Who We Are

Our story began in 2013, when our Founder and Artistic Director Nikki Watson discovered a lack of dance for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Nikki had always wanted to choreograph and create exciting experiences, but hadn’t known it would end up being so intrinsically linked to her own life. Her mother had recently been diagnosed with the neurological condition and choreography became a way to process and express Nikki’s situation. At the same time she could see the impact dance was having on people with Parkinson’s and wanted a similar provision for other neurological disabilities like MS.

Today CoDa is an award-winning, socially driven, female- & disability-led dance company, delivering exceptional participatory projects in hospitals and communities for people that experience neurological conditions and disabilities, including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and Acquired Brain Injury. We invite our participants directly into the artistic process, working collaboratively with our Lived Experience Consultants and using immersive technology to create pioneering digital dance works that challenge perceptions of disability.

We became an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation in 2023, joining arts organisations across England considered leaders in their area of specialism, in receiving three years of investment to develop our work.

In front of a large screen showing blue and white pixels, a person in a wheelchir waves the arm in the air, with a woman in a blue CoDa t-shirt mirroring their movements next to them

Meet The Team

Executive & Administrative Team

Nikki Watson

Nikki is Founder and Artistic Director of CoDa Dance. Nikki founded CoDa following her mothers diagnosis of, and subsequent trials and tribulations with, Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Nikki’s identity as a neurodivergent, working class, female choreographer, dance artist, performer and facilitator influences how, what and who she makes work with, for and by. Nikki is passionate about making art with social conscience, particularly creating dance theatre using participatory methods that put people’s voices and lived experiences at the heart of each work.

With more than 15 years experience of creating, producing, and managing high quality participatory and professional dance and theatre productions, Nikki specialises in inclusive dance and theatre practice. She has been commissioned by, performed with, programmed at and facilitated for many prestigious dance and theatre organisations over the years, including The Place, Sadlers Wells, Made in Corby, Greenwich & Docklands International Festival, Rhiannon Faith Company, and The Barbican.

Elise Phillips

Elise Phillips is Executive Director & Creative Producer at CoDa Dance. She is committed to creating opportunities for people to engage with the multiple benefits of dance and the arts.

Elise’s unique skill set draws on experience as an innovation project manager, corporate education coordinator, activist, and community practitioner, which ultimately led to her specialising in community arts delivery, marketing and audience development.

Elise has worked for Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation dance companies and independent artists for over 15 years, including Vincent Dance Theatre, Tilted Productions, Stopgap Dance, and South East Dance.

Katie Sheasby

Katie Sheasby joined CoDa Dance Company as General Manager in 2024. Katie started her career managing fundraising events for charity Action for Children, during which she realised she wanted to actually do the work she’d been raising funds for. After gaining a Masters of Science in Social Work, Katie worked with looked after children before moving into working with homeless adults and and becoming a Social Work Practice Educator, teaching student social workers on placements.

After several years in social work, Katie was offered an opportunity to set up a craft brewery, which she went on to manage for eight years. Alongside this, she undertook freelance roles as an assistant producer making films for overseas charities. Katie also trained to become a yoga teacher and has been teaching classes for refugees and asylum seekers in East London.

Jude Hibberd

Judith Hibberd is CoDa’s Executive Consultant. Judith has more than 30 years’ experience as a strategic planner, business developer, creative producer,
programmer and fundraiser. Judith enables arts organisations, their staff and their boards of trustees to manage change; navigate external and internal factors and play to their strengths. Judith’s current work includes Creative Producer for Hydrocracker, Artist Associates of Brighton Dome & Festival who make large scale immersive theatre; Associate Producer of Inroads making new writing work & projects exploring conservation issues with professional & community participants and of Fireraisers, making work in non-theatre spaces including nature reserves and rural areas. Judith is a Trustee of dreamthinkspeak.

Tina Carter

Tina is a freelance Trusts & Foundations Fundraiser, supporting CoDa through researching opportunities and applying for grants for the company to undertake their work. She has been involved in the disability arts sector for over 20 years, and the circus sector for 30 years.

