The Team
Laura Nadine Vanhulle
Co-Artistic Director - Belgian born Laura Vanhulle moved to the UK in 2006, to complete her BA(hons) degree at Northern School of Contemporary Dance and was selected to undertake an apprenticeship with Ace Dance and Music, Shobana Jeyasingh (Counterpoint) and Motionhouse (The Voyage).
She has since maintained a successful career performing for a diverse range of companies and choreographers, including Mickael Marso Riviere, Oliver Robert Russell, Coda Dance Theatre, Keneish Dance Theatre, Sonia Sabri Company, Room2Manoeuvre, Autin Dance Theatre, Ace Dance and Music, Gary Clark, Gustavo Oliveira, Rogue Play, South Paw dance Company and James Wilton, touring nationally and internationally.
Laura has a strong teaching reputation across the UK, on behalf of organisations such as NSCD, The Place, Rambert, Trip Space (London), Swindon Dance, Dance City, Dance East, The Lowry, Freefalldance, DanceXchange, Elmhurst, Wolverhampton University, Coventry University, Edge Hill University. She has taught Internationally in Portugal-Porto (Summer Intensive Portugal), Greece and Belgium (Muda - Passerelle).
In 2013 Laura established Vanhulle Dance Theatre and has choreographed a range of indoor and outdoor works, including Angles in Life, Echo, Infinite Womanhood, Yin and Moo Shim. Most recently, Laura Vanhulle is touring alongside Oliver Russell in VDT’s new outdoor work, Dovetail, choreographed by Mickael Marso Riviere, music composed by Domenico Angarano.
Laura studies the Korean martial art Tang Soo Do under Grand Master Khan. In July 2022 she was selected to represent Great Britain at the WTSDA World Championships in Greensborough, North Carolina, USA. She won gold in Hyungs, weapons, and sparring, in the brown belt adult female division. In October 2022 she won the Grand Champion Cup at the Regional Championship in Wales. She also studies Negaca Capoeira under the instruction of Mestre Chitaozinho.
Oliver Robert Russell
Co-Artistic Director - Oliver studied at London Contemporary Dance School BA(HONS) and was one of two selected to represent the school in the AKX pilot programme (Akram Khan). Following this, Oliver travelled to China (Shandong Province) to study Kung Fu intensively under the instruction of 34th generation Shaolin Warriors.
Upon his return Oliver has continued to perform and tour both nationally and internationally working with choreographers and dance companies such as Vanhulle Dance Theatre, Rosie Kay Dance Company, Victor Fung Dance Company, Polly Hudson, Mercurial Dance, Marie Gabrielle-Rotie, Room2Maneouvre, and Mickael Marso Riviere. Oliver was appointed Co-Artistic Director of Vanhulle Dance Theatre in 2020 and has continued to create new work with fellow Artistic Director, Laura Vanhulle, receiving commissions, from Dance East, The Place, Swindon Dance, Dance City, Performact (Portugal) and Passerelle (Belgium). Most recently Oliver and Laura completed the creation of Vanhulle Dance Theatre’s new show, Olive Branch¸ a family dance show for the outdoors, fusing contemporary dance and Martial Arts. Olive Branch will tour to over 35 schools, Outdoor arts festivals, and libraries across 2024/2025.
Oliver’s journey in Martial Arts walks beside his career in dance. He began his path into martial arts at the age of 7, studying the classical Korean Martial Art Tang Soo Do, under the World Tang Soo Do Association. He has continued to train for the last 24 years, studying an array of styles including Capoeira, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kung Fu and Kickboxing
Oliver is a passionate teacher, he has lead workshops exploring the interflow of contemporary dance and martial arts, for Performact (Portugal), Passerelle (Belgium), The Garde (Avant Garde), WTSDA, Dance East, The Place, Rambert, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Artists for Artists (Joseph Toonga), Manchester Lowry, Swindon Dance, Birmingham DanceXchange, Deda, Edgehill University and Dance City.
Adam Towndrow
Producer - Outdoor Arts consultant Adam Towndrow has extensive experience in the outdoor touring sector. He will share his knowledge and support ADT on the best ways to research and experiment within our work, strike up conversations and relationships with other artists, collaborators, promoters interested in our project and support us in how best to place ourselves in a competitive market, both nationally and internationally. We will also be guiding us on practical touring tips, from travelling with set/props and towards sustainable activities that are environmentally engaged. Adam has a Degree in
Interdisciplinary Performance from Middlesex University and he founded C-12 Dance Theatre in 2005, the Emerge Festival in 2012 and Ballet For Kids in 2012. Having produced all works created by C-12 from 2005 to present, productions have included Trolleys that performed throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and won the Argus Award for Artistic Excellence. Other outdoor productions Adam has Produced is The Van Man, Market Stall, Secret Encounters touring to 50+ events and festivals throughout the UK & Holland including The National Theatre, Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Abbey Road Studios. Adam choreographed One's Enough, which toured the UK and choreographed ONE, which was commissioned by Dance Umbrella which performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London.
