We are thrilled to announce that we were funded by Lambeth, in partnership with Neon Performing Arts, to run an online programme around the 6 Ways of Well-Being!

This multi-disciplinary Arts project combining Art, Drama, Dance, Mindfulness, Written Word, Sewing/Upcycling and Yoga, is running over 13 full and half days from 31st July – 28th August 2020 you can see an overview of the whole programme here – we are still accepting enrolments so please contact Amanda at coolitartclasses@gmail.com for more information and an enrolment form.

Timetable below – you can also download a PDF of it here

You can meet the team delivering the project!

Nathaniel Sweetboy Jones is a Professional Hip Hop / Commercial Dancer, Choreographer. He is one of the leading industry dancers to have extensively worked with Artists such as:

Beyonce & Jay Z 
Jason Derulo
Rita Ora 
Kelly Rowland 
Whitney Houston 
Stormzy 
Anne Marie 
Rihanna 

He also has appeared on TV shows such ITV Xfactor, BBC 1 So You Think You Can Dance , Strictly Come Dancing and The Greatest Dancer 

He was also was Dance Captain/Dancer For The London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. As well as part Of Hip Hop Dance Company BoyBlue Entertainment as Dance Choreographer

Laura Radford BA (Hons), LRAD, ARAD, RAD RTS trained on the BA (Hons) Ballet Education course at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London, where she worked with some of the world’s top dance professionals. Whilst training Laura also obtained her RAD Licenciate (LRAD), registered teachers status (RAD RTS) and is an Associate of the RAD having gained her Advanced 2 Ballet Examination. Laura is also a qualified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) teacher and she currently mentors trainee teachers from the RAD. 

As a freelance Dance Educator, Laura has worked both in private and community sectors around London, teaching Ballet, Contemporary and Creative dance to people of all ages; with a passion to provide access to dance for all. Laura’s students have successfully gained places at The Royal Ballet School, Royal Ballet Associates, Arts Ed, Performers College, Central School of Ballet and Central School of Ballet Associates. 

Currently, Laura is Director of Semaphore Ballet Company, the undergraduate Company of the RAD. Here she has worked and collaborated with dancers, teachers, choreographers, photographers and film makers. She also teaches Ballet, Conditioning and Pilates at various dance schools in London. 

Emanuela Pagliei is an international Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer and Artistic Director. 

Emanuela graduated with the “Accademia Nazionale di Roma”(Italy) and “Vaganova Academy of St Petersburg” (Russia).  She started her career as professional contemporary dancer  at the age of 18, working all over Europe with the best choreographers such as Mauro Astolfi, Bruno Agati, Bruno Vandelli, Bruno Collinet and Redha. She also worked as dancer with international artists such as Franco Dragone, Giuliano Peparini and Philippe Decoufle and companies such as Momix and Cirque of Soleil.

She assisted with Choreography for multiple Musicals such as Ben Hur and Carmen of Bizet at Stade de France, Paris (France). She has worked as Artistic Director for multiple shows for Disney and Italian TV Shows.

In September 2013 Emanuela founded Neon Performing Arts , an innovative and international performing arts school designed to nurture the next generation of versatile young talent and fulfil the needs of the future Arts Industry.

Mary Serena Somerville is a Certified Mindfulness Coach & Workshop Facilitator. She loves working with people of all ages; from toddlers to pensioners – on an individual basis or in a group setting.

She is passionate  about improving individuals and communities well-being through teaching Mindfulness, Compassion & Resilience. Mary also encourages these skills to be used in daily life as a means of cultivating a greater sense of hope, joy and fulfilment.

She would describe herself as a “Life Long Learner” and believes that learning should be fun and engaging. To support these values she brings a light-hearted , collaborative approach to her work; incorporating many aspects of neuroscience (Mind), the biological sciences (Body) and creative arts (Soul). 

Mary has been a long time collaborator with Cool it Art, the Museum of Happiness and also runs philanthropic Mindfulness workshops as fundraisers for various good causes including one for the Lord Mayor of London.

Jodie Abacus is an eclectic independent Artist; previously signed to Ministry of Sound and Sony RCA. With over 11 million streams in Spotify, Jodie has released numerous EPs, singles, as well as his debut album “Take This and Grow Flowers” in 2018.

An amazing colourful singer songwriter that has played most major festivals in the UK and Overseas, such as Glastonbury, Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, Lovebox, V Festival amongst others. He has toured all around the UK and Europe a number of times, where he has worked with Artists such as Usher, Anderson Paak, Laura Mvula and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Carla Tosta was raised amongst needles and sewing machines from a very young age; her family covering generations of tailors and seamstresses. As a teenager, she started doing small repairs and changes to her own clothes and that’s where her passion for upcycling began.

She graduated with a BA in Theatre Interpretation in Brazil but chose to follow a career focussing on Backstage and Front of House roles, rather than on stage. In recent years, Carla has worked as House Manager for the National Theatre and as a Freelance Seamstress for Independent Theatre productions (Darkfield: Coma; La Belle Hélène; Tropicalia Island, etc.) as well as for the Art Department at the VAULT Festival. She also creates bespoke upcycled commissions for private clients.

Amanda Callis is a Community Artist, Art Facilitator and the Founder & Director of Cool it Art , which she set up in 2013.

Through Cool it Art and as an Art Facilitator in her own right Amanda has worked on a variety of projects, over the last decade, engaging communities through Art. Some of her personal highlights are:

The Big Hairy Bug Draw at ZSL London Zoo

Lord Mayor’s Show Float for Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers

It’s Our World – largest collection of artworks made by young people in response to the environment 

“Delft inspired workshop” for the Dutch Royal State Visit at Pop Brixton

Amanda thrives on making creativity accessible to all through the core of her work through Cool it Art as well as through partnerships with GreatArt and Neon Performing Arts to reach an even broader audience.

This project has been funded by Lambeth Council as part of the 2020 Summer Play Scheme – Creative Skills programme

And is also supported by GreatArt who have match-funded our Art Materials for this project