Anita Harvey Warne

Anita studied at Nottingham College, doing Dance from Level 3 all the way through to a Bachelors degree and is now a freelance dance artist.

"I’ve been dancing since I was about 13. Most people start dancing at around three years old in dance schools, but that just wasn’t my story. I discovered dance in Year 9 when I was choosing my GCSE options. I thought it seemed really cool and didn’t think much more of it at the time. When I started, I completely fell in love with it. The idea that I could express myself through movement, without having to talk about how I was feeling, was amazing to me. It helped me discover who I was and find confidence in myself."

"Something I found quite intimidating at first was ballet. When I started dancing, I only did contemporary dance, so the idea of ballet felt really scary. I didn’t have pointe shoes or any of the traditional training, so the thought of going into those classes was overwhelming. The teachers were brilliant at making me feel safe and comfortable. They broke everything down into manageable steps, which I definitely needed at the time."

"I also loved being introduced to new styles. I never realised how broad contemporary dance was. I’d always thought it was one specific thing, but there are so many different areas and approaches within it. I think that’s one of the reasons why I chose to stay at Nottingham College for university. I felt safe, comfortable and inspired by everything I was doing. I loved the teachers and knew they still had so much more to teach me."

"During that time, I also built strong connections within the Nottingham dance community. Now that I’m a professional artist, those contacts have helped me develop my career in ways that wouldn’t have been possible if I had moved miles away to study somewhere else. One of my favourite projects was performing as a curtain raiser for a company called Parkour Circle. They combined parkour and contemporary dance, something I never even knew was possible. It opened my eyes to the idea that dance could be about more than flowing movements on stage. "

"My biggest achievement so far has been co-founding my own company, Reset Dance Co. The company is made up of six Nottingham College alumni who all studied here at different stages of their careers. Recently, we received Arts Council funding, which is something I’m incredibly proud of. We’re currently in the research and development phase for our first professional production, and hopefully it will go on tour in the middle of next year."

"If I could give one piece of advice to current students, it would be to volunteer as much as possible. Meet as many people in the industry as you can because you never know who might help you take the next step in your career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people I met along the way. Take every opportunity you can, even if it means staying late or helping out at events that seem unrelated to your goals. Those experiences and connections can make all the difference. Just one conversation or one person could be the thing that helps make your dream a reality."

"I also think it’s really exciting that Nottingham College is creating an alumni network. It’s something that many organisations don’t offer, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without reconnecting with former alumni and building my company. Giving people the opportunity to create those connections and support networks is an incredible thing."