Founder and Director
AVATÂRA AYUSO is the Founder and Director of AWA DANCE. She is a choreographer, the Artistic Director of AVA DANCE COMPANY, a cultural leader and activist in the dance world. Her work has taken her around the world, collaborating with many artists and organisations from Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America. These international experiences made her aware of the inequality that women face in the workforce in general, and in the dance sector in particular, where despite girls outnumbering boys in training and professional contexts, women are not taught to be leaders, but rather to follow the existing patriarchal structures.
Her belief in the power of dance to change and enrich lives, her commitment to create opportunities for the female voice to be heard, and her immense admiration for women inspired Avatâra in her mission to empower the women and girls of the world. AWA DANCE is her contribution to making the 21st century world a better place for everyone.
Our Team and Board Members
The work of AWA DANCE is made possible by our talented part-time team of staff and volunteers.
Our Board brings a wide range of expertise in different areas. We are very proud to have these incredible individuals supporting our charity, and we are committed to supporting their development through ongoing training and professional memberships
Asma Hussain (she/her)
Co-Chair
Rosa María Cisneros (she/her)
Co-Chair
Monique Springer (she/her)
Board member
Arunima Kumar (she/her)
Board member
Sherisse Bisram (she/her)
Dance and Leadership Facilitator
Jane Ralls (she/her)
Board member
Vanessa De Ruggeris (she/her)
Board Member
Jordan Hazrati (she/her)
Board Member
Sue Wyatt
Board Member
Vittoria Butti (she/her)
Programme Administrator
Ana Laura Neve (she/her)
Digital and Communications Officer
Kathryn Stamp (she/her)
Researcher and Ambassador AWA DANCE
Sam Lebihan (she/her)
Safeguarding Lead and Facilicator
Avatâra Ayuso (she/her)
Founder & Director
Governance
Good governance never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern.
“Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty,promoting sustainable development and building good governance”
Kofi Annan
