INTRODUCING OUR
T E A M
JAMIEL DEVERNAY-LAURENCE
FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Jamiel Devernay-Laurence is Producer of dance-based experiences for stage, screen, events, in education and professional development.
After trialing the BALLET NIGHTS concept show in October 2021, Jamiel received private investment and was appointed as the Executive Artistic Director In April 2023, - commissioned to deliver multiple performances of his unique vision for a new dance platform and take the concept international.
Working closely with his curated casts of world stars, modern masters, emerging talents and new discoveries, Jamiel is focussed on forging new dance narratives for audiences both experienced and new to dance entirely.
Through entrepreneurship, Jamiel brings his creations to life by collaboratively platforming and curating the work of other artists and harnessing his professional network drawn from his experience as a Performer, Choreographer, Creative Director, Venue Director, and award-winning Filmmaker.
ROSS FREDDIE RAY
DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Ross Freddie Ray is a British Choreographer whose ballets have been performed across the world.
At the age of 28 Ross already boasts an impressive CV with 24 original choreographies in his repertoire. Ranging from Solo and Pas De Deux works to full length ballet productions.
Ross’s choreographic works have been performed in 15 countries, 31 cities and in 39 theatres across the world. Ross also has a passion for dance film and has so far choreographed 5 dance films amassing over 6 million views online.
Ross Freddie Ray is also an International Producer and Artistic Director for a number of different arts and cultural organisations across the globe. In 2023 Ross brought 8 different ballet projects to stage and screen
In 2024 Ross will be developing a further 10 new Ballet projects for the International dance scene.
OLIVIA GODWIN
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Olivia joined the BALLET NIGHTS team in June 2023, and quickly became an essential member of the team, evolving her role to now manage the daily operations of marketing and communication.
Having trained in Classical Ballet growing up, Olivia went on to study History at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in the History of Masculinity, receiving a first and later being awarded the Margaret Balfour Prize for academic achievement.
While studying, Olivia also competed with her University Advanced Dance Company.
Olivia continues to enjoy dancing in her spare time.
GAVIN MCCAIG
DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT
Gavin is from Motherwell in Scotland and trained at The Dance School of Scotland and English National Ballet School. Alongside his studies, he worked part-time with the Dance School at the Royal Academy of Dance.
Gavin joined Northern Ballet upon graduation in 2014 and in 2020 was promoted to Junior Soloist. He has danced several leading roles including Acolyte in Jean-Christophe Malliot’s Romeo and Juliet; St. John in Cathy Marston’s Jane Eyre; Athos inThe Three Musketeers and Tom in The Great Gatsby by David Nixon CBE.
In 2019 he was commissioned to create a short film for Northern Ballet’s Digital Platform, Silenced, which went on to win Best Dance Short at the New Renaissance Film Festival in London. In 2021, his first children’s ballet, Pinocchio, premiered for Northern Ballet in Leeds before a substantial national tour. More recently, he has choreographed work for Images Company, Elmhurst Ballet School and a full-length Snow White for London Children’s Ballet at the Peacock Theatre.
Gavin’s coaching experience has found him leading classes and workshops for Northern Ballet, Royal Academy of Dance, Scottish Ballet’s Associate Programme, The Ballet Retreat, London Studio Centre, Moorland International Ballet Academy and Conservatorio de Dance do Vale do Sousa in Portugal.
Gavin sits on the board of Yorkshire Dance as the Chair of the Finance and HR Subcommittee and is the Director of Business Operations at London Vocational Ballet School, a leading independent arts school in the UK’s capital.
JUDY LIPSEY
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PUBLICIST (PR)
Judy Lipsey is an arts and entertainment publicist whose current clients include Ballet Nights, Mark Bruce Company, Lost Dog Dance, New English Ballet Theatre, Let’s Dance International Frontiers dance festival, composer Shri Sriram, and Red Entertainment.
Previously: Judy was a music and film journalist then a press officer at a number of major record labels including EMI, Sony, and BMG. She co-founded The Works PR in the 2000s and moved to Premier PR as Associate Director in 2013. She left in 2019 to form Lipsey PR.
Judy is proud to be part of the dynamic team at Ballet Nights.