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From June 2024 - March 2025, we delivered
17 Weekly Professional Dance Classes and 4 full-day choreographic workshops.
The Coventry Pro Initiative, generously supported by the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement, was a pilot programme designed to provide a consistent training hub for artists amidst the demands of rehearsals, projects, teaching, and the many other responsibilities dance artists manage in the region.
Inspired by other models, the initiative focused on building a sustainable training infrastructure for artists to connect, train and upskill locally. We programmed a diverse range of professional classes and workshops led by exceptional artists, supporting the local and wider dance community and aimed to celebrate a wide range of styles, voices and practices.
The response from the dance community has been overwhelmingly positive, and the initiative has deepened our understanding of what dancers in the region need.
With the recent development of our own dedicated studio space, Studio 17, we’ll be hosting a full calendar of CPD opportunities, classes and events throughout 2025.
Stay tuned for what’s to come!
We extend thanks to our funder, Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement,for supporting our initiative.
Our Next Workshop
Saturday 11th October 2025 / 11 AM - 5 PM / Studio 17, Fargo Village, Coventry
Artist - Frankie Goodinson / Fee: £25
About the Artist
Frankie Goodinson is a Freelance Dance Artist based in the West Midlands. Since graduating from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, she has worked as a Performer, Dance Teacher, and Project Manager with Ascension Dance Company in Coventry, touring work both across the UK and internationally. Frankie has performed in commissions with Alleyne Dance, Anton Lachky, Lea Anderson, and Rahel Vonmoos, and most recently appeared in Hullabaloo with House of Mash, touring around the West Midlands.
Alongside her performance career, Frankie has a strong passion for youth dance and is dedicated to contributing to new spaces that encourage growth, creativity, and opportunity—both for herself and the communities she engages with.
Workshop Description
Frankie’s workshop will dive into the relationship between speed and detail, inviting dancers to push their bodies’ capacity while staying connected to clarity and nuance.
Expect a mix of fluid spinal sequences, rhythm-driven tasks, and fast-paced movement phrases, participants will explore qualities and dynamics that demand both physical stamina and refined attention.
In the afternoon, we will look at words in relation to movement. Combining her studies in linguistics and language, Frankie will guide written and dance tasks to generate pieces of material to weave together to finish.
Fancy leading a workshop? Drop us an email at info@ascensiondance.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you!
“I had a really great day teaching in Coventry. It’s refreshing to be met with such a communicative and professional team. The correspondence before the date itself and the clear instructions for the day were two things that really stood out to me. I felt well supported.
As a teacher, these things really stick with us and it makes us much more inclined to recommend your organisation to other practitioners.
Honestly keep it up, you’ve started something really special here and I’m excited to see how CPI will continue to flourish and grow!”
Hannah Thomas - CPI Artist
The quality of teaching was high, the classes had a good pace and the movement material was athletic and a good balance of challenging/ comfortable. In particular Mara Osorio had a very detailed approach to movement which was very welcome.
Eleanor Stephenson - Participant
CPI allowed me to connect with new artists around the region. I’ve built some important connections that has progressed my career further.
Emily Cox - Participant