DANCERS
Nuno Campos
Rehearsal Director/Dancer
Nuno was born in Lisbon, Portugal and started dancing at the age of 17. He trained at London Studio Centre and was part of Intoto Dance Company during 2000. Nuno has worked with choreographers including Darshan Singh Bhuller, Rafael Bonachela, Vivienne Newport and Michael Popper. In December 1999, Nuno choreographed and danced for a Flamenco show in Sri Lanka and has since danced in Resolutions at The Place for numerous choreographers and companies. He teaches Pilates and has been with HODC since September 2000. In 2004 Nuno took a sabbatical from HODC, joining the faculty at London Studio Centre. He returned to the company in August 2005 as both dancer and Rehearsal Director.
Chihiro Kawasaki
Chihiro was born in 1986 in Kyoto, Japan. After completing four years' training at Arts Educational School in Tring, she went on to gain a Certificate in Contemporary Dance at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS). Chihiro graduated in July 2005 and also performed in a work choreographed by Aletta Collins. In September 2007 she assisted choreographer Nuno Silva and performed in O Ritmo das Estacões played live by the Orquestra do Algarve. Chihiro joined HODC in August 2005 as part of LCDS's post-graduate apprenticeship scheme and became a full time Company member in October 2006.
Sarah Linstra
Sarah, was born in The Netherlands, Rotterdam and graduated with a bachelor's degree in dance at Codarts Dance Academy Rotterdam. In 2002 she gained an apprenticeship with choreographers Guy Weiszman and Roni Haver and later became a company member of Club Guy & Roni touring throughout Europe. During the same period she was also an apprentice with choreographers Andrea Leine and Harijono Roebana. From 2004 - 06, she worked as a freelance dancer with Leine & Roebana dancing in several productions and assisting with workshops. While there, she created two of her own works, Flowmotion (2002) and Suka (2006). Sarah joined HODC in October 2006.
WeiChun Luo
WeiChun was born in Taoyuan, Taiwan and started dancing at the age of 10. From 2000 - 05, she did a BFA degree in Dance at Taipei National University of the Arts, where she trained in Contemporary dance, Ballet, Chinese Traditional Opera Dance and Tai-Chi. She came to London in 2005 to continue her training at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS). During her studies at LCDS she worked with Jan de Schynkel as well as Richard Alston in works of Strong Language and Gypsy Mixture. Weichun joined the Henri Oguike Dance Company as an apprentice dancer in 2006. In 2007, she completed her Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Contemporary Dance and became a full time Company member. WeiChun is currently completing her MA dissertation in Contemporary Dance.
Laura Peña Nuñez
Laura was born in Paraguay and took up Paraguayan folk dancing at a young age. From 2000 - 05, she moved to Buenos Aires to study and work as a dancer, training at Contemporary Dance School ARTE XXI and later at Contemporary Dance School of the San Martín Theater. Whilst there, she danced for several well known Argentinean choreographers, such as Oscar Aráiz, Andrea Chinetti and Roxana Grinstein. During the later part of her stay in Buenos Aires she danced for the renowned Argentinean Miguel Robles Company. Laura joined the HODC in October 2006.
Fukiko Takase
Fukiko was born in New York in 1984. She was raised in Japan by her mother Takako Takase, herself a respected dancer in Japan. Under her mother's tutelage, Fukiko has been dancing since the age of two. She went on to work for three years as a freelance dancer and choreographer in Japan before going to study at the Rotterdam Dance Academy from 2002 - 03. In 2006 she gained a Certificate in Contemporary Dance from the London Contemporary Dance School. Fukiko was the recipient of a three year Cultural Affairs Fellowship from the Japanese government and joined HODC as an apprentice dancer in October 2006. This will be Fukiko's first season with the HODC as a full time Company member.
Lisa Welham
Lisa was born in Goole, East Yorkshire and for many years studied ballroom and latin dance. At 16, Lisa went to the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD), graduating in 2002 with a First and the Armées Prize for highest overall degree mark. She performed with NSCD's Verve in both the UK and in Germany. Lisa was a dancer with Phoenix Dance Theatre, performing and working extensively in the UK, New York, Germany and Portugal. Lisa has also worked as a freelance dancer, including working as an aerialist on a Micha Bergese Production in Hamburg in Summer 2003. In the summers of 2004, 2005 and 2006, she worked with various choreographers on the RODA project. Lisa joined HODC in November 2007.
APPRENTICE DANCERS
Martina Bussi
Martina was born in Torino, Italy in 1985 and started dancing at the age of 4. Form the age of 14 she went on to pursue extensive dance training in ballet, under the direction of Master Johan Bosioc and in contemporary dance, focusing on Graham, Horton and the Cunningham techniques. In 2006 she moved to London and gained a one year Certificate in Contemporary Dance from the London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS). Martina joined HODC in October 2007 as an apprentice dancer, as part of the LCDS's Apprenticeship Scheme.
Jac Carlsson
Jac was born in 1986 in Stockholm, Sweden. He discovered dance aged 18 and auditioned for the Danish National School of Contemporary Dance (DNSCD). After one year of training at this school, he moved to the Netherlands to continue his dance studies at the Rotterdam Dance Academy (RDA). He created and performed his own solo Invite the vibe for, which was selected for Own Work as part of Rotterdam Dance Academy's end of year show. He has also danced in works by Ton Simons and Mauro Bigonzetti. Jac joined HODC in November 2007 as an apprentice dancer as part of an Apprenticeship Scheme between RDA and HODC.
Giorgio De Carolis
Giorgio was born in Civitanova Marche, Italy and studied gymnastics and athletics before taking dance lessons aged 16. His first contact with dance was through hip hop, which then led him to commit to an intensive training course in contemporary dance and ballet in Ancona, under the direction of Loris Petrillo and Eugenia Morosanu. Giorgio moved to London in 2006 and completed a one year Certificate Course from the London School of Contemporary Dance (LCDS) in July 2007. Giorgio joined HODC in October 2007 as an apprentice dancer, as part of the LCDS's Apprenticeship Scheme.
Fabrizio Petrachi
Fabrizio was born in Lecce, a small city in South Italy, where he trained at Centro Danza Degas. He moved to Rotterdam in 2006 to join the Codarts-Rotterdam Dance Academy (RDA) and he is currently in his last year of studies there. As a student at RDA he performed Studi for s by Josè Navas and Seeking by Irena Misirilic and, as an apprentice dancer Virtual Angels by Dylan Newcomb as part of Cadance Festival. Fabrizio has also choreographed two of his own works, Passage and Passage 2 and took part in a video-dance by Giuliano Peparini in 2006. Fabrizio joined HODC in November 2007 as an apprentice dancer as part of an Apprenticeship Scheme between RDA and HODC .
Judith La Rocca
Judith was born in Ethiopia in 1985. She started studying dance at 9 years of age at Renato Greco Dance School. From 2000 - 03 she attended the Balletto di Roma under the direction of Franca Bartolomei and went on to study for a further three years at Arte e Balletto with Milena Zullo. During her training in Italy she took part in several dance workshops with various renowned dancers, such as Sarha Stackhouse (Limon Dance Company), Christopher Huggins (Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre), Robert Streiner and Vasco Wellenkamp (The National Company of Contemporary Dance, Portugal). Judith moved to London in 2006 and completed the one year Certificate Course at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS), during which she performed in Dardanus, choreographed by Isabel Mortimer. Judith joined HODC in October 2007 as an apprentice dancer, as part of the LCDS's Apprenticeship Scheme.