Lauren Tucker
To keep it short, sweet and simple it is a story about people, progress and positivity.
Image above by Dr Helen Newall,
Images in red dress by Phil Breen.
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Images from duet with Charlene Kaliyate below by Adam Holloway.
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“Her commitment to the art form is strong and sincere and she is constantly striving to develop and push her growth. I strongly believe that Lauren has the potential to become a leading figure for the dance sector in the North West and should continue her growth.” Gary Clarke UK
Lauren is a dance artist and digital change maker, dance influencer, experience curator and seeker, cultural activist and adrenaline junkie. Her portfolio career enables Lauren to carry out a variety of roles, whilst on a personal quest to empower people to live a creative life. Teachers, Youth Workers and Artists have played significant roles in Lauren's creative path and from an early age Lauren knew that she wanted to work with young people and creative practice. She made the decision to call the company Tuckshop Dance Theatre, in an effort to retain youthful and playful qualities in her own practice, to fulfil the huge aspirations that she once didn't believe would be possible, to shape her reality and to co-create a vision for arts and culture with the people and communities that she works with. She is passionate about the development of dance in the Northwest and will continue to learn and to contribute to a Northwest Dance ecology with an ambitious shared vision for an exciting future, that I want to be a part of.
This year Lauren will be co- creating 'Neverland: Our Story in Pixels' with young people, funded through Arts Council England.
Recently, Lauren received Developing Your Creative Practice funding to explore the Notion of Freedom and what it means to young people. Lauren has been part of various artist development schemes including; the mentoring programme for Dance Consortia Northwest, the Talent Hub programme with MDI, and as a Class of 2020 artist with the Lowry. In 2020, Lauren joined the Open Online Theatre Cohort with IJAD Dance Company in September 2020 and co- created a piece of work 'Alexa, Take Me Back To Reality.' Lauren recently won a prize in Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival, a residency with Pyramid and Parr Hall for 2021 and a public art commission for Warrington Town Centre. Recently, Lauren has completed her Level 3 youth work qualification with Your Edge and has successfully gained a place on Curious Minds 'Global Curiosities Programme' for 2021 and 2022. Global Curiosity is a practice sharing programme, with international visits to Greece, Poland and the UK to explore Global Youth Work. Lauren worked with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre as an Outreach Development Consultant and in marketing and communications for Wonder Adventures. In 2021, Lauren completed a 200 hr Yoga Qualification and Level 3 Youth Work Qualification.
Lauren is performing with Wired Aerial Theatre in Rigoletto at Bregenz Festerpiele this summer! As a performer Lauren has been fortunate to perform in her own work and in works by James Wilton, Alesandra Seutin, Antonia Grove, Gary Clarke (solo with Ludus Dance for Light Up Lancaster, Senses at Dance Base, and Take It To The Hub, MDI) Balbir Singh (RandD), Company Carpi, Heartstone Dance, Lisi Perry (Moving Dance Forward, and Equilibrium), Le Petit Mort, Hannah Ballard- Sole Rebel, Charlene Kaliyate, Movema, Ithalia Forel (Afroplay), Joseph Raey Reid, Helen McArron, dt.Ellipsis, taciturn dance Company, in collaboration with Sam Wiehl, Angie Walton, Bernard Pierre Louis, Tilt Dance and Louise Gibbons. Lauren has performed with Corjua Jones, and Stealing Sheep at Manchester International Festival.
With a passion for dance, fitness and flying, Lauren took part in an artist development project with Leftcoast and Wired Aerial Theatre in 2014. Lauren has continued training in Bungee Assisted Dance, and Vertical Wall. In 2019, Lauren worked with Wired Aerial Theatre to film a VICE documentary and became a Bungee Workout Instructor.
Lauren has always enjoyed making her own work and working collaboratively. As a maker Lauren is interested in multi-disciplinary practice, installation art, and work for unconventional spaces and theatre settings. Most recently Lauren made her first Arts Council England supported work ‘Neverland’ which toured to 5 youth friendly venues. Lauren was commissioned by Cheshire Dance, Hamilton Projects and Chester Zoo for Wild Worlds Festival in 2019. As a post graduate, Lauren made work with Lizzy Ryder as a residence artist through MDI. Her solo work ‘Someone Worth Imitating’ mentored by Gary Clarke, was selected by MDI Northern Dancers programme. It was performed at Dance City, Yorkshire Dance, Kazimier Liverpool, Turn at Contact Theatre, UCLAN Dance, and Now Dance Platform, Cheshire Dance)
In 2015-2019 Lauren worked as Dance Development Artist for Cheshire West and Chester at Cheshire Dance gaining a broad range of experience in dance development, project development, management, producing and creative delivery. Moving forward, Lauren is particularly interested in developing diverse opportunities with, by and for young people and set up Tuckshop Dance Theatre in 2018.
