The Arts Foundation announce the four Shortlisted Artists of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 for Dance.
The Dance Award supports choreographers who are expanding the medium of choreography and developing original works. Meet the Shortlist:
Charlotte Edmonds is a choreographer, dancer and filmmaker. Her work uses classical and contemporary dance to tell stories through movement.
Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus is a London-based creative working across choreography and performance. Her movement style is a blend of her training in street styles and contemporary.
Anthony is a Zimbabwean-born and Welsh-raised choreographer, performer and director working between the mediums of dance, theatre, music and poetry.
Charlotte Mclean is a choreographer whose practice draws from tradition having competed in Scottish Highland Dance throughout her childhood.
With thanks to our independent Jury members: Choreographer & Director, Holly Blakey; Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor and Choreographer (and Arts Foundation Fellow and Ambassador), Sir Wayne McGregor CBE; and Artistic Director and co-CEO at Dance Umbrella, Freddie Opoku-Addaie who said:
“It’s been a real pleasure to join the jury of the Arts Foundation Futures Award for Dance. It was clear from reading about the artists’ respective work that creatives across the country are simply trying to survive, not thrive, in the present climate. Awards like this are vital to support artists to reach a basic standard of living and should be more widespread. From Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus’ punchy short-form work in hip hop to Charlotte Edmonds’ refined contemporary portfolio, and Charlotte Mclean’s inventive and traditional forms to Antony Matsena’s boundary-blurring productions – I was really impressed with the quality and innovative contemporary choreographic practice present on the shortlist.”
The Arts Foundation has a long history of supporting dance and the performing arts, and Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Foundation says:
“The four choreographers’ work demonstrates the great range and breadth of contemporary dance practice. Each of the shortlisted artists has pursued highly individual and unique ways of thinking and approaching the medium, and we are thrilled to be supporting their artistic development.”
Read more about this year’s awards.
The Arts Foundation is a registered charity that supports individual artists and creatives in the UK with unconditional financial Fellowships of £20,000 through the Arts Foundation Futures Awards. Since it was founded in 1993, the Arts Foundation has awarded over £2 million to the most promising artists in the UK at a pivotal moment in their careers to enable them to concentrate on their creative development, experiment, and realise their artistic potential.