August, 2026
Eulogy for Alex Hyde
I was very sad to hear about the passing of the wonderful former Anjali dancer Alex Hyde. Alex had been in Anjali since its inception, graduating from our Weekly Open Classes which were held in Banbury from 1993. Alex went on to work with highly acclaimed choreographers and performed in Anjali’s productions in the UK, Spain, Portugal,Germany and Mexico.
His very supportive and loving parents, Murial and Percy, did all they could to enable Alex to be in the company and they were so very proud of him and what he achieved. For many years he was helped in getting to Anjali by Roy Curtis who used to taxi him to and fro’ his home in Southam to the company’s base in Banbury. When Roy retired, Alex was further supported by Robert Coles who provided transport, accommodation and care to ensure that Alex could participate in Anjali’s activities, particularly in the company’s last production, ‘Genius’, which toured nationally between 2017-2019. Alex was also part of Anjali’s tour of Mexico which he enjoyed hugely, saying it was one of the best experiences of his dancing career. Alex retired from Anjali after the tour.
Alex was a ’Showman’. He had a great natural and instinctive rapport with audiences and a talent for comedy. His comic timing was effortless and he had no difficulty accessing his’ ‘inner clown’ (something that even the most experienced performers can have difficulty in achieving!)
An avid football supporter, Alex was in his element when he played the part of a ‘football referee’ during a performance with Anjali for the 2009 Special Olympics Opening Ceremony in Leicester in front of 37,000 people.
Always kind and considerate, Alex was often a calming and stabilising influence on the other dancers. He was loved by everyone at Anjali and in particular his two dear friends and former company members, Mark and Kristian.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Alex, to see him develop as a performer and to watch him grow as a person. I shall always remember him with a smile…
Nicole Thomson
Founder and former Director of Anjali Dance Company.
Dancing, Sharing, Growing!
It’s been a busy start to the year here at Anjali! As we enter the Spring Season, here’s a quick round up of all the activities we’ve been working on. From shared learning with partners to exciting new programmes and performances, this year so far has been all about connection, growth and creativity.
SENSE Arts x Anjali Collaboration
In January, Rebecca Randall and Lauren Russell from SENSE Arts joined Anjali’s Main Company dancers for a creative exchange. Together they explored a range of creative approaches to movement, including the Lisa Simpson Choreographic Method.
In February, we continued the collaboration with an Anjali visit to SENSE College in Loughborough, co-delivering dance experiences to their students alongside Lauren and Becca.
March, 2025
What’s Been Happening in the Anjali World?
Over the last six months, a lot has been happening in the Anjali world and we have some very exciting updates to share.
Cultural Visits
As artists, it’s so important to stay connected with the arts and culture in as many ways as possible. Over the past few months, we’ve been extremely fortunate to visit Lakeside Arts several times to explore the exhibitions on display and create creative responses to the artwork.
December, 2025
Anjali x com.dance: Tier 2 Blog
en days. That’s how long we had this time to truly dive deep into what had begun as tentative first steps in our partnership with com.dance. Following our successful exchanges in 2024, this extended residency in the beautiful city of Freiburg marked a significant evolution in our Cultural Bridge Tier 2 collaboration, moving from exploration and connection to genuine co-creation.
2nd July, 2025
Halfway Through 2025: Celebrating the People, Progress and Purpose at Anjali
We’re already halfway through 2025 and what a busy time it’s been!
As a small team, we spend most of our time getting things done. But today, we’re taking a moment to stop, look back, and appreciate how far we’ve come.
People often think success means getting more money. And yes, funding helps us do our work. But that’s not the full picture.
Some of our best moments…..
11 June 2025
Anjali Dance Company: 2024 Round-Up
What an incredible year it’s been—thank you for being part of it!
2024 Highlights
This year was packed with unforgettable moments, and we’re thrilled to share some of our favourites with you…
December 2024
Anjali Dancer Nick McKerrow Takes Creative Lead in New Solo Commission for FABRIC’s Keep Moving Programme
Anjali is pleased to share the company has been commissioned by FABRIC as part of their Keep Moving Artist Development Programme.
Company Dancer, Nick McKerrow, will be working in close collaboration with choreographer Gary Clarke, and artistic support Rachel Liggitt, to develop his leadership skills within a creative process. This follows on from Nick’s recent Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) award, which explored his transition from performer to choreographer.
14 November 2024
Learning Through Dance: My Insightful Experience with Anjali
On Monday 16th September 2024 I spent the day with Anjali dance company, where I had the opportunity to observe a day in their life. I am currently in my third year on the BA (Hons) Dance degree at De Montfort University in Leicester. Before starting my degree, my dance experience…
10 October 2024
Cultural Bridge: Our visit to com.dance in Freiburg, Germany
17 April 2024
Announcing Gary Clarke as Anjali's new Company Champion
Anjali Dance Company is delighted to announce acclaimed British Dance Artist and Choreographer Gary Clarke as its new Company Champion with immediate effect…
17 April 2024
What is happening in the world of Anjali?
It’s been over 12 months since new leadership of the company commenced and 6 months since Anjali became Company in Residence at Deda, Derby…
9 April 2024
Announcing our new practitioner team plus collaborations with Tom N Rob and Linden Dance Company
We are pleased to share our new dance practitioner team who will lead the main company training programme and deliver national outreach projects.…
30 November 2023
2023 marks a new era for Anjali Dance Company
Today Anjali Dance Company announce the appointment of seven new members to its board of directors ahead of its relocation to the Midlands in October this year…
17 July 2023
