Marie - Louise Flexen is a highly creative individual who is passionate about delivering work of outstanding quality within the arts and wellbeing sectors. She offers over 25 years of experience in the expert field of dance and performance, with a specialism in collaboration and combined arts.

She is available for commissions and projects on a rolling basis, as an independent freelancer, working across

Gloucestershire, Wiltshire & Oxfordshire.


Download Marie-Louise Flexen's CV Here

Biog

Marie-Louise is an experienced professional dance artist, performer & award winning choreographer with 25 years’ experience, working extensively with renowned dance makers & theatre directors. Marie-Louise received a One Dance UK Award for inspiring leader of the future in 2015. She was a finalist in major contemporary choreography award The Place Prize in 2005 and nominated for a Total Theatre Award 2007. She has created many Arts Council funded projects & commissions for a range of exciting collaborations and productions of her own between 2004 and 2014. Marie-Louise  Joined Mandala Theatre Company in Oxford in June 2021 as movement director and choreographer.Additionally, she has recently resumed collaborative work with The Velcro Collective in Gloucestershire – a relationship that began 15 years ago in its earlier form as Velcro Dance Company. She performs equine dance and trained in equine assisted therapy & learning at foundation level 2021 with Equine Therapy Centre Avening. With a DYCP grant she has been developing  practice 'Equine Connection'  through somatic movement, dance  & creativity.


She danced with tap dance company Sole Rebel touring across the UK for 5 years, alongside dancing in projects with Swindon Dance resident company Swerve Dance Theatre. From 1994 and 2002 she was a core company member with internationally renowned dance company Seven Sisters Group, who’s groundbreaking productions were performed at The Royal Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, The National Theatre, St Pancreas Chambers, V&A Museum, Selfridges, The Place Theatre and train stations across Europe. She went on to dance for Emma Teixidor ( Seven Sisters ) in her company El Paller, Girona.

Marie-Louise has enjoyed working extensively over the years as a freelance performer for independent choreographers & directors including the renowned Yael Flexer, Rosmary Lee, Andrew Tidmarsh RSC, Lila Dialo, Helen Crocker & Robert Hyllton, Tony Adigun, Mehrdad Seyf 30 Bird Productions and Peter Anderson  Last Legs Dance Theatre.


Marie-Lou’s vintage song & dance duo The Mary Lou Revue, is hugely popular and has gained a reputation as classic engaging  fun performance. MLR received ACE funding  2019 - 2020 to tour Bedside Cabaret & Covid Safe Cabaret project in 2021 - 2022. She has choreographed & performed with Curious Company since 2007 touring extensively around the UK with outdoor productions Mr Wippy & the Conette’s, Alice & Mr Chirrups Global Bug Safari & The Little Mermaid an aqua spectacle in Swimming pools with performers and synchronised swimmers. Her work in the entertainment sector has included clients BBC, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Pierre Cardin, Yves Laurent, Star Cruises Asia to name a few. She has entertained at a host of celebrity events, parties, award ceremonies, film premieres and music concerts  and  danced in The Big Chill's resident dance company' contrived & exaggerated with acclaimed DJs & musicians. She has created and performed for cult pop musicians Sparks & Jarvis Cocker.


Marie-Louise has many years experience of teaching and leading inclusive dance practice for adults, children and older people.


 What's Happening


Arrival By Horse

https://vimeo.com/689057910

Award winning discovery film by Robyn Pete


Mandala Theatre Company

 Marie-Louise is  choreographer & movement director at Mandala Theatre Company ( NPO ) Oxford.

Current project:  Paradise Lost

Vist Mandala Theatre Company  http://mandalatheatre.co.uk


Hawkwood Residency

I was  delighted to have been given an artists  residency

July 17th - 21st 2023 .

Funded by The Francis W Reckitt Arts Trust



Education

Photo: Walk with Amal - Mandala Theatre Company

Marie-Louise Flexen is an experienced dance & creative movement teacher. One Dance UK awarded her a South-West 'inspiring leader of the future' Working freelance Marie-Louise facilitates dance  across a wide range of community settings for children, teens , young adults & adults . She has extensive experience of delivery in health/ well being, participatory arts  and inclusive practice. She has reached  hundreds of people who face disabling barriers such as physical and learning, dementia, frailty, addiction recovery & mental health. She has worked with disadvantage children, ex offenders, refugees & children in referral school.

 

Currently she  works with  Yasmin Sidhwa & Mandala Theatre Company in Oxford on a range of  projects. www.mandalatheatre.co.uk


Recently trained in equine assisted  therapy & learning at foundation level. Funded with a bursary from Equine Therapy Centre Avening and a DCD grant ( dancers career development  grant. Marie Louise is developing ways for horses and humans to find connection through creativity and learning alongside one another.


Quote - Diane Amans Independent Dance Artist / Professional Development Consultant - Marie-Lou combines a high level of performance skills with excellent person-centred practice. Her approach is very empowering for participants who become genuinely engaged in a creative experience rather than being passive recipients of entertainment. www.equinetherapy.center


Marie-Louise teaches youth contemporary, tap & InterdepenDance creative dance and movement for adults with additional needs

Visit: cirendanceclub.org.uk

CLIENT LIST

  • Open Arms Collective,
  • The Velcro Collective
  • Mandala Theatre Company
  • IID  inclusive integrated dance
  • Prema Arts Centre
  • Flexi Hub - Education Cooperative Stroud
  • Cirencester Dance Club
  • Paternosta school
  • Order of St Johns Care Trust homes.
  • Horsfall House care home
  • Ashgrove care home
  • Reach Incluisive
  • Swindon Dance
  • Bath Dance
  • Gloucestershire Youth Co
  • South Gloucestershire Co
  • Chelt & Tewkes Dance Co
  • L'ouveture Educational Trust London.
  • The River Severn Project,
  • National Star College
  • GDance.
  • Bournside school
  • Braydon Forset school
  • Stroud Schools project
  • MJUK
  • Roses Theatre
  • Bath Spa University Performing Arts Degree.




Photo by : Cliffton Photographic Company


   Current  Collaborators & Partnerships

The Velcro Collective

The Velcro Collective

Screen

On The Upside 


Breathe The Line

Equilibrium


Pierrot & Pierette

The Joy of Living   


Out & About

A Dance for Carmella


Revealing Charlotte  


Unicorns Gift


     

      Portfolio 2005 - 2012



DANCE FOR CAMERAS HAVE BEEN SCREENED AT  THE FOLLOWING  EVENTS

                         

The Wilson Gallery, Cheltenham  alongside  'The Kiss' by Rodin.


Horsemanship Showcase 2020 ( See Barehoof Productions )


Sun Dance  Pavillion Dance South West ( See 'The Joy of Living' at Last Legs Dance Theatre )


Oxford Festival of the Arts - Global Dance Film Projects


Cher Art - Online exhibition national and international


Swindon Dance


Boisfest , Serbia

 

Cultural Olympiad ICCI360, Arena Plymouth

 

National Museum of Scotland

 

Together Disability Arts Festival ( UKDPC ) London

 

Royal Ballet Programme , Derby

 

Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema, USA

 

Liberty , British Film Institute, London

 

Abilities Film Festival, Toronto 

 

Breaking Down Barriers Film Festival, Moscow

 

Quinzena de Daza Almanda Contemporary Dance Fest

 

CODA Oslo International Dance Festival

 

DaDa Fest @ Fact

 

3rd Frame, Portugal

 

Norwich Film Festival

 

Inshadow, Portugal

 

Awards: Cornwall Film Festival


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