Drawing Dance in Motion (April - July) 2026

This April - July series is now sold out - you can now book Sept - Nov here
Sept - Nov tickets

Drawing Dance in Motion series continues with three Saturday sessions between April - July 2026. Come and join these friendly and immersive days, 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. The day (10.30 - 4.30) features two professional dancers sharing their vibrant practice and choreography, hosted by artists Sally Mckay and Alice Angus.  This season we have asked dancers who have been with us previously to invite new partners to work with them, giving you the chance to see different partnerships and ways of moving: 

Sat 25 April : Elisabeth Mulenga and Harry Theadora Foster (insta: @elizabeth.mulenga @harrytheadorafoster) 
Sat 16 May: Holly Vallis and Tom Davis-Dunn (@hollyvallis97 @tomdavisdunn)
Sat 4 July: Thomasin Gülgeç and Estela Merlos (instagram: @thomgulgec @_estela_merlos_)

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 fixative, other 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

Holly Vallis is a dance theatre artist that specialises in improvisation, collaboration and live performance with which they have toured internationally. Their most recent collaborations have been with Michael Keegan-Dolan (Teac Damsa), Amit Noy (Compagnie Sumac), Anthony Matsena (Matsena Productions), Akram Khan Company, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance and BalletBoyz. Holly has also proudly danced for various queer events in Hastings and St Leonards: Laundry Day, Club Fliq, Queer Ass Folk and Trans Pride Hastings. Holly identifies as non-binary which means they do not conform to the norm; this is reflected in how they work and who with. 

Tom Davis-Dunn, is a contemporary dance artist who has had the pleasure of working with many different companies during his career such as DV8 physical theatre, Akram Khan Company, Rambert Dance Company, Gary Clarke Company and James Cousins Company to name a few. Tom prides himself on authenticity and emotional drive when it comes to movement, bringing feeling and intention to the very surface and in himself complete dedication and sacrifice to the story and its telling, immersing himself in a world and becoming something other yet completely relating to his own life experiences.

Elisabeth Mulenga is a choreographer, performer and a Sadler’s Wells Young Associate Alumni. Her recent work, Christ Alone, premiered at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in 2024 and was restaged at the Royal Opera House in 2025. In 2022, she won the Choreographic Innovation Award at the BBC Young Dancer Grand Final for her solo work, Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?. Spanning contemporary dance, film, commercial and performance art, she has performed for artists such as: Holly Blakey, Ryan Heffington, Ivan Michael Blackstock, Miley Cyrus X Lost City Immersive, Clod Ensemble and Russell Maliphant, and performed 8-hour durational works by Miles Greenberg for the Marina Abramović Institute Takeover at Southbank Centre. She has toured internationally with Alison Goldfrapp, performing at Glastonbury Festival, the Scissor Sisters & Alison Goldfrapp arena tour, and on Later with Jools Holland. She has featured in music videos for artists including Robyn, Wolf Alice, Sampha, Yann Tiersen.

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. 

Thomasin Gülgeç has been a member of several dance companies including Rambert, Akram Khan Company, and Company Chameleon, alongside freelance projects across theatre, opera and film. His practice explores movement, writing and wellbeing, often in outdoor settings.

Estela Merlos born in Barcelona, of Spanish and Filipino heritage, is a dance artist and certified practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method based in London. She was a dancer with Rambert from 2008 to 2014 and has since worked on projects across dance, theatre, opera and film collaborating with international choreographers such as Akram Khan, Shobana Jeyasingh, Marcos Morau | La Veronal, Boris Charmatz, among others. Estela has presented her own choreographic work in theatres and public spaces in Spain and in the UK. She teaches a wide range of classes, workshops and one-to-one sessions for dance professionals, vocational students and community members and is passionate about sharing the health benefits of somatic learning practice and martial arts principles through movement and dance.

Sally Mckay and Alice Angus are visual artists and for whom drawing, mark making and movement is 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..