Artistic Director

Lisa Spackman has developed a substantial profile in dance performance and production. In her early career she has performed with companies including; national tour with Bock and Vincenzi, Crush (Sue Cox) and with artist Genevieve Ollerenshaw. In 1999 she worked for two years with VTOL as Education Co-Pilot alongside Lucy Moelwyn-Hughes and in 2002 in an outreach capacity for Bedlam (Yael Flexer) alongside Jamie Watton. From 2004-2006 Lisa contributed to the Essential Alston programme at Learning and Access at The Place, delivering repertory nationally, including at Saddler's Wells and the Lowry, Manchester.

She graduated with an MA Choreography from Middlesex University 2003, where she explored working with video and live performance. Professionally, Lisa has worked in a number of contexts choreographically. She was assistant choreographer for Mark Murphy's Creekside Spillout (2004), a site-specific event in conjunction with pyrotechnics company 'Walk the Plank'. This was part of a programme of performances celebrating the opening of the Laban building. She also worked as movement director for 'Out of Joint's' production of Sliding with Suzanne (The Royal Court Theatre). Lisa has also directed and authored regularly features on dance for BBC Education and Radio 3, which continue to be broadcast internationally.

In 1996 Lisa founded Bedfordshire Youth Dance Company in conjunction with musician and Mid Beds Arts co-ordinator Hilary Western. As an inclusive company offering dance training of the highest standard, BYDC has a reputation for being a spring-board for dancers now working in the industry. Ex-members have gone on to work with the Richard Alston Dance Company, State of Emergency, Diversions, Irie and Springs Dance Company. Others now work with Youth Dance England and as specialist teachers of dance. Lisa continues to act as Artistic Director for the company.

In a consultative capacity Lisa has recently authored a CPD module, relating to 'giving feedback' to young people, for Youth Dance England's nationally rolled-out project 'U-Dance,' and has also been part of The Place's mentoring scheme.

Recently, Lisa was privileged to be involved in Rosemary Lee's "Common Dance" project (2009) at Greenwich Dance Agency. This involved documenting, assisting and experiencing the process throughout its gestation, rehearsal and production period. Lisa also acted as understudy to the cast, performing in two of the six shows.

Lisa previously worked as a Senior Lecturer in Dance at the University of Bedfordshire and Course Leader for the inter-disciplinary Performing Arts degree. Her research has both practice-driven and pedagogic foci.

In 2005 Lisa founded Two Thirds Sky as a vehicle to develop her own choreographic practice and as a forum from which to discuss, make and (most importantly) collaborate with other regional artists.