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Fern Wareham
Co-Artistic Director
Fern has had a passion for theatre and story telling from an early age. After studying at The Arden School of Theatre, she also discovered a love for contemporary dance. She then went on to train at The University of Salford, where she developed her choreographic voice and athletic floor based movement style. During this time, Fern worked with Jamaal Burkmar, Company Chameleon, George Adams and Peter Grist. Fern has 2 years professional experience with Belinda Grantham Dance, and 1 year with Hawk Dance Theatre as creative learning assistant. Fern co founded Coalesce Dance Theatre in 2017, and since then, she has produced work for a variety of platforms (theatre, festival and digital) throughout the UK. Coalesce have been fortunate enough to be awarded funding from Arts Council England on multiple occasions, as well as various other commissions. Fern is a passionate advocate for creating better working opportunities for women within dance as well as centering more female narratives. With a holistic approach to creating work, Fern focuses her process on improving people’s well-being through dance.
Rachel Maffei
Co-Artistic Director
Rachel has been working as a professional dancer, teacher and director since she graduated from The University of Salford in 2017. She has a strong passion for facilitation and teaching contemporary technique across the North West. Since co-creating Coalesce, Rachel has fed her ambition to choreograph and make new, original work.
Rachel has worked professionally with Hawk Dance Theatre, The Knotted Project and Bridget Fiske, as well as being a returning lecturer at The University of Salford. Rachel has watched Coalesce grow alongside co-director Fern since the company was established in 2017. Having received Arts Council Funding for several projects, Rachel has developed a love for project management. Rachel strongly believes in continuing to help and support emerging artists, through initiatives like DanceConnect and by creating working opportunities for local artists. She also hopes to inspire young people to think about a career in the arts.
Kato Thomas
Social Media Content Creator
Kato Thomas is a freelance dance artist based in the UK. Born and raised in Belgium, she started dancing at an early age and moved to England to start her training at Trinity Laban Conservatoire.
After completing her Bachelor’s, Kato joined Emergence, the postgraduate dance company at the University of Salford under the creative direction of Joss Arnott. This is where she discovered her passion for social media and content creation, having the opportunity to run the company’s Instagram.
Kato is excited about capturing dance and showcasing it in creative ways on different social media platforms.
Jordan Sheard
CYD Youth Dance Lead
Jordan (she/her) is a Manchester-based dancer, choreographer, and producer. Fuelled by the joy of moving, discovered through youth dance programs, she continued her training through intensives, R&D’s and work experience with artists and companies across the UK and abroad.
Experienced in facilitating, playing and performing she’s worked with Casson & Friends, Avant Garde Dance, Wired Aerial Theatre and more to bring projects to life. Passionate about making creativity accessible; Jordan produces for Afrocats, a charity supporting refugee communities.
Recently supported by Company Chameleon, she’s developing her choreographic practice, drawing from her and her collaborator's lived experiences, using dance theatre, storytelling and comedy.
Jordan delivers Coalesce Youth Dance and gets inspired every week by their curiosity and desire to learn, getting to share the company’s powerful movement style.
Puté Chomchan
Company Dancer
Puté is a freelance dance artist based in Manchester, originally from Thailand, whose journey in dance began at The Lowry’s Centre for Advanced Training in Manchester. During his time there, he had the opportunity to collaborate with prestigious companies such as the Akram Khan Company and Joss Arnott, among others.
Puté pursued his undergraduate studies at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds. Performing works by acclaimed choreographers such as Jose Agudo and Anton Lachky. Additionally, he had the privilege of working with New Adventures in Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet.
Upon graduation, Puté delved into the vibrant dance scene of the UK, collaborating with diverse artists and companies. Including the Opening Ceremony for the Commonwealth Games 2022 choreographed by Corey Baker and the development of “PANTS” by Coalesce Dance Theatre, which he is very excited to continue supporting the company in its innovative choreographic exploration.
Lisa Chearles
Company Dancer
Lisa is a dance artist based in Leeds. She was born in Singapore and trained under Frontier Danceland as part of the PULSE Programme before moving to the UK. She completed her undergraduate studies at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, performing works by Anna Williams, Yukiko Masui and Jose Agudo. Since graduating in 2021, Lisa has performed in Kapow Dance Circus Theatre’s UK tour of the outdoor production ‘Mayfly’ and SAY's family-friendly show ‘album: skool edition’. Lisa enjoys exploring dance on film and is particularly interested in surrealism and the absurd. She is delighted to be wiggling her fingers and stomping around in 'The Old Green Time Machine' with Coalesce Dance Theatre!
Rebecca Callow
Company Dancer
Rebecca began dancing at an early age and attended DanceEast Centre for Advanced Training before going on to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. During that time, she worked with Alison Curtis Jones, Theo TJ Lowe, Hubert Essakow and Zoi Dimitriou. In 2018 Rebecca gained her Masters degree from Emergence, during which time she toured works by Joss Arnott and Sharon Watson. In 2020 Rebecca worked for Ellen Hathaway Dance Company, delivering workshops to the North West refugee community. As well as working as a Dance Artist for Coalesce since 2019, Rebecca has also begun developing her own creative practice. Her first work T H E S E S P A C E S was shown to critical acclaim at 'I'm Bored, What's Next' online international festival.
Carlos Filipe Oliveira
Company Dancer
Carlos Filipe Oliveira is a Portuguese contemporary dance artist/performer based in Manchester for over a decade. Carlos moved to the UK to pursue studies at the Northern Ballet School. He graduated with a National Diploma in Professional Dance, validated by Trinity College London at an NVQ Level 6.
Holding a Master's in Dance: Performance & Professional Practices from the University of Salford, Carlos has been actively engaged as a freelance contemporary dancer, choreographer, and facilitator. He has had the privilege to collaborate with companies such as Balleteatro, That Ribeiro Company, Joss Arnott Dance, ATMA Dance and Company Chameleon.
Carlos is particularly drawn to working in areas that resonate closely with his heart, including the LGBTQIA+ community. Outside of dance, he loves walks with Daphne, his 6-month-old Bernese mountain dog.
Janice Ho
Company Dancer
Born and raised in Singapore, Janice moved to the UK in 2019 to train at London Contemporary Dance School, where she graduated with a First-Class BA (Hons) degree. Whilst there she had the pleasure of performing works choreographed by Anthony Matsena, Clod Ensemble, 2faced Dance Company, Ohad Naharin and in the ‘We Are as Gods’ production with James Cousins Company in her final year.
In 2022, she performed with Trigger in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, portraying a young princess dancing alongside a giant dragon puppet called The Hatchling. She then joined Emergence Postgraduate Dance Company, which included a national tour of works by Joss Arnott, FLOCK & Anthony Missen; graduating with a distinction in 2023. Janice then joined ACE Dance & Music as a company dancer, touring internationally and nationally with them as part of the ‘Unknown Realms’ double bill, performing works by Serge Aimé Coulibaly and Vincent Mantsoe. Janice currently works as a freelance dance artist in Manchester.
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