Dance Ahead

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Zoë Leigh Gadd launched Dance Ahead in 2008 with the aim to broaden theatre audiences in Carlisle. Initial Commercial ventures included fashion events, TV advertising campaigns, living window displays and street theatre in collaboration with Sara Gadd Millinery and The Lanes Shopping Centre. Between 2015-2020 Zoë collaborated with a broader range of practitioners as Dance Ahead grew to deliver non-for profit larger-scale community productions such as #HiddenSpaces15 and The Glass House. Through Dance Ahead, Zoë has designed and delivered over 25 projects including a broad range of participatory arts events that brought together people all walks of life across sectors, generations and contexts.

Dance Ahead brings dance theatre off the stage and into the public domain with a view to raising awareness of the beauty of the art form, whilst celebrating the benefits of creative collaboration. Founder, Zoë strongly believes that collaboration leads to fruitful exchange, growth and communities of practice.

Fascinating and pertinent thematic content. The juxtaposition of greed, hope, wealth, poverty, desire, rejection was thought provoking to watch. This piece is firmly relevant in the social context that we all currently share.

Audience Member / The Glass House

Engaging with #HiddenSpaces15 is like being taken to a dreamlike realm where one feels at the same time alien and yet simultaneously welcome.

Adam Hughes / Reviewer

Very striking – fab dark, oppressive atmosphere created by the actors – loved the attention to detail in the costume and props! Great story-telling and uneasy moments – kept us on our toes. Excellent dance and music too – Thanks for an unpredictable,freaky treat!!

Audience Feedback / #HiddenSpaces15

Thoroughly enjoyable – The interactivity made the piece.

Audience Feedback / #HiddenSpaces15

Very intriguing – amazing space and fantastic use of it – very DV8!!! Loved how the music felt almost film-like – a soundscape, not a track starts here, finishes there – everything felt continuous. I could see the process had been intense – wish I could have been a part of it!! Fabulous lift sections – esp. café section – wanted to join in! The interaction with the audience was good but could have taken more.

Audience Feedback / #HiddenSpaces15

It made me really upset about the plight of women then and now and that line between sanity and insanity brought on by a hopeless situation! It really disturbed and made me feel sick. Very powerful!

Audience Feedback / #HiddenSpaces15