Collective Ma'louba: The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner ©Tom Dachs
Colette Sadler: The Violet Hour
Thick & Tight: Natural Behaviour © Rosie Powel
Lowry
Born in Germany and based in London, I am an independent curator, programmer and arts manager. I specialise in dance, contemporary Arab culture, and international cultural programming and exchanges. I completed my longstanding projects in 2025. From 2026, I am developing a bespoke portfolio that furthers my interest in international curatorial work. I focus on collaborating with new artists emerging onto the global stage, and on mentoring and advising.
I am the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Arab music organisation MARSM.
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For 11 years, I was Programming Associate – Dance at the LOWRY in Salford, Greater Manchester (2014–2025). During this time, I curated an award-winning international dance programme across the venue’s three theatres.
From 2021–2025, I also worked as touring and international producer for Collective Ma’louba, Thick & Tight, and Colette Sadler. This role included a nine-country tour of Collective Ma’louba’s The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner. I secured the commission of the UK National Theatre Award–winning Natural Behaviour by Thick & Tight. I also presented Colette Sadler’s ARK 1 at the inaugural Digital Bodies festival.
As a consultant, I collaborated with Buckinghamshire Culture to conceptualise and deliver STORIES (2024), a season of three groundbreaking commissions responding to the heritage, landscape and people of the county. For the London Borough of Richmond, I developed the inaugural Arts & Ideas Festival (2023) and the 2025 Dance Commission.
I led international development for LOD in Ghent, Belgium, and Theater an der Ruhr in Mülheim, Germany (2022–2024). I was a Selector for the Sadler’s Wells Rose International Dance Prize 2025, and served on Creative Scotland panels for Made in Scotland 2024 and the Touring Panel 2025. I was a member of the dance jury for the Sky Arts Awards 2024.
Previously, I was Artistic Director and CEO of Shubbak (2012–2021), London’s largest festival of contemporary Arab culture. I was Associate Artistic Curator for CODA – Oslo International Dance Festival (2016-2017). I worked as a freelance producer for The Space, and twice as interim Creative Producer for Siobhan Davies Dance.
I was a producer for the London 2012 Festival and the Cultural Olympiad. I curated the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2011 and advised on the 2014 edition. I curated OUTSPOKEN – New Performance from Arab Artists for International Dance Festival Birmingham (2010) and African Crossroads for Dance Umbrella (2009).
I programmed the opening season of Pavilion Dance (2010) and the conference Digital Futures in Dance (2011). I was Artistic Director of Woking Dance Festival (2001–2007) and Year of the Artist Coordinator for South East Arts(1999–2001).
I regularly lead artists’ talks and post-show discussions, and I continue to mentor artists.
Credit photo: Sara Hannant
ARTISTS
I work with artists and institutions across dance, theatre and music to develop their touring capacity and international profile.
I am dedicated to support exceptional work to reach new audiences worldwide. Artists I work with often explore new positions for a global context, informed by migration, marginalisation, new identities, contested histories and freedom of expression.
I currently support the work of Syrian theatre ensemble Collective Ma’louba:
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Collective Ma'louba: The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner
The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner interrogates the true story of one of the most wanted Nazi criminals to escape sentencing.
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Collective Ma'louba: Braveheart
Written and directed by Wael Kadour, Braveheart tells the poignant story of Aline, a Syrian refugee recently settled in France.
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Collective Ma'louba: Up There
Syria, early 1990s: In a women's prison, a group of political prisoners perform Henrik Ibsen's play "The Lady from the Sea".