Away from CoDa, she continues to run Airhedz Aerial Training in Whitstable, researches and writes on disability and circus building on her PhD research, Suspending Conventions, and loves to be outdoors whatever the weather!

Georgina Harris

Georgina shares the role of Freelance Communications and Marketing Manager with Chloe Barker, with whom she also shares the role of Head of Communications at South East Dance. Georgina’s background is in arts marketing and she has over 20 years’ experience in Brighton & Hove based arts organisations including Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival and Komedia.

Chloe Barker

Chloe shares the role of Freelance Communications and Marketing Manager with Georgina Harris, with whom she also shares the role of Head of Communications at South East Dance. Chloe has been working for arts and cultural organisations, in-house and in a freelance capacity, for more than 25 years, including a decade at Arts Council England and five years running her own consultancy, during which she worked with a range of artists and organisations including Towner Gallery, The Serpentine, Blast Theory, Vincent Dance Theatre, SICK! Festival and many more. Alongside working at CoDa Dance Company and South East Dance, Chloe is currently studying for a PG Dip in Integrative Psychotherapy at The Minster Centre.

Maria Minett

Maria is Finance Manager at CoDa Dance Company.

Liz Treadwell

Liz is an experienced freelance Executive Assistant with over 25 years experience supporting high level executives. Liz supports CoDa’s Artistic Director Nikki Watson and the Board of Trustees, working closely with Nikki on various strategic projects and board-related matters.

Away from CoDa, Liz loves nothing more than getting out in all weathers to walk her wonderful English Springer Spaniel called Ziggy and also enjoys running to stay fit.

Artistic Team

Jodie Honeybourne

Jodie is a dance artist and Dance for Neurology Project Manager & Senior Facilitator at CoDa Dance Company. Jodie has been working as a professional contemporary dancer since graduating from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2013. She has worked with CoDa for over 10 years starting as a dancer and then moving into facilitation work. She is now project manager for the dance for neurology work in hospitals, a senior lead facilitator and continues to work as a dancer on CoDa’s creative projects. Jodie also works in the fitness industry as a barre instructor and runs her own yoga and barre retreat business.

Maiya Leake

Maiya is a contemporary dancer, choreographer, and musician and works with CoDa Dance Company as a dance artist. She is a Sadler’s Wells Young Associate 2023/24, was a finalist in BBC Young Dancer 2022, and has an MA from Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Maiya is an alumni of, and now works as a Creative Support Artist for National Youth Dance Company. As a dancer she has performed with/in Barbie the Movie; Candoco Dance Company; Cathy Waller Company; CoDa Dance Company; Daryl and Co; Eurovision 2023; Joss Arnott Dance; and Mimbre Acrobatic Theatre Company. Maiya was a member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group for Dancers Career Development 2022-2024 and was a shortlisted artist for the Arts Foundation Future Awards 2023.

Claire Lambert

Claire is a dance artist who works regularly with CoDa Dance Company. Claire graduated from London Contemporary Dance School with a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance, having completed her BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Recent works include new work with Beyond Words (Helen Calcutt), CoDa Dance, Laura Booth, My Bit and Gaps in the Light (Lîla Dance), It’s OK (Four Hands) and performing in the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (Corey Baker). Claire’s Aerial performance work includes CastAway (gyroscopic flying rig), aerial rugby player (Rugby League World Cup – Robby Graham), Research & Development (R&D) for concept film vertical dancing on cliffs (Kate Lawrence) and vertical dance piece Home (Upswing Aerial) for Coventry City of Culture 2021.

Marian Saunders

Marian is an artist specialising in live visual performance using real-time technologies, who works with CoDa Dance Company as a creative technologist. Marian started out as an abstract animator with a passion for visualising sound, discovering liberation in performing her visuals live. Encompassing digital and analogue techniques, her visuals are created from an ever evolving palette of multi-media and image making approaches. The edges of her creativity are constantly expanding and adapting as new projects and collaborations inspire her to innovate and push the boundaries of her work. Marian graduated from Norwich University of the Arts in 2017 with an MA distinction in Moving Image and Sound. Her curiosity and passion for real-time visual performance led to her current PhD research which focuses on how moving image, technology and performance coalesce to form immersive, multi-sensory shared experiences. Miriam’s work has featured in a visual collaboration with Joshua Light Show in the theatre production of Tripping on Life in New York (2023). Amongst her many and varied live visual performances are The Light Works at East Gallery Norwich (2023), Bio-Synthesis, Norwich (2023), Barn Jam, Aylsham (2023), The Light Works at The Shoe Factory (2022), Window Jam, Norwich (2022), Plug In at First Site Gallery, Colchester (2018) and Oscillation at East Gallery, Norwich (2017).

