Natalie Ayton - Originally from Brighton England, began her early classical training in Brighton and at age sixteen moved to London to study dance at The Arts Educational School first and second year and after joining National Youth Dance Company in the summer of 1992 she transferred to Rambert School for her third year. She then joined The London Contemporary Dance School for their fourth year performance company 4D, graduating in 1995 with a Post Graduate Diploma.
Throughout her career Natalie has had the opportunity to work with internationally acclaimed choreographers and directors; companies include: Dance - Retina Dance, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake ( World tour - performing 'The Girlfriend' ) Random Dance Company, Candoco Dance Company season 2007/2008 performing work by Arthur Pita and Rafael Bonachela, finishing in Beijing at the Handover ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games. Pop - Kylie Minogue, Calvin Harris, Blur. Opera includes - La Bohème, Platee and Ariodante. Physical Theatre - Gecko, five years performing, devising and touring internationally - countries include UK, Europe, China, South Korea, Columbia, Brazil, Jordan, Georgia, Russia, Israel, India, America, New Zealand and now Australia. Natalie has a passion for contemporary dance and physical theatre; drawing from her twenty plus years experience to guide and develop young inspiring artists / dancers.
Recently returning form Australia where she lived for eight years working as lead dance artist, rehearsal director for Crazy Beats and facilitating classes and workshops on the educational team for Sydney Dance Company. Also teaching and choreographing at full time schools: Classical Ballet 121, Brent Street, Ev & Bow and Dance102 studio. She also mentored the first years students at ACPE Australia College of Physical Education on the composition module.
Natalie loves teaching, leading workshops, choreographing, rehearsal directing and before moving to Australia had the opportunity to work with Stephen Langridge as movement director on his production of La Bohème which she subsequently re-staged for Nantes Opera in France.
Having returned to Brighton after many years Natalie is excited to see what the possibilities are and begin this new adventure.