Executive Producer

Denise Woods

Denise has a background firmly rooted in dance, with a Diploma in Youth Work and another in Musical Theatre, as well as a Masters Degree in Arts and Cultural Management from Sussex University. She has worked as dancer, choreographer and teacher for several companies and organisations in the South East and London including Kensington and Chelsea Council and Merton Dance Festival. Denise was also a dance coordinator for Kent County Council and worked in retail for a time, managing music shops in the city for Virgin Music.

Finding that she enjoyed 'making things happen' more than aching muscles, Denise obtained an Arts Council bursary to retrain as a Dance Manager, based at London dance management agency, 'Independance'. She went on to manage a selection of dance companies for 4 years as an independent Dance Manager, in addition to the role of General Manager for 'Woking Dance Festival' (an international biannual festival). It was during this time that Denise first began working with StopGAP, which eventually led to her becoming its General Manager in 2005.

Having been with the company during its transition from regional to international recognition, Denise enjoys working in an entrepreneurial way to make opportunities for the team, and advocate best practice in the Arts and Disability Arts sectors.

Denise is also a board member for 'Carousel', an arts organisation for people with disabilities.

Administrator

Sho Shibata

The latest addition to the StopGAP management team, Sho comes to us from Arts Council England (South East) where he worked as the Combined Arts Administrator, and later as the Executive Assistant.

A 2005 Philosophy graduate from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Sho also studied Social Psychology which is a subject he's really needed, having been rather thrown-in at the deep end at the start of StopGAP's first UK tour. He's quickly been put to work in every area of the company's administration, from managing the office, to operating the sound desk during performances.

Having worked as a coordinator at the Special Olympics in Japan, Sho has a real interest in helping to develop integration between people with and without disabilities. Through StopGAP he's able to combine this experience with the arts and dance sector and, through the company, aims to help the development of integrated dance nationally and internationally, whilst learning and growing with StopGAP at the same time.