South West based dance artist Grace Sellwood, grew up in Falmouth, Cornwall. She studied at Roehampton University where she gained a 1st class degree in Dance Studies and had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Helen Parlor, Carol Brown and Dog Kennel Hill Project.

During this time she experimented with various medias. The initial focus was working with lighting design. She wanted to use light to sculpt the dancers bodies to form an integral part of her choreographies.

Her dissertation discussed ‘The Collaborative Space: the affects of lighting design for contemporary dance’ and achieved 96%. Grace went on to work with different lighting designers to produce different exciting visual performances.

In 2009 she gained a MA whilst with mapdance company, touring  nationally and internationally with works by Ben Wright, Shaobana Jeyasingh, Charles Linehan, Lalia Diallo and Liz Aggiss. The focus of her MA was researching the efficiency of movement, looking specifically at the Flying-Low technique: a floor-based technique created by David Zambrano, in which her passion lies.

Grace is interested in collaborations between different art forms, especially photography and lighting design. She works closely with her brother Oliver, a musician, to make original scores which has become the focus of her upcoming dance company; Black Gecko Dance.

Grace is now back in Cornwall, teaching throughout Cornwall and the surrounding areas to school peoples through to professionals. She has recently started dance and exercise classes for the elderly and is currently studying on a Pilates Teacher Training Course through Pilates Foundation.

Grace is very excited to be choreographing, performing and teaching back in Cornwall.