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Who's Who - RACA Artists 2003 - 2008
Lizzie Coombes image  Lizzie Coombes – Photography/Visual Arts Leader
Lizzie has worked as a photographer/artist since 1989. She has developed two key strands to her work, photographing people and spaces. She has a long track record of cross art-form collaboration and innovative community projects. Work includes projects with Opera North, National Museum of Photography, Film & Television and The Irene Taylor Trust Music in Prisons Project. She has developed a style of portrait photography which she uses to develop self-image and promote positive images of the people with whom she works, ranging from children in schools, to specific groups from many and varied backgrounds.
Lizzie Coombes image  Eddie Copp – Dance Leader
A graduate of the Rambert School, Eddie formed Momentum Dance Productions in 1998 providing dance performances, workshops and teaching to theatres, education, community and commercial venues. Momentum’s Youth Dance provides professional dance training and performance opportunities for talented young dancers throughout Wakefield. Momentum was part of the groundbreaking Triad Project, linking youth dance companies in the USA, Portugal and the UK via live web casting and video conferencing. Eddie splits his time between working for Momentum and working as a freelance dance artist.
Stella photo  Christella Litras - Vocal Leader
Christella is a singer, songwriter, composer, producer and keyboardist with a BA in Music. She toured with Beverley Knight in the UK and Jamiroquai in Japan in 2002. She has spent 10 years studying under her mentor Ella Andall, one of Trinidad's most renowned artists, working on her last two albums and touring the Caribbean. As Ella's backing vocalist, she was honoured to sing for Nelson Mandela as part of his world tour in 2005. During her time in the Caribbean, Christella has also collaborated with some of Trinidad's most popular artists such as Andre Tanker, Eric Michaud and Theron Shaw.
Dave Nelson image  David Nelso - Music Leader
Composer, pianist and percussionist David has been a music workshop practitioner since 1988. Projects have included an outreach project for refugees, and large projects for Calderdale Schools Music Service and Musical Futures in Leeds, as well as developing future courses for Yorkshire Youth and Music. He teaches piano and is a director and the music co-ordinator of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. David is well known for both his classical playing and his work with world-jazz fusion ensemble Tongue & Groove.
Lizzie Coombes image  Cara Robinson - Music Leader
Cara Robinson is a singer and songwriter who has written and recorded with notable artists from a huge range of musical genres, including David Holmes, LTJ Bukem and Corinne Bailey Rae. She has toured throughout the UK as a session singer, backing singer and solo artist. With Rhianna, she toured Japan and the UK, supporting Jamiroquai and Beverly Knight. A regular on the Yorkshire music scene with a heavy gigging schedule, Cara’s debut album Keeper Lit was released in 2006 to widespread acclaim.
Lee Smith image  Lee Smith - Music Leader
Musician and producer Lee runs Green Mount Recording Studios where he has produced many signed bands. His own band, MiddleMan, have toured the U.K. He works as a teacher and workshop leader in the West Yorkshire area. He has taught BTEC Performing arts at Agnes Stewart C of E High School and given peripatetic bass guitar and keyboard lessons at Ralph Thoresby High School. Lee also works alongside Dave Nelson on a band-based project for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s special project, Musical Futures.
Doug Thompson image  Douglas Thompson -Theatre Leader
Doug is a professional theatre practitioner, writer and director, running workshops for schools around West Yorkshire. A graduate of the National Youth Theatre, Doug’s work uses story telling, physical theatre, mask work, mask making and special effects makeup. His company Alter Ego Masks, works in a variety of mainstream and special needs settings using theatre to raise attainment. Projects have included special effects workshops as part of Breeze Too, a programme of arts activities targeting children under 13 and directing The Tempest for the BBC Schools for Shakespeare competition at Chapel Grange School in Bradford.
Eddie Copp image  Douglas Thorpe - Dance Leader
Douglas trained at London Contemporary Dance School. He spent four years with Phoenix Dance Company, then performed in RJC’s Krazy Spirit, choreographed left-a-lone for RJC’s Soma tour and then re-joined Phoenix. Currently freelance, Douglas teaches and choreographs regionally and nationally, including Phoenix Dance Theatre, Northern Ballet Theatre, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Yorkshire Dance Centre and York St.John’s University. Douglas is a founder member of RODA, a Leeds based creative outlet established in 2004 with a focus on research and development.
Andy Wood image  Andy Wood: Multi-media Leader
Andy is a multi-media artist who works with video, sound and the internet, with a particular passion for screen dance, site-specific installations and public projections. He runs Sound Alibi, a new-media design company who provide integrated digital media production and editing services. As well as producing his own films he delivers video workshops with a number of agencies across the region inc. Leeds City Council, Dance United, ArtForms, Education Leeds and the Youth Service. Andy has had his work screened at international film festivals and shown on TV. He is a member of the Digital Dance Forum and a director of Moves: Movement on Screen festival.
Lizzie Coombes image  Jonny Wood - Dance Leader
Jonny joined Momentum Youth Dance Company in 2003 and has performed across the UK and Internationally with the youth dance company. He now teaches, choreographs and performs for Momentum dance and education and is also co-assistant artistic director of Momentum Junior Allstars, the part of the company which provides dance training and performance opportunities for 20 ‘gifted and talented’ young dancers aged 7-13.