As a facilitator, Lauren has worked with a wide range of groups of people with different motivations to dance including Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, Cheshire Dance, Action Transport Theatre, Community Dance Groups that engage with MDI, Cheshire Dance and Movema and Collisions Dance (mass participation project- The Very Big Catwalk World Record) and a range of private dance schools including Centre Point, Hoylake School of Dance, Danza and Velocity.
Lauren has a wide range of experience working with young people, in the UK and internationally. Most recently Tuckshop Dance Theatre worked with Action Transport Theatre to develop digital engagement, and family dance provision at their home, Whitby Park. Lauren has delivered dance and creative arts experiences at Camp Wing in Boston (2008-2009) and Open Windows Foundation, Guatemala (2015) and is always seeking international opportunities. In the Northwest Lauren has worked for The Lowry as a Dance Artist for CAT and outreach projects. She has choreographed pieces of work with Homegrown Youth Dance Company, Centre Pointe- The Pointe Youth Dance Company and Dope Male Performance Company. Lauren worked in FE as a part time lecturer from 2011-2015 and made several pieces of work with young people. Lauren has a wealth of experience working in primary, secondary, further and higher education and alternative education settings.
Lauren was a CASE fellow with Curious Minds and fully supports the Cultural education Challenge. Lauren is a member of the Cheshire West and Chester LCEP and Wirral LCEP.
In education and training, Lauren attended Hilbre High School, Liverpool Community College and Liverpool John Moores University. She continued her training through both cohorts of 12 Degrees North Dance Company (funded by Arts Council England), and completed a Diploma To Teach In The Lifelong Learning Sector at Liverpool Hope University.
Lauren is a PADI certified Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver and extremely interested in merging the two disciplines creatively.
Relevant CPD:
Emergency First Aid at Work
DBS
Trauma Informed Approaches to Youth Work
ACES and Trauma Informed Practice for Sports Organisations
Safeguarding in Dance: Cheshire Dance
Digital Safeguarding in the online world, YouthFed,
SMSC qual, Young Citizen
Measuring Impact, Curious Minds
Images below, photographer: Phil Breen
This year Lauren will be co- creating 'Neverland: Our Story in Pixels' with young people, funded through Arts Council England.
Recently, Lauren received Developing Your Creative Practice funding to explore the Notion of Freedom and what it means to young people. Lauren has been part of various artist development schemes including; the mentoring programme for Dance Consortia Northwest, the Talent Hub programme with MDI, and as a Class of 2020 artist with the Lowry. In 2020, Lauren joined the Open Online Theatre Cohort with IJAD Dance Company in September 2020 and co- created a piece of work 'Alexa, Take Me Back To Reality.' Lauren recently won a prize in Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival, a residency with Pyramid and Parr Hall for 2021 and a public art commission for Warrington Town Centre. Recently, Lauren has completed her Level 3 youth work qualification with Your Edge and has successfully gained a place on Curious Minds 'Global Curiosities Programme' for 2021 and 2022. Global Curiosity is a practice sharing programme, with international visits to Greece, Poland and the UK to explore Global Youth Work. Lauren worked with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre as an Outreach Development Consultant and in marketing and communications for Wonder Adventures. In 2021, Lauren completed a 200 hr Yoga Qualification and Level 3 Youth Work Qualification.
Lauren is performing with Wired Aerial Theatre in Rigoletto at Bregenz Festerpiele this summer! As a performer Lauren has been fortunate to perform in her own work and in works by James Wilton, Alesandra Seutin, Antonia Grove, Gary Clarke (solo with Ludus Dance for Light Up Lancaster, Senses at Dance Base, and Take It To The Hub, MDI) Balbir Singh (RandD), Company Carpi, Heartstone Dance, Lisi Perry (Moving Dance Forward, and Equilibrium), Le Petit Mort, Hannah Ballard- Sole Rebel, Charlene Kaliyate, Movema, Ithalia Forel (Afroplay), Joseph Raey Reid, Helen McArron, dt.Ellipsis, taciturn dance Company, in collaboration with Sam Wiehl, Angie Walton, Bernard Pierre Louis, Tilt Dance and Louise Gibbons. Lauren has performed with Corjua Jones, and Stealing Sheep at Manchester International Festival.
