Sandrine Monin, dancer and choreographer for Phoenix Dance Theatre in Leeds has recently won not one, but two national awards from One Dance UK, the lead industry body for dance and dance education.

Sandrine has been identified by her peers as future dance leader to be awarded the Mentoring Programme award, a funded professional development opportunity for 10 mid-career dance artists to be matched with a mentor working in a high-level leadership position to support them to develop their ambitions. She has also been selected for the Observership Award and is amongst only twenty-one selected choreographers given the opportunity of observing their chosen choreographer at work in a variety of settings and at different stages of the creative process.

Sandrine said ‘I am thrilled to have been awarded both the mentoring programme award and the observership award. I am excited to work with some of the best choreographers working today to develop my own skills. Working with industry leaders and seeing my creative ideas come alive is such an exciting prospect.’

Sharon Watson, Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre said ‘We are immensely proud of Sandrine, there aren’t enough high-profile female choreographers in the industry, and we are delighted one of our own talented company members has this rare opportunity to develop her own practice.’

Sandrine recently choreographed her first piece for Phoenix Dance Theatre this year, Calyx. Her piece will be performed on stage as part of Phoenix at Home: A celebration of Female Choreographers at The Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds, 27-30 September at 7.30pm. For tickets call the box office on 0113 220 8008.