Carrie Whitaker
Carrie co-founded Lîla Dance with Abi in 2005. She choreographs and directs the touring productions, performs in the work, delivers commissions and teaches for the company. Carrie is a master at sourcing all the working props we need in charity shops!
Carrie developed the choreographic voice of Lîla in collaboration with Abi and international artists of various artistic disciplines. She was the central dancer for the company for over 12 years, performing in all company repertoire touring nationally and internationally.
Photo Credit: Dougie Evans
She directed Lîla’s current touring production The Hotel Experience continuing its direction on the road across theatrical and non-theatical settings and over each community cast. She is co-directing Lîla’s first Outdoor work (MY BIT).
As a freelance performer Carrie has worked with Clod Ensemble, Haptic Dance, YFNS, Marisa Zanotti, Charlie Morrisey and Gravity and Levity.
Since 2012 Carrie has developed the artistic vision for Lîla’s participation projects, directing hundreds of participants across multiple projects to be a community cast member in a professional Lîla Show.
She is committed to the development of young talent, and for the past 15 years has delivered on national community dance projects including the CAT programmes and satellite schemes in partnership with The Point, Trinity Laban and The Place. She has delivered choreographic commissions on professionals, postgraduate/ undergraduate students, elder companies and non-dancers across the UK.
Carrie is an experienced teacher that specialises in delivering contact improvisation classes. She is a senior lecturer in Dance and Theatre at the University of Chichester. Carrie loves to generate opportunities for people from all walks of life to simply get involved and enjoy dancing with others.