DEBORAH WARD MA FHEA AISTD

Upon graduating from Elmhurst Ballet School, Deborah continued her academic studies, gaining a BA Hons Communication Studies – Dance from the University of Leeds, and an MA in Dance Studies at De Montfort University before receiving a scholarship to pursue her contemporary dance training at the Jose Limón Institute in New York. Debbie is currently a doctoral candidate at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is researching contemporary narrative ballet works through a feminist narratological lens. As a choreographer Deborah has presented works internationally in both educational and professional settings in Contemporary, Ballet and Musical Theatre genres. She founded Ballet Folk in 2019, for share her creative work which has a narrative focus and is embedded in folk traditions and music from the British Isles. As a dance educator Deborah has taught internationally at conservatoires in Taiwan, Slovakia, Lithuania, and America. With a focus on Contemporary Ballet and Limón-based technique and choreographic practices, she has taught across the UK for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and as a lecturer at HE institutions and vocational conservatoires.  

Deborah is a committee member for Dance HE, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, an All England Dance adjudicator and Vice Chair and adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals.

Deborah  is excited to be invited to adjudicate at the Bristol Dance Eisteddfod.