PETER HUGGINS MBE FRSA —

BOARD MEMBER

Peter graduated from the Carnegie School of Physical Education in 1974 as a Physical Education specialist teacher.    

Peter taught young dancers, including Artistic Director, Martin Hylton, in the Harehills & Chapeltown areas of Leeds from the mid 1970s to the early 90s.          

During this period, he instigated the inclusion and development of dance in the curriculum at Earl Cowper Middle School. This in turn led to him forming the Chapeltown Youth Dance Theatre, which gained a national reputation for excellence within the profession.

Company members included Gail Parmel MBE, ACE Dance & Music, Fiona Wilks, co-founder of STOMP, Martin Hylton, Skanes Dansteater, Carte Blanche and Phoenix Dance Company.

In 1992, he took on the role of Education Advisor (Dance) for Newcastle Education Authority, creating an ambitious and far-reaching programme of dance for young people and in 1997, formed and directed the Dance Factory North East, working alongside Dance City to further stimulate the increased regional demand for youth dance.

In 2001 Peter became the Youth Dance Project Manager at Dance City and was responsible for the founding, management & direction of the critically acclaimed Northern Youth Dance Company and the delivery of its tour (National and International) and outreach programme to community groups across the country.

He went on to become Dance City’s Associate Director of Education, tasked with the creation of the Dance City Centre for Advanced Training (CAT). 

Peter lectured in Dance History on the Gateshead College BTEC Dance course and in 2012 he became Chairperson of Gateway Studio Project CIC (prior to Gateway Studio rebranding and becoming a Charity), being responsible for Gateways Gifted & Talented Youth Dance provision until 2017.

Peter was appointed an MBE in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours for “Services to British Dance” and shortly after became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Role as a Gateway Studio Trustee:
Peter takes most of our performance photography and leads on First Aid and Pastoral Care. He also contributes to creative content.