Green Candle Staff

Artistic Director: Fergus Early OBE

Development Manager: Annie Pooley

Finance Officer: Louisa Charles

Administrator: Suzanne Firth

Community Dance Artist: Sonia Illescas

FERGUS EARLY OBE Artistic Director
Fergus began his dancing career with the Royal Ballet, later studying at the London Contemporary Dance School where he became a senior teacher. He was a founder member of X6 Dance Space and New Dance magazine. In 1987 he formed Green Candle, a dance company working in community and educational contexts for all age groups and abilities. Green Candle has won three Digital Dance Awards and was awarded £250,000 from the National Lottery for a large scale community project in the London borough of Islington, which included 8 performances at the new Sadler's Wells Theatre in March 1999.

He is the winner of several awards, including a Greater London Arts Dance Award, a Lisa Ullman Traveling Bursary and the Time Out/Dance Umbrella Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement and has recently been awarded an OBE for his contribution to dance.

ANNIE POOLEY Development Manager
Annie joined the company as General Manager and has now moved to the role of Development Manager. Although she was working in commercial PR prior to starting Company Management, Annie had a long standing interest in the arts, dancing as a hobby when still a child. Her first foray into employment in the arts was with Footsbarn Theatre Company as their PR officer, and she went on to become their administrator.

Jobs that followed included; Programme Manager at Tom Allen Arts Centre,Stratford E15, and General Manager for Inner City Theatre Company (1982 - 1992).

Annie has also carried out freelance development work for: Tragic Carpet, Bouge - Le - La, Physical Visual Theatre Company, Pegasus Opera, Futures TIE, The Arts Mean Business (where she developed an accredited music training programme), and Rose's Thoughts.

LOUISA CHARLES Finance Officer

SUZANNE FIRTH Administrator

Suzanne has had an active interest in the performing arts for many years. Having gained a BA in Performing Arts at De Montfort University she has worked as a teacher, performer and administrator. Prior to joining Green Candle, Suzanne was a lecturer at City of Westminster College, where she taught Performing Arts Administration,  co-ordinating student performances and finance.

SONIA ILLESCAS Community Dance Artist

Sonia Illescas trained at Laban and has experience as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Sonia has been working for Green Candle Dance Company since September 2007 leading and  managing dance projects for older people. Sonia also works for Rambert Dance Company teaching the company's repertoire to different groups as part of Rambert's learning and participation department.