Cathy Waller
Artistic Director & CEO
Cathy is an award winning Choreographer and Movement Director, working for nearly 2 decades in contemporary dance and theatre. After training at LABAN, Cathy went on to choreograph for multiple organisations (BBC, Tate Modern, Wembley Arena, Breakin’ Convention, Barbican) before founding Cathy Waller Company in 2012. With her company, Cathy has choreographed and directed contemporary dance works that have toured nationally on stages such as Sadler’s Wells, Stratford Circus, West End Live, National Theatre, SIRF and Greenwich and Docklands International Festival. Cathy regularly creates work for other touring dance companies and CAT programmes. Internationally, the Cathy has worked in Germany, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, Kenya and Azerbaijan.
As an established Movement Director, credits include: THE SOLID LIFE OF SUGAR WATER (Graeae, Theatre Royal Plymouth, National Theatre), MISSING JULIE (Theatre Clwyd), ARCHITECTURE OF ANATOMY (Kristina Walsh, Sarabande: The Lee Alexander McQueen Foundation), ANIMAL (Park Theatre, Hope Mill Theatre) and THE REAL AND IMAGINED LIFE OF THE ELEPHANT MAN (Nottingham Playhouse). OTTO WEIDT’S BRUSH AND BROOM WORKSHOP FOR THE BLIND (Leeds Playhouse), DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (London Palladium, Tokyo Theatre Orb Japan). You find out more about this work here
Alongside her artistic practice, Cathy is a highly experienced consultant, mentor and fundraiser working across the Arts and Cultural Sector. She supports organisations, NPOs and individual artists to develop strategy, strengthen access action, problem-solve organisational challenges and build long-term sustainability. Since the pandemic, Cathy has fundraised over £2 million in public grants, supporting companies and creatives to secure vital investment and remain resilient.
Cathy co-founded the programme Decode with Disability Arts Online, providing sector-wide consultancy on Access to Work. Through this work, she has played a pivotal role in shaping and supporting over £8 million of government funding, suporting disabled people working in the arts and cultural sector.
Cathy became disabled in late 2012, and works actively to improve and advocate for disabled artists and audiences, for a more accessible participation and enjoyment for everything within the Arts and Culture sector.
Cathy is currently a trustee and board member for:
