He has been training with the Company for five months and is looking forward to working on the Company's new performance work during 2008. Nick has trained with Candoco and performed with Corali Dance Company.

Hannah Dempsey - Dancer
Hannah has just joined joined Anjali this year. Previously, she trained with Magpie Youth Dance.

Kate Jenkinson - Workshop Leader
Kate joined Anjali in 2002 and performed in 'WYSIWYG' and Something Wild. She joined the company after being 'spotted' while performing with the Side By Side theatre group, with whom she is still a member.

Jessica Banks - Workshop leaderJessica joined the company via the Anjali apprenticeship scheme and gave her first performance in 'Buzz Off'. Since then Jessica has performed in'WYSIWYG' and Something Wild.

Graham Shellard -Workshop leader
Graham took part in Anjali's accredited training programme. He is a performer with Anjali's Youth Dance Company and has been working as a workshop leader since 2007.

Ruth Williams - Workshop Leader
Ruth graduated through Anjali's Young Anjali and Open Class sessions and took part in the Company's accredited training programme. She is a performer with Anjali's Youth Dance Company and has been working as a workshop leader since 2007.

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'.