EPYNT: Meet the Team

Meet the wonderful Epynt Team who are bringing their creative talents together for all aspects of Prosiect Epynt!

Bethan Cooper, Lead Artist

Bethan is a Dance Practitioner, Professional Dancer and Pilates teacher based in the South Wales area. She started dancing at Impelo and Mid Wales Dance Academy in Brecon at an early age, going on to train as a NDCW and Ballet Cymru Associate. Bethan gained her BA(Hons) in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2017 where she was fortunate to work with companies such as Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and Studio Wayne McGregor. She now performs with Brecon Festival Ballet, in Impelo's Sci-dance show CELL and is currrently touring Osian Meilir's Qwerin.

During her training, she developed a keen interest in teaching; completing modules in dance in education and the community. On her return to Wales, Bethan spent time on a placement with Rubicon Dance shadowing a variety of classes across their dance in education and health sector and has since completed her Level 4 Dance Teaching Qualification with BBO Dance. She has been working with Impelo on Arts and Health and Creative Learning projects since 2018.

Prosiect Epynt was researched and developed by Bethan during the lockdown, and she is so excited for the project to finally be coming to life!

Ruth Lloyd, Project Manager

Ruth Lloyd is an arts, culture and learning consultant based in Brecon, mid Wales.

Ruth has worked in the arts and culture sector for over twenty years, leading strategic and audience development programmes and producing projects in a range of settings. She worked closely with the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government on the delivery of their Creative Learning Through the Arts national plan, managing the Arts and Education Network for South-East Wales and leading the set-up of the National Arts and Education Network for

Wales. Regular freelance clients include Cadw, Theatr Brycheiniog, Arts Council of Wales, Glyn Vivian Gallery, Dwr Cymru and Powys County Council.

Prior to relocating to Wales in 2014, Ruth worked for thirteen years at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London during which time she established and ran their flagship Museum Residency Programme. She also co-ordinated the establishment of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Visit Exhibition Road), and as Programme Manager for Group directed annual festivals including Creative Quarter, Black History Month and five editions of Exhibition Road Music Day. In these roles, she contributed to the cultural programme for the

London 2012 Olympics in partnership with the Mayor of London’s Culture Team.

Ruth grew up, and has strong roots in Rhayader, mid Wales. She has a degree in Fine Art Textiles from Goldsmiths College, University of London and an MA in Heritage Interpretation and Representation from University of Leicester.

Naomi Keevil, Dramaturg

Naomi is a freelance theatre practitioner, performer and facilitator. She has worked with a number of theatre and dance companies across Wales including Theatr Powys, Impelo, PuppetSoup, DanceBlast, Little-Light and Struts and Frets Theatre. She also runs workshops and classes in the community and education settings including a number of projects for the Arts Council of Wales' Lead Creative Schools Scheme. When not working she loves to walk in our beautiful Welsh mountains.

Jess Lerner, Dance/Movement Artist

Jess Lerner is a multidisciplinary artist who works in dance and visual art. Her dance focuses on improvisation and somatic movement and is site specific or object responsive. She has made installations and paintings that are either shown as the work or are part of the process. Her work is process oriented and the performances are a continuation of the process. She has extensively collaborated with other choreographers, film makers and visual artists.

She teaches movement improvisation, mentors in visual art performance using movement and has recently worked in schools and Universities.

She is from London but has lived in Brynaman, Carmarthenshire since 2002.

Kim Noble, Dance/Movement Artist

Kim is a freelance dancer and performer based in Cardiff. Kim trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, she enjoys performing outdoors and creating dance theatre. She co runs a dance theatre company as well as dancing for other choreographers, she is also dance leader for Monmouth Youth Dance Company in Abergavenny. Kim is very excited to be part of Prosiect Epynt and to be working collaboratively with the community and Impelo, and especially as the performance is in Brecon where Kim began performing as a youth dancer!

Toby Hay, Musician/Composer

Toby is a guitar player and composer. He is fascinated by the connection between landscape and music. Toby’s music is inspired by the landscapes of the Cambrian Mountains, where he has lived all of his life. He is interested in the connection between improvisation and composition. Toby has toured all over the UK & Ireland performing solo, or collaborating with other musicians. He am the founder of Cambrian Records, a label which he runs to release his own music, and that of a select few artists.

George Hampton Wale, Costume Designer

George Hampton Wale is an artist, designer and maker from Abergavenny working with sewing and textiles to create sculpture, performance and costume. They also have a background in movement and dance which influences their work exploring themes including connection to landscape and the body. As well as working as a visual artist they have a practice as a costume designer for dance and have worked with companies such as National Dance Company Wales and National Youth Dance Wales; working with choreographers such as Lea Anderson, James Batchelor, Matthew Robinson, SAY Dance and Arielle Smith.

EPYNT: Meet the Team!