Our Board of Trustees
Meet our wonderfully supportive and Board of Trustees, the individuals who guide and shape the vision of our organisation. Our trustees bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and passion to their roles, ensuring we stay true to our mission and continue to make a meaningful impact. Each trustee brings a unique perspective and commitment to excellence, working together to foster growth, innovation, and integrity. Learn more about the dedicated individuals who lead our journey below
Maria Polydorou
Maria is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Originally from Cyprus Maria has previously worked as Manager Audit Corporates at KPMG and spent two years with Macintyre Hudson in the Not-for-profit (N4P) department with the opportunity to collaborate with large scale charities, N4P organisations as well as schools and Academies supporting with bookkeeping, accounts preparation, independent examination and audit services. Juggling between work and life Maria says ‘dance has played a pivotal role in developing my self-confidence and physical and mental health throughout my teenage years I am delighted to be the treasurer of a charity that promotes inclusivity and access for everyone in the community to participate in dance’.
Rosie Whitney-Fish
Rosie founded DanceWest in 2014 and is responsible for developing the non-profit which engages 30,000 people each year and operates across seven West London boroughs. DanceWest became a registered charity in 2018 and Rosie is responsible for the strategic operation of the organisation, the development, fundraising and artistic programming. Rosie is an entrepreneur with significant experience in developing strategies for local authorities, developing community programmes and leading programmes for housing associations and national arts organisations. She has a track record of successfully fundraising via the Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and charitable trusts.
Rosie is the co-founder of Ignition Dance Festival, a bi-annual festival which since 2013 has commissioned 49 artists and community participants of 6,400. Rosie has worked internationally as producer and choreographer, her work has been supported by Barbican, Create London, Arts Council England and the Cultural Olympiad. Her commercial work has seen her touring to Australia, Asia and Europe for television, theatre, film, fashion and commercials clients include Universal Records, Alexander Wang, Diesel, Vogue Italia, London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week Sassoon, Evening Standard, Grazia, Sassoon, Wella, P & G. She was nominated by One Dance Uk’s national awards for Inspirational Community Dance Practitioner and Outstanding Dance Programming Award. Rosie has a (MA Dance-Theatre) Trinity Laban Conservatoire and a (BA Choreography & Dance) Winchester University.
Frances Hedges
Frances is a journalist and editor with more than 15 years’ experience working in the media. As the deputy editor of Harper’s Bazaar UK, a magazine that has a long history of championing the arts, she has interviewed internationally renowned artists, writers and performers, while seeking to provide a voice and platform for underrepresented talent in the cultural sector. She also runs the brand’s multichannel Bazaar At Work programme, which celebrates the achievements of female entrepreneurs and executives from all walks of life. A graduate in English and Modern Languages from the University of Oxford, Frances has previously held editorial roles at the Royal Society of Arts, Net-A-Porter and Elle Decoration magazine. She was awarded Writer of the Year at the 2020 PPA Awards and has been on the selection committee for a number of art prizes, including the ING Discerning Eye exhibition and the Young Masters Art Prize.
Frances is proud to have been appointed a trustee for DanceWest, a trailblazing charity with an impressive track record of tackling social inequality through dance, and looks forward to helping share its success story even more widely.
Giorgio Christou
I moved to the UK in 2010 to attend the University of Kent, where I earned my diploma in Law. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for dance, which has profoundly influenced my life. Through dance, specifically Ballroom and Latin, I gained the confidence and courage to embrace my true self, shaping both my personal and professional journey.
Starting as a temporary receptionist for serviced offices, I quickly advanced to a General Manager, overseeing multiple sites across London. I then transitioned into HR, where I now focus on enhancing the Employee Experience and Wellbeing. This diverse background provides me with a unique perspective as I step into my role as a Trustee for DanceWest.
I am genuinely inspired by the work that everyone at DanceWest does, as it resonates deeply with my own experiences. I am honoured and humbled to join such a dedicated team and am excited for the opportunity to contribute to initiatives that make dance accessible to everyone. Together, I look forward to fostering a vibrant community where the joys and benefits of dance can be shared by all.
Ida Ossonemane
I am a Social Media and Content Creative Specialist with a strong passion for cultural stories and diversity. Seven years ago, I moved to the UK from Paris, bringing with me a love for crafting digital media strategies that engage and inspire. My skills include social media management, graphic design, and event planning, all focused on creating stories that connect with people across various platforms.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work in diverse fields, from culinary projects for African chefs to STEM and language education. More recently, I’ve been involved with non-profits and social enterprises like Do It Now Now, an organization dedicated to empowering Black communities through opportunities for growth and inclusion. My work is driven by a desire to uplift diverse voices and foster inclusive spaces.
What drew me to DanceWest is its deep commitment to inclusivity and its mission to enrich lives through dance. I’m excited to support this mission and help use dance as a tool for social change and personal growth.
Lisa Ardley-Price
Lisa Ardley-Price is a lawyer and coach with over 15 years experience in the financial services industry and is currently a Managing Legal Counsel at NatWest. Alongside her legal role, Lisa is a passionate advocate for wellbeing and diversity, sitting on various committees and is Global Co-Chair of NatWest’s Gender Network. Lisa is also trustee for educational charity Be Kind Movement and is committed to supporting the next generation of leaders and businesses through her charity roles and pro bono work mentoring and coaching young people and entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds. Lisa lives in West London with her family and is delighted to be supporting a charity in her local community especially in the Arts sector. Growing up Lisa was involved in many performing arts activities which helped build her confidence, communication skills and courage for public speaking, all of which she relies on heavily in her professional life now.
Lesley Main
Lesley Main PhD has recently retired from a full-time career in the arts and Higher Education, having held the roles of Head of Department of Performing Arts at Middlesex University (dance, music, theatre) and City, University of London (music, Urdang musical theatre). Lesley danced in the United States with Ernestine Stodelle from 1985, is founder/director of the Doris Humphrey Foundation UK, and staged Humphrey’s repertory for, amongst others, Arke Compagnia D’Arte (Italy) and MOMENTA Dance Company (Chicago). Publications include chapters and articles for a range of dance journals and conference presentations in the UK and internationally, and two books:
Transmissions in Dance. Contemporary Staging Practices (ed.) 2017 London/New York: Palgrave MacMillan;
Directing the Dance Legacy of Doris Humphrey: The Creative Impulse of Reconstruction. 2012 USA: University of Wisconsin Press
She is especially interested in promoting engagement in and the value of arts activity for children and young people having served as a founding member of the Barnet Cultural Education Partnership and co-authored the Cultural Education Strategy for Barnet (2021):
Lesley is keen to use her experience to continue supporting dance/performing arts. The vision and ethos of Dance West attracted her to the trustee role and she is delighted to be joining the Board at this exciting stage of Dance West’s development.