Management Board
Alison Breadon – Independent Arts Manager
(since January 2007) Chair; Finance Focus Group member
‘I joined the Board of Blue Eyed Soul in 2007, and haven’t stopped learning since. I trained as a sculptor, and have worked in arts management and education, including running a Deaf/hearing youth drama group. Working with the passionate, dedicated expert staff at Blue Eyed Soul is inspiring and intriguing, and keeps my professional brain ticking (as I spend most of the rest of my time with my toddler!)’
Helen Hemberg – Marketing Consultant
(since January 2009) Marketing Focus Group member
‘I have over 25 years experience as a marketing professional in consumer goods and financial services markets. I joined Blue Eyed Soul as a Trustee in 2009 in order to try and encourage further a splendid group of dedicated and talented people to even greater success.’
Andrew Jemmett - Arena Theatre
(since January 2009) Marketing Focus Group member
‘I first saw the work of Blue Eyed Soul in 2001 at the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton, where I have worked for many years and where I have recently taken on the role of Disability and Access Outreach Worker. I am a passionate advocate for the work of Disabled Artists and for those who work to encourage and support disabled people to become artists. I am, therefore, looking forward to the opportunity of working with Blue Eyed Soul as they continue to develop exciting and innovative work.’
Deborah Justice – Black Country Touring
(since January 2009) Staffing Focus Group member
‘I saw Blue Eyed Soul perform Frankenstein at the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton years ago, where I was working as a technician, and thought it was amazing, one of the best pieces of Theatre or Dance I have seen. And the company was really nice and down to earth. Since then I followed their progress. I was very excited to be asked to be on their board, and have been a steep learning curve ever since but it is great to be part of Blue Eyed Soul (and they have fab biscuits at board meetings)’
Richard Mills – IT consultant
(since September 2005) Marketing Focus Group member
‘I was introduced to Blue Eyed Soul by my wife Sonia who used to perform with them; I was impressed by the inventiveness and quality of their work and also the way in that they get everyone involved - both disabled and non-disabled people. My own backround is in Information Technology - I run my own IT company which specialises in software consultancy and web design - and have particularly enjoyed giving my input on the IT side of things to Blue Eyed Soul and getting involved with video/photo-journalism and blogging to publicise last year’s TAKE dance event in celebration of the birth of Charles Darwin.’
Susan Rew – Retired dance teacher and organiser
(since January 2009) Staffing Focus Group member
Sue has been a teacher of dance all her working life, has choreographed for the American Theatre Company and produced dance for the Shakespeare Company and British Comedy Club, as well a large amount of teaching experience to all ages, and with disabilities. She has also held the post of chair for Border Dance agency for Shropshire.
Voluntary work has involved her as a dance selector for the Ludlow Festival and producer of the Youth Dance Festival held annually (for the last 7 years) at the festival. At one time she was a Dance Advisor the West Midlands Arts, writing performance reports, and tracked the Educational Dance Project “Dance Track” of Birmingham Royal Ballet. She has also sat on the advisory body of Youth Dance England (WM).
We ask our Management Board to bring their specialist knowledge and skills to the company in order to inform debate and decisions upon key factors in our development.
This includes:- policy, planning, legal status, funding, staffing and artistic programme. Meetings are held four times a year with a creative development day once per annum. We are currently looking for new board members with finance, personnel, management and marketing skills in exchange for creative thinking, energy, commitment and lots of tea and biscuits.
We are currently recruiting new members to our Management Board, in particular financial expertise and younger members to reflect our Youth Dance. If you are interested in finding out more please contact Moya Malekin on manager@blueeyedsouldance.com or 01743 210830.