Meet the team
Kelly Shearer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO
Anna Kenrick
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CEO
Amy Park
HEAD OF PROGRAMMES
Lauren Gardner
PROGRAMMES MANAGER
Sharon McBean
MARKETING MANAGER
Heather McKinna
MARKETING ASSISTANT
Alison Mussett
FUNDRAISING OFFICER
Dylan Beck
ADMIN/RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Denise McLeod
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Jessica Ho
SENIOR DANCE ARTIST
Gillian Montgomery
SENIOR DANCE ARTIST
Taylor Han
DANCE ARTIST
Beth Gildea
DANCE ARTIST
Gillian McKechnie
DANCE ARTIST
Zac McMillan
DANCE ARTIST HORIZONS
Grace Moultrie
TRAINEE DANCE ARTIST
Meet the board
Anita Clark
Anita's first encounter with YDance was in 1989 at the second-ever Scottish Youth Dance Festival at the University of Stirling. That experience was formative in rooting her passion for dance as an inclusive and expansive art form. She has pursued a career in dance as a practitioner, producer and in funding and policy, and is currently director of The Work Room.
Alan Busby - Chair
Alan joined YDance in 2013 and has been blown away with the talent and achievements of the young people who are engaging with YDance Scotland. In addition, the dedication of the YDance team to the development and creativity of Young People in Scotland and the reach that they achieve is inspirational.
Alan lives in Balloch, Loch Lomond and his other interests include walking, drinking real ales and having a good debate about politics.
Katie Daniel
Katie Daniel is an Arts Marketing professional with experience with Scottish Dance Theatre, Scottish Ballet and Capital Theatres. She first encountered YDance as a student at Peterhead Academy in choreographic workshops and while studying Higher Dance. Previously, she was a volunteer and Youth Ambassador for UK performing arts initiative Rock Challenge. Katie supports our Youth Advisory Board.
Richard Scholefield
Richard became involved with YDance in 2024, believing passionately about the benefits that dance and exercise can bring to help support people with both their physical and mental well-being. As a chartered accountant, Richard brings extensive accounting and finance expertise to the Board to help YDance deliver its goals. In his spare time, Richard enjoys traveling, training in the gym, and following Newcastle United.
Theresa Campbell
Theresa has retired from her role in teacher education but continues to be an advocate for the value of dance in the development of young people. She loves the passion and commitment of the YDance staff and takes great pride in being part of an organisation that centres on spreading a love of dance.
Ruth Walker
Ruth’s first encounter with YDance was in 2013, when she achieved her Dance Leadership Qualifications. Since then, she has taken part in various YDance projects including Project Y, HotHouse and Generation Dance Festival and was a member of the Youth Advisory Board. Ruth has been teaching her own dance classes to children and adults, across Edinburgh, Glasgow and Livingston since 2019.
Chris Stenton
Chris is Chief Executive of People Dancing, the development organisation and membership body for community and participatory dance. He leads on strategy, partnerships, and external relations and brings 30+ years of experience working with dancers, teaching artists, community practitioners, and arts organisations to this role. Chris regularly contributes to publications and events in the UK and internationally and, in 2024, was awarded Honorary Doctorates from both the University of Roehampton and De Montfort University.
Ethelinda Lashley-Scott
Ethelinda is a dance artist, educator, and CEO of the Multi-Cultural Family Base (MCFB), advocating equity, diversity, and inclusion. With over 30 years of experience, she has led impactful initiatives, from founding her own dance company to mentoring anti-racism efforts. Ethelinda now oversees MCFB's work supporting families through transitions and challenges. She also leads the NEPAT project, empowering youth in performing arts. In her spare time, she teaches Pilates, gardens, and travels.
Abi Odedeyi
Abi Odedeyi is a fintech and AI strategist with over a decade of experience in the financial services industry. She runs Blooms Consult, a fintech advisory firm that partners with businesses to develop their go-to-market (GTM) strategies and foster high-impact strategic partnerships. Abi also specialises in helping organisations and teams adopt and leverage AI and automation to streamline operations, enhance customer engagement, and drive sustainable growth.
Abi is the founder of Startrs, an AI-powered tool that delivers personalised Networking Conversation Starters to help professionals effortlessly break the ice and initiate meaningful conversations at events. With a proven track record in driving strategic partnerships, Abi has collaborated with leading organisations to optimise their operations and accelerate growth through innovative solutions.
In addition to her professional ventures, Abi serves as a strategic advisor to a range of startups.
Bethany Whiteside
Dr Bethany Whiteside is Senior Lecturer and Doctoral Degrees Coordinator at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). Since 2016, her research activity has been largely situated in the field of Dance Health, working with dancers living with neurological conditions and organisational stakeholders and partners. Bethany has also undertaken research within the areas of dance education and dance organisational studies and teaches on the BA Modern Ballet programme at RCS. She first encountered YDance many moons ago on a Christmas production titled 'Olga the Brolga.'
Oluyemi Olususi
Oluyemi is a seasoned IT professional with a background in Telecommunication Engineering and over a decade of experience in the industry. As a Software Engineer for nearly ten years, he has focused on building reliable, scalable systems and applying cloud technologies to solve real-world challenges. His work centres on using technology to drive meaningful impact, helping organisations grow, work more efficiently, and better serve their communities. Through volunteering with charity organisations in the tech sector, Oluyemi has contributed to projects that deliver real-world solutions while creating opportunities for others to thrive.
Outside of technology, Oluyemi deeply appreciates arts and views dance as a powerful form of self-expression and connection. Inspired by YDance’s commitment to empowering young people and fostering creativity, he is proud to support the organisation’s mission by combining his technical expertise with his passion for community, inclusion, and impact.