With a passion for dance, fitness and flying, Lauren took part in an artist development project with Leftcoast and Wired Aerial Theatre in 2014. Lauren has continued training in Bungee Assisted Dance, and Vertical Wall. In 2019, Lauren worked with Wired Aerial Theatre to film a VICE documentary and became a Bungee Workout Instructor.
Lauren has always enjoyed making her own work and working collaboratively. As a maker Lauren is interested in multi-disciplinary practice, installation art, and work for unconventional spaces and theatre settings. Most recently Lauren made her first Arts Council England supported work ‘Neverland’ which toured to 5 youth friendly venues. Lauren was commissioned by Cheshire Dance, Hamilton Projects and Chester Zoo for Wild Worlds Festival in 2019. As a post graduate, Lauren made work with Lizzy Ryder as a residence artist through MDI. Her solo work ‘Someone Worth Imitating’ mentored by Gary Clarke, was selected by MDI Northern Dancers programme. It was performed at Dance City, Yorkshire Dance, Kazimier Liverpool, Turn at Contact Theatre, UCLAN Dance, and Now Dance Platform, Cheshire Dance)
In 2015-2019 Lauren worked as Dance Development Artist for Cheshire West and Chester at Cheshire Dance gaining a broad range of experience in dance development, project development, management, producing and creative delivery. Moving forward, Lauren is particularly interested in developing diverse opportunities with, by and for young people and set up Tuckshop Dance Theatre in 2018.
As a facilitator, Lauren has worked with a wide range of groups of people with different motivations to dance including Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, Cheshire Dance, Action Transport Theatre, Community Dance Groups that engage with MDI, Cheshire Dance and Movema and Collisions Dance (mass participation project- The Very Big Catwalk World Record) and a range of private dance schools including Centre Point, Hoylake School of Dance, Danza and Velocity.
Lauren has a wide range of experience working with young people, in the UK and internationally. Most recently Tuckshop Dance Theatre worked with Action Transport Theatre to develop digital engagement, and family dance provision at their home, Whitby Park. Lauren has delivered dance and creative arts experiences at Camp Wing in Boston (2008-2009) and Open Windows Foundation, Guatemala (2015) and is always seeking international opportunities. In the Northwest Lauren has worked for The Lowry as a Dance Artist for CAT and outreach projects. She has choreographed pieces of work with Homegrown Youth Dance Company, Centre Pointe- The Pointe Youth Dance Company and Dope Male Performance Company. Lauren worked in FE as a part time lecturer from 2011-2015 and made several pieces of work with young people. Lauren has a wealth of experience working in primary, secondary, further and higher education and alternative education settings.
Lauren was a CASE fellow with Curious Minds and fully supports the Cultural education Challenge. Lauren is a member of the Cheshire West and Chester LCEP and Wirral LCEP.
In education and training, Lauren attended Hilbre High School, Liverpool Community College and Liverpool John Moores University. She continued her training through both cohorts of 12 Degrees North Dance Company (funded by Arts Council England), and completed a Diploma To Teach In The Lifelong Learning Sector at Liverpool Hope University.
Lauren is a PADI certified Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver and extremely interested in merging the two disciplines creatively.
Relevant CPD:
Emergency First Aid at Work
DBS
Trauma Informed Approaches to Youth Work
ACES and Trauma Informed Practice for Sports Organisations
Safeguarding in Dance: Cheshire Dance
Digital Safeguarding in the online world, YouthFed,
SMSC qual, Young Citizen
Measuring Impact, Curious Minds
Images below, photographer: Phil Breen
"Over many years Lauren has been part of many of my projects and performance pieces. She is one of the first dance artists that I approach when I am creating, choreographing and directing as I know she will be 100% committed on all levels, she applys focus and offers creativity, then delivers strong, thoughtful and athletic dancing.
Lauren works in the studio with ease and responds in both a collective and collaborative manner and I wouldn't hesitate to use her in range of performance situations that my works requires"
Lisi Perry
"I started dancing at a young age and it played a huge part in giving me a voice, shaping my values as an active citizen and to make sense of the world around me. Dance allows me to continue to explore my interests, who I am and what I want to express, and how I want to share it with the world. I value conversation, collaboration and collective impact."
Lauren Tucker
Image above by Craig Sanders
Images below by James Guy Eccleston
Lauren Tucker
Image above by Craig Sanders
Images below by James Guy Eccleston
If you are interested in working with Lauren, get in touch.
