Drawing Dance in Motion (Jan - Mar) 2026

Drawing Dance in Motion is back for 2026. Come and join these friendly and immersive all day sessions sketching dancers in motion, in the beautiful and inspiring Topolski studio. All levels of experience are welcome, its relaxed and liberating, with participants taking inspiration from the dancing in many ways, from abstract to representational. Each day (10.30 - 4.30) features two professional dancers sharing their vibrant practice and choreography, hosted by artists Sally Mckay and Alice Angus. Our next dates and dancers are: 

Sat 31 Jan : Adéle Bálint and Max Day  (instagram: @adelbalint @maxpcday)
Sat 28 Feb: Leora McNamara and Martha Thompson (instagram: @mcnamara.movement @marthathompsondance ) 
Sat 28 Mar: Harry Theadora Foster + Stephen Quildan (instagram: @harrytheadorafoster @stephenthequil)

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The day will be split into sessions drawing and short breaks to hear about the dancers practice and share your drawings if you wish. Sally and Alice are professional artists and will be on hand to help anyone who wishes, to suggest approaches to drawing movement or support anyone new to drawing. Drawing Dance in Motion is a unique opportunity to draw dance up close and experience the atmosphere, physicality and energy of live performance, exploring the intersections between the drawing and dancing.

Sessions take place in Topolski Studio, the atmospheric studio in the heart of South Bank that was once studio of the late artist Felix Topolski who was fascinated with drawing movement from life.

Materials
Bring your own materials, easels and boards are provided. If you are new to this we suggest large paper and dry materials like charcoal, pastel and soft pencils. You are welcome to use watercolour but no sprays, acrylic or oils due to the historic nature of the studio and its contents.

PLEASE NOTE - NO PHOTOGRAPHY OR FILMING DURING THE SESSION

Directions to Topolski Studio: Be mindful that they are not on the same premises as 'Topolski Bar', but are located in another arch closer to the river, facing the London Eye. They are a little tucked away, but if you follow the instructions on google maps when searching for Topolski Studios (SBC Access Road, Arch 158, Hungerford Arches, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XU, United Kingdom), you'll find the studio. 

Biogs

Adéle Bálint is originally from Hungary and now based in London, she is a professional dancer and choreographer with a deep passion for movement, creativity, and storytelling. For the past eight years, she has been a member of Rambert, where sha has had the privilege to perform a wide range of contemporary works. In 2024, she presented my own choreography at the Resolution Festival at The Place “Valley Fold”, an experience that further deepened her love for creating and sharing dance. Before joining Rambert, she worked with several contemporary dance companies in Hungary, gaining diverse artistic experiences that continue to shape her work today. Alongside dancing and choreographing, she is passionate about teaching, acting, and photography — and  finds constant inspiration in nature and the world around me.

Max Day is a movement artist from Hong Kong. They have been working intimately with Rambert for over 7 years. They enjoy exploring the physical extremes and observing how movement can affect their state of mind as well as the observer. For Drawing Dance in Motion Max is planning on exploring knotting, tortion and tension. Then contrasted with melting, collapsing and floating. Allowing also for stillness and the space between movement to be human and honest. Max is also open to promots from the other artists in the space. Prompts such as pause, slow down, speed up and switch. This is to bring connection between the subject and the observer. 

Leora McNamara (they/them) is a recent graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where they received a BA in Contemporary Dance. Post graduation they’ve been freelancing, dancing in films, exhibitions, and on stages as well as doing an internship with MovementWorks ® (a company focused on helping children’s development through movement). Their artistic interests include somatics, trama regulation techniques, exploring gender, as well as collaborations with other artistic disciplines. In this session they will be exploring with the artists in the room hiding/covering/abstracting the body. 

Martha Thompson is a dance artist and student based in London. Currently studying in her second year at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, she is pursuing dance performance opportunities in addition to her studies. Recently, she has worked with Juliano Nunes, Braylon Browner and Kayla Mak as part of the Gala De Danza in London as well as Sadlers Wells Young Associates Tough Boys Collective. Alongside this she enjoys making her own work and collaborating with other artists across mediums. She has choreographed and movement directed for musician Aiden's new music videos I Worry and Misfortune as well as making her own work. Her works Disorder and Disillusion navigate current issues around restrictions on protest rights and news cycles, have been performed at Studio Wayne McGregor, The Bonnie and Bird Theatre and The Playground Rambert. 

Harry Theadora Foster  is a dance artist and maker currently based in London. In 2022 he joined Akram Khan Company, performing across 40 countries and 5 continents with the show Jungle Book reimagined. He is also a guest artist at The National Ballet of Ireland. He has collaborated with choreographers such as James Cousins, CLOD Ensemble, Jess & Morgs, Christopher Bruce, Richard Alston Dance, Richard Chappell Dance and Tim Casson (Casson and Friends Dance), among others. He has created a number of dance films and staged his own work in the UK and internationally, as well as co-founding Elbow Dance Collective in 2021. He is an Associate Artist-in-training at English National Ballet, a freelance teacher for Akram Khan Company, Rambert School, London Children’s Ballet, Acosta Dance Centre, and has led his own masterclasses in Taizhou, China, São Paulo, and Tokyo. 

Stephen Quildan is a Dancer, Choreographer and Teacher who trained at The BRIT School of Performing Arts and Technology, and later Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance were he achieved a First Class (BA Hons) degree. His background spans Ballet, Contemporary and Street dance. As a dancer he has worked and collaborated with Rambert, English National Ballet, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Opera de Lyon, Noism Company Niigata(Japan), Peter Schaufuss Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Ballet Boyz, Royal Opera House and others. He has danced many works, both in creations and re-staging's including, Christopher Bruce, Merce Cunningham, Didy Veldman, Fukiko Takase, Mark Baldwin, Itzik Galili, Julie Cunningham, Nanine Linning, Studio Wayne McGregor, Alexander Whitely, Yuki Mori, Dane Hurst, Ben Duke and others. He has also worked in Film/TV with Universal Studios (Wicked & Wicked:For Good), Netflix and Sky Arts.  He has taught at Rambert School, Rambert, Ateno Danza, Urdang, Luz Poland, Nephrite Japan, London Studio Centre, Alexander Whitely Dance Company, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and The Brit School. 

Sally Mckay and Alice Angus are visual artists and for whom drawing, mark making and movement are a central part of their work. @aliceeangus @mckay_sally.

Terms and Conditions

Drawing Dance in Motion reserves the right to substitute dancers and tutors with no notice period.
Drawing Dance in Motion reserves the right to cancel sessions if necessary, without notification and will offer a refund for cancelled sessions.
Refunds are offered if an event is cancelled or rescheduled by us.

Cancellations by you

Refunds for individual tickets are only available up to 21days before session and will incur a 10% administration charge.
Discounted price series passes can only be refunded up to 21 days before the FIRST session and will incur a 10% administration charge..