About us
BareFooted produces and delivers a programme of work that aims to support and transform people’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life through the arts and creativity. We do this by delivering socially engaged, participatory activity and by co-creating distinctive, imaginative experiences, using dance, storytelling, music, and puppetry to spark imagination and conversation.
Our work aims to draw in a wide range of audiences from our diverse society, consciously targeting those underserved with a particular focus on children & families and older people.
We aim to make use of natural resources and environments, to take advantage of the powerful therapeutic benefits that nature connectedness offers us all. Our work is rooted in sustainability and considers how we build back our relationship with nature, to live better more connected lives.
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BareFooted is currently resident company at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and Associate Artist for Live & Local
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Lucy Knight- Director
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Lucy is a dance artist, director, facilitator and producer who has over 20 years experience of designing and delivering community arts and engagement projects and directing immersive interactive performances for both theatre and non-theatre spaces. She is passionate about engagement in the arts as a tool for transformation, her work encompasses deep engagement as a form of co-creation, participation & inclusion.
Photo credit: Wriggle Dance Theatre
Having recently undertaken a series of further training through a University Certificate in Arts Therapies and Wellbeing, The University of Hertfordshire, a foundation course in Dance Movement Psychotherapy, Roehampton University, a Certificate in Nature Based Practice with Circle of life Discovery, and through a grant from Arts Council England to develop and deepen her creative practice, Lucy has been exploring the therapeutic impact of her work and has a passion, to use creativity to enhance wellbeing.
Lucy is former co-founder and co-director of Wriggle Dance Theatre (2010- 2023) who specialised in producing interactive dance performances for young children and their families, as well as a comprehensive education and outreach programme. Lucy directed The Colour of Me which toured nationally to theatre venues, receiving feedback that was incredibly powerful, in particular from parents whose children found the work transformational “'My older son has Asperger’s syndrome and I found your show one of the most genuinely therapeutic experiences he has had to date.” Lucy co-directed Squidge that also toured nationally as both a live show and interactive film experience and co-directed and performed in three shows Wriggle created for libraries and non-theatre spaces, Out of this World, Rainbowfish Goes Adrift and Into the Rainbow. Lucy also toured with Wriggle’s first show Once in a Blue Moon as a performer. View Lucy’s work with Wriggle Dance Theatre here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBFEdB5emF5otLvwmLh-kw
Lucy has also had a successful career as a fitness consultant and presenter. She has written and presented over 15 fitness and dance programmes on DVD for IMC vision Ltd, and is the author of 3 fitness related books published by Kyle Cathie which have all sold extensively internationally. She has written for well-known publications such as Mother and Baby, Best and Good Housekeeping and was a fitness Agony Aunt for the Sunday Mirror and fitness consultant for Kellogg’s and Avon Cosmetics. Lucy has undertaken her Postural Stability Instructor training, a physiotherapy qualification and falls prevention programme which enables her to integrate physiotherapy techniques into dance sessions for frail older people and has been part of a national Dance to Health programme.
BareFooted is a coming together of Lucy’s extensive experience in arts, health and wellbeing, and welcomes you as a participant, partner, or collaborator.
Advisory board
Tina Heeley
Tina is Director of Dancemind a dance and health organisation promoting health and wellbeing through dance, movement and collaborative arts.
Dancemind specialises in Dance and Movement for adults with psychological and physical health needs, especially within the older communities. Dancemind offers opportunities to nurture minds & bodies as we continue to explore & evolve.
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Tina is an experienced dance practitioner, producer and movement facilitator who has worked in the arts sector for 20 years.
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Antonia Eyton-Jones
Antonia is a primary school teacher of 20 years, with expertise in Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.
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Antonia supports BareFooted in ensuring our work with schools has cohesive ways to support the curriculum, enhancing children's learning experiences through the arts.
Antonia advises in the planning of projects to ensure they best meet the needs of schools and advocates for BareFooted's work through primary schools networks.
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