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Marius Matesan

Marius Matesan is a multidisciplinary, mixed media artist exploring the complex relationship between humans, technology and psychedelics who works with us at CoDa as a creative technologist. Marius’ work revolves around pushing the boundaries of perception, awareness and reality. He often creates experiences that address social issues with a psychedelic twist. Founder of FreekLabs and FreekMinds, Marius is noted for his work on theatre stages, festivals and raves across Europe, mixing reality with the imaginary in staged experiences of various scales through sound, music, installations and projection mapping on various surfaces and gases. Marius has also expanded his practice into virtual realities, creating award-winning experiences, co-founding PlayLa.bZ and shaping the foundations of Multidimensional Motion Arts.

Board of Trustees

Sarah Adadi

Sarah Adadi is the Co-Chair of CoDa Dance Company’s Board of Trustees. Sarah is experienced in dance and passionately believes in the development of making it accessible for all. She has lived experience of a family member with Multiple Sclerosis and the impact that has for the sufferer and the people around them. Sarah is committed to the development of CoDa’s work, in particular the important work they are doing for people living with neurological disabilities and neuro diversities.

Sarah has many years of experience in managerial roles and has just taken on a new job helping build and grow her partner’s stage engineering company working in theatres across the country.

Ami Aubrey

Ami is a Trustee at CoDa Dance Company and is the Programme Producer for Bedford Creative Arts. Her background includes working in both independent and community film. Ami has a passion for engaging communities and has developed a specialism in producing innovative digital projects, often combining traditional craft and emerging tech. Recently, Ami showcased an interactive AI community portrait experience at the BEYOND conference as part of the Immersive Futures Lab. She has strong experience in strategic planning and commissioning. In her downtime, Ami makes bespoke jewellery. Ami has direct experience of supporting someone with a chronic neurological condition.

Emelyne Burkhard

Emelyne took her first steps into dance shoes aged three. Since then, expression through music and movement has held a heartbeat through her life.

With 15 years’ experience in Marketing, PR, Communications, Business and Organisational Development roles, coupled with prior governance experience as: Chair of a community health group, Vice-Chair of a regional education group as well as a university dance society, Emelyne is equipped to offer her skills and experience for CoDa’s benefit to its staff, services, people and projects.

Drawing on former lived experience with chronic illness, Emelyne has experienced a second lease of life and is passionate about serving the patient and carer community because of her own experiences. This resulted in developing a deepened understanding and compassion for the patient experience, health and care sector, dignity and quality of life for individuals and their loved ones when faced with illness. She is an approved NHS chaplaincy volunteer.

Discovering the highly dedicated and admirable work of CoDa, their community approach, research, innovation and artistic development drive, and especially their renowned Dance for Neurology service, inspired Emelyne to come on board to support their work. Emelyne took up the position as a Trustee in May 2024.

Vicki Busfield

Vicki Busfield has been a Trustee for CoDa Dance Company since 2017, and was Chair 2019-2021. She is a graduate of the Northern Ballet School and London Contemporary Dance School, and has worked overseas as well as in the UK in a broad range of roles from dance artist, choreographer, programme manager, producer and inclusive consultant, to Founder and Artistic Director of Dash Dot Dance.

Vicki is passionate about facilitating dance opportunities for all ages and abilities, supporting participants to ignite their individual creativity and curiosity. She has extensive experience working with the disabled community, people with long-term health conditions and people living with Dementia.

