Laura Harvey

Animateur Laura Harvey helped develop Rambert’s youth dance programme in the 2000s.

Laura joined Rambert in 2005 after studying for an MA in European Dance Theatre Practice. Her first main role was in the education department, where with Kate Scanlan, the department’s head, she set about establishing a youth dance company called Quicksilver. Laura talks about being Quicksilver’s artistic director, describing the challenges and successes. In this interview, she also reflects on her role as a Rambert animateur, her work with the Dance for Dementia programme, and why she believes dance can be a transformative art form.

00:09:15 Quicksilver (young dance company)
00:14:48 Dance for Dementia programme
00:26:00 Role of animateur
00:31:58 Chiswick Studios
00:35:01 Dance and older people

Interview recorded on 28 September 2016 at Rambert, London.
Interviewer: Claire Izzard; Filmmaker: Paul Izzard

The Rambert Voices oral history project is part of Rambert at 90, a project marking the company’s 90th anniversary, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.