Company History

FFIN DANCE was founded by Artistic Director Sue Lewis in 2003 as a result of a growing demand for high quality dance in Wales. In July 2006, the company was delighted when Dilys Price OBE, became its patron.

After having performed to a sell-out audience at the prestigious Resolution! season at The Place, London and wowing the audience at The Open Space, the company is now touring its work to a larger field having completed a successful tour of North and South Wales venues in Spring 2007.  2008 saw the company launching itself as an arts business expanding the company both in terms of dancers and board members.  We executed a considerable education and community programme via the dance faktry, reaching many people by way of projects and performances.

The work created by Ffin is inventive and entertaining and appeals to all ages and tastes.

Trained in Performing Arts and Physical Education, Sue has vast experience of working in schools, colleges and in the professional theatre. Over the last 25 years, she has created many pieces of work and is currently a freelance choreographer and advisor in contemporary technique, physical theatre and choreography.

Since founding FFIN DANCE in 2003, Sue has been able to further her love of choreography and share it with a wider audience.

Greatly inspired by the work of Siobhan Davies and Richard Alston, Sue’s work mixes improvisation methods with a love of musical form.

In 2006, Sue Lewis was granted a training bursary by the Arts Council of Wales to undergo a Choreography Mentorship with Siobhan Davies. This saw a great turning point in the way the company worked. SDDC were making In Plain Clothes at the time which is constructed using fragments of dance giving unlimited connections; watching this process took our choreography in a completely different direction.

2009 saw very exciting developments for the company.  Sheron Wray, performance architect made a new piece for the company in June, and the company will be touring to France, a first for FFIN DANCE.

Resident Company

In November 2007, FFIN DANCE became Resident Company at The Met. Located in the centre of Abertillery, The Met has been transformed into a superb cultural and conference centre. Originally constructed in 1892 by Charles John Seaborne, the centre has been imaginatively restored to its former Victorian grandeur, retaining many of the original features such as the timber vaulted ceiling and the iron columns and decorative panels.

aims

This season, FFIN DANCE will:

  • Create a double bill of work that is artistically innovative and withholds our usual high quality
  • Provide opportunities for artists wishing to work alongside community dance organisations and specific groups working with young people. During the audition process, Ffin declares its interest in working with such groups. The dancers whom we select are those who want to work alongside young people and community groups. The Director provides training for Ffin dancers during the workshops and classes. The director has taught in schools, colleges and the community for 25 years and has a vast knowledge and skill in this area of work. The company has become Dance Company in Residence at The Met, Abertillery and will be providing professional dance services to the Borough of Blaenau Gwent
    Work with venue managers to raise the profile of dance in venues by taking part in performance platforms sharing the space with other Wales based dance artists
  • Provide work experience placements during the rehearsal periods for suitable students who are interested in a career in dance
  • Provide guidance and support for dance graduates wishing to gain experience of working with groups in the community