Fascination
Image Paul Trask

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 DANCE 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 30 years, she has created many pieces of work and is currently a freelance choreographer and advisor in contemporary technique 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.

In 2011, the company began to collaborate with a number of artists to make a new double bill entitled Connections for touring in 2012.  These included composers Jenny Jackson and Ronen Kozokaro, designer Steve Denton and choreographer Gary Lambert

In 2012, the company was invited by American choreographer, Susana Williams to be a part of Danceforms Choreographic Platform at the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh.  In addition to this honour, Gary Lambert took up the post of Associate Choreogrpaher to FFIN DANCE and consequently FFIN DANCE will perform at the Burg Namedy Dance Festival in Germany at the request of Princess Heide von Hohenzollern.  Mr Simon Boyle, Lord Lieutenant for Gwent became our distinguished patron.

2013 was a huge turning point for the company, due to a climate of increasing financial insecurity in the UK, we decided to pour our energy into our social enterprise status.

Our vision has gone from strength to strength, and we are continuing to invest in our priorities to make, produce and develop audiences for high quality dance in our communities.
In April 2017, the company took on the management of The Beaufort Theatre in Ebbw Vale as a community asset transferred by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.

Take a look at our TV Documentary on 3VTV

aims

2025/26
This season, FFIN DANCE will:

• Create a new work that is artistically innovative
• 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 dancers during the workshops and classes. The director has taught in schools, colleges and the community for over 40 years and has a vast knowledge and skill in this area of work.
• 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