Sally-Anne has worked in the dance and circus industry professionally since 1997.  Alongside a performance career as a trapeze artist, stilt-walker, street performer, dancer, film and TV actress, she has been choreographing work internationally and worked with dance, circus and carnival companies in Peru, Lithuania, Romania and France as well as nationally for events and companies such as the Oily Cart Theatre Company, Thames Festival, Scarabeus, Dance United, V&A Museum and Carlton Kids.  Sally-Anne has been training artists and practitioners in community dance outreach and education following an extensive teaching career with regional dance agencies such as DanceXchange and Activate, with Creative Partnerships, the Learning and Skills Network, Artswork and CAPE UK.  Her teaching work has been in schools, colleges and universities, in arts centres, community centres, TV sets, town centres and forests.  She has worked with six month olds to ninety year olds, in prisons and with young people who have offended.  She has written education programmes for national touring productions such as children’s production Funny Bones, Bare Bones Dance Company, trained primary and secondary teachers in delivering dance in schools and devised and delivered intergenerational dance programmes such as Dance Generations for Activate.  She has run dance departments for Islington Arts Factory and The Tabernacle, worked as an Arts Development Officer for local council, written and managed specialist schools community arts plans and is a moderator for the national Arts Awards for young people.  Sally-Anne is a multi-tasking mum of two.  She managed to start an MA Dance Anthropology pregnant with one and finish two years later, a week before giving birth to her second.  She performed with Oily Cart Theatre Company, in early years performance Baby Balloon, up until 28 weeks pregnant and has been working, researching, training and choreographing in early years practise and theatre ever since. Having focused her research in creative movement practise in 0-2 year olds and specifically conducted her fieldwork in Lewisham, Sally-Anne decided it was time to turn research into practise and become part of the international community that is raising the profile of theatre and movement as effective early intervention in the health, well-being and development of children.  So here it is – ‘Tea Dance for Little People’.  For Sally's CV click here.

Lucy Shaw - Musical Director

"I have recently met the inspiring Sally-Anne Donaldson and have been collaborating and working with TDLP artists since. As a new mum I was looking for ways to stimulate my child without rigid classes. TDLP facilitates the combination of visual art, music and dance, with a good spoonful of play, into workshops and events which are both educational and fun. Having been part of early years music programs and involved in all forms of workshops and theatre music, I was keen to get involved. The approach that TDLP takes seems to resonate with children, encouraging them to take part and get involved. As I work with TDLP artists it feels we are all bringing our differing backgrounds together to create something very special and innovative and original. Imagining how a child may want to experience a particular bit of music or story, for example, and ultimately adding that touch of magic".

Elodie Ancel - Visual Director

As a child Elodie used to beat the bin man to collect cardboard and other “junk “pieces to give them another life. Today this passion is no longer her pass time but her job as workshop leader for charities (Stephen Lawrence Trust, the Challenge Network), schools (Stillness Junior as part of their ACS Award, Christ the King College, Highshore special-needs school) and community organisations (Watermans); as well as TDLP’s Visual Director: she (and Sally) travel London hunting for cardboard to create 3D interactive spaces and props for families and their children. Elodie has gained her expertise in building interactive, sustainable and sensory spaces/props aimed at children 0-5+ throughout the years both working with children and young people in after-school, summer-camp, festivals, interactive performances, workshop settings or as teaching assistant and French teacher (Chelwood Nursery, Stillness Infant, Edmund Waller primary) and by working in the visual design & mixed media industry since the 1990’s at various levels: business (Office Manager at London Graphic System) and performing arts (Ziloka dance group, Blow’emaway musical).  She also recently set up her own business, which initially started with a local community project “ When Knit Met Stitch”: a knitting and mixed media group. Followed by FTD (French Through Dance): a structure enabling children to explore French through their senses locally now part of TDLP. 

Becky Overton - Writing Director

After studying at The Purcell School, Becky decided to pack away her flute and pick up a pen instead.  Several years producing fringe theatre and local radio led to a 'break' writing and producing a new pre-school show for Carlton Kids.  A career in television beckoned, personal highlights of which include writing short films for Channel 4 about a woman who ate so many carrots she turned orange and the Launderette who ran a successful 'Adopt-A-Sock' campaign.  Becky went on to pen children's shows for various channels until GMTV/CITV asked her to develop new programming for their weekend mornings. This stage in her career is known as 'The Custard Pie Period' and gave birth to the ratings winner, 'Toonattik'. But 10 years, several vats of gunge and 2 children later,  Becky decided to return to her first love; writing.   Having written scripts for channels in the UK, US and Australia she has most recently been commissioned to write original Bedtime Stories for Nickelodeon Junior, to be read by celebrity guests during their Bedtime Hour.  Becky has also been writing interactive stories for TDLP since 2011.

Associate Artists & Collaborators

Jay is a soundscape composer whose interests lie in exploring the role audio plays in immersive experience.  As a music fan and guitarist with various underground bands, Jay started to realise that the nature of music and the way it is perceived was restrictive to his aims of creating atmosphere; without being associated to genre and the multitude of contradictory expectations of music fans, soundscape seemed the best way to create all-inclusive ambiences that affect individual experience.  Among others, Jay has provided soundscapes to the London Bubble Theatre, Flamingo Land theme park and Azanaya award winning Indonesian events company.  He has also provided sound design for film makers and exhibitions and still composes music.  Jay now works with TDLP to create interactive and immersive soundscapes for many of our projects.  Together we enjoy discovering new ways to engage and connect very young children with sound, atmosphere, emotion, rhythm, connection and sensorial exploration.  Jay is currently working on soundscape for TDLP's custom-created interactive intallation in partnership with Stratford Circus - a Time Laboratory discovered through a Time Hole - "What ever you do don't press the red button"......   www.jay-Harris.co.uk

Ian Burgess and SeTwo

With a background in TV, live events, Experiential, pop up and guerilla advertising, Setwo have worked with well know Brands and Production companies for 14 years. Setwo was set up 5 years ago due to the potential in the market for creative set building/making and design.  Although a small company Setwo are steadily growing and has a healthy long term relationship with all their clients as well as a talented, personable and hard working team of experienced crew who between them all have a wealth of knowledge brought by each to every job.  With Setwo, Ian designed and realised TDLP's "Pyjama Party" set, a giant play bed with a secret hole to discover the world of underneath!  www.setwo.co.uk

Hannah Lefeuvre