Vicki provides dance opportunities nationally for a variety of companies including The Royal Ballet and Opera, Trinity Laban, DanceEast, Stopgap Dance Company, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance and with her company Dash Dot Dance. She teaches creative dance, contemporary and ballet, facilitates multi-media projects, and delivers professional development training with a focus on making dance accessible to all.

Vicki has choreographed work for large scale theatre performances, dance films, and site specific events such as the Lord Mayor’s Show, the Barbican’s Walthamstow Garden Party and Liberty Festival – London’s flagship festival celebrating groundbreaking work by D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists.

Vicki’s performance credits include work by Kerry Nicholls, Aletta Collins, Victoria Marks and Katie Green. She performed in Pictures from an Exhibition at the Young Vic, choreographed by Frauke Requardt and was a dancer in the London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony.

Sandie Cottrell

Sandie Cottrell’s career has centred around working with people. With decades of experience in customer service, working across various industries, Sandie has always believed that every individual matters, they have a voice that should be heard, and they deserve respect. Before retiring, Sandie also worked in training, and had a private coaching practice where she worked with adults and young people. With lived experience of disability and neurodiversity in her family, Sandie has dedicated herself to education and understanding the challenges and needs of her loved ones. She brings her passion for and knowledge about people to her role as a CoDa Trustee, along with many skills from her career.

Neil Martin

Neil joined CoDa’s Board of Trustees in July 2024. He works at a large asset management company in London having started his career in 1990. Neil currently sits in a client relationship role, which includes interaction with senior stakeholders across the wider business and external industry. Whilst having no direct involvement in the activities undertaken by CoDa he has some personal experience of the benefits that these can bring to others.

Emily Parkman

Emily joined CoDa’s Board of Trustees in November 2023, having followed the company’s growth since its founding. Emily has a background in dance, having completed her undergraduate studies in dance and established a small dance company in Cambodia, where she lived for several years. For the past decade, Emily has been assisting an international education company in growing from a small start-up to a successful medium-sized company as the Operations Director.

Hayley Roffey

Hayley Roffey is Chair of CoDa Dance Company and Co-CEO of Global Fund for Children (GFC), a global nonprofit dedicated to discovering, funding, and coaching community-based organisations and individuals that advance the rights of children and youth. Hayley is a committed, passionate, and experienced senior executive who champions trust-based practices in philanthropy by promoting participatory grantmaking and involving young people in decision-making processes. Before joining GFC, Hayley was the leader of a former grantee partner. This powerful insight means Hayley’s commitment and passion to champion GFC’s partners comes from a deeply personal place of understanding what a partner needs, and how and when to make the biggest impact for the children and young people they exist to serve. Hayley is a proud Mum to daughters Belle and Harper.

Liza Vallance

Liza Vallance is a Trustee of CoDa Dance Company and Deputy Director of Learning Programmes at the National Theatre (NT). Liza’s role oversees the strategic and creative vision of the NT’s programmes with children and young people, in and out of school, in the building, online and across the country. Liza is also responsible for departmental evaluation strategy.

Liza trained at Queen Mary College, specialising in Forum Theatre and Performance Art. After graduating Liza worked with Split Britches, Augusto Boal, Ali Campbell and Proteus Theatre, creating socially and politically-charged work that toured prisons, mental healthcare settings and community spaces. Liza quickly grew a portfolio of work by, with and for young people to include professional touring theatre; dance and choreography professional development; youth-led training for social workers and a youth-run music studio social enterprise, winning a number of awards and accolades along the way.

Liza became Artistic Director of Studio 3 Arts, a participatory arts Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation in East London in 2009 and led the organisation to become London’s leading socially-engaged arts practice, bringing significant financial and cultural investment into the region, including leading the successful bid to Arts Council England for £1.5million investment from its Creative People and Places Programme and authoring four successful National Portfolio bids.

Liza was commissioned by the Barbican to create Meat Raffle, a body of work exploring working class cultural forms, which resulted in sold-out shows at the Barbican. Liza designed and led Groundbreakers, a leadership development programme for young artists, funded by the Greater London Authority, successfully fundraised £1.8million of capital funding for a refurbishment of Studio 3 Arts’ venue, and in 2021 was awarded the Anne Estlea Lifetime Achievement Award.