Behind A.P Dance Collaborations
A.P Dance Collaborations was founded by Abigail Pillans as a space where all her passions could come together—teaching, creating, performing, and sharing. Whilst working as a professional dancer, choreographer, and coach, Abigail envisioned a company built on the idea of connecting dance and music in a more intimate setting, bringing all artists—dancers and musicians—together on stage. Throughout her career, Abigail has been drawn to working on the finer details, with her work embracing minimalism in motion. A.P Dance Collaborations seeks to share this creative vision with up-and-coming artists, inspiring them to explore their own voices and push the boundaries of performance.
Abigail Pillans, Director
Abigail Pillans is the Director and founder of A.P Dance Collaborations. She holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Contemporary Dance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and has toured across Scotland in classical Ballet’s such as Swan Lake, Giselle, and original contemporary works. Abigail has also worked with Yorke Dance Project as an Apprentice where they performed at the Royal Opera House's Linbury Theatre in Sea of Troubles by Kenneth McMillan and Robert Cohan’s late works. Her choreographic talents have been recognized internationally, as she reached the finals of the Tanzolymp competition, and her choreography won her student a scholarship to a summer school in Japan.
Osman Tack, Pianist
Osman Tack is an accomplished concert pianist, holding a master’s degree in performance from the Royal College of Music and a PhD from the University of Oxford. Osman currently collaborates with the Royal Ballet, playing for rehearsals and classes for productions such as The Dante Project, Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Winter’s Tale. He has also performed Schumann’s piano concerto with the Oxford Philharmonic, Schubert’s Wintereisse with Ian Bostridge and his piano trio won the Pro-Corda Chamber Music competition. Osman’s collaboration with Abigail on Philip Glass : Reflections brings together his passion for live music and dance, allowing students to benefit from his vast knowledge and experience.
Kate Hester, Dancer
Born and raised in the UK, Kate Hester is a professional ballet dancer. After training at the prestigious Central School of Ballet, Kate embarked on her professional career which led her to join a renowned ballet company in Bulgaria. She has danced on stage in iconic classical ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, La Bayadère, and Swan Lake performing as both a soloist and a member of the corps de ballet. Throughout her career, Kate has had the privilege of performing in some of the world’s most prestigious theatres, including the Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells, Royal Albert Hall, and the Palladium. Currently based in London, Kate continues to dance professionally while also pursuing her passion for illustration as a freelance artist.
Morgan Ellis, Dancer
Morgan Ellis is a professional contemporary dance artist, physical theatre performer, and actor with a diverse background in performance. Morgan spent seven years training at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. He was part of the CAT Scheme for four years, participating in workshops with leading companies Frantic Assembly, Phoenix Dance Theatre, StopGap Dance Company, Mobius Dance Company, and The Royal Ballet. Morgan furthered his training with Jasmin Vardimon’s graduate scheme, JV2.
His professional career has seen him perform with companies including Autin Dance Theatre, Orian Theatre Dance Company, and Tailwind Physical Theatre. Morgan also completed actor training with MC2 Actor's Studio, and has since worked with Theatre Inspiring Change and Geese Theatre Company.
Florence Blackwood, Dancer