*This advanced week is strictly for experienced practitioners with vertical dance practice.
Once again, Autin Dance Theatre and Imagineer Productions are partnering to deliver an exciting series of Aerial Intensive Workshops in Coventry this January. Across 2 creative weeks, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Vertical Dance and Aerial Dance practices and rigging systems.
Following the success of our first Aerial Intensive training last year, we’re thrilled to return with an expanded and enriched programme for 2026. The incredible response and popular demand from participants truly inspired us, and now we have expanded the offer to the advanced level practitioners.
The programme will be delivered by Autin Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director, Johnny Autin, and Head Rigger, Jamie Higgins, bringing years of experience and creative vision to the training.
These training opportunities are subsidised by funding from Arts Council England, supporting the professional development and creative growth of dance artists looking to expand their aerial practice.
This intensive week is crafted for professional dancers and aerialists with a solid foundation in aerial dance, designed to deepen your technical skills and creative expression on the wall and using low-fly harnesses.
Working in solos, pairs, and groups, you’ll explore the unique characteristics of various rigging systems and spatial relationships, with guided improvisations that introduce new territories of movement.
What to Expect: We’ll begin with floor work before moving into aerial exploration with static lines, counterbalance, and other aerial props.
The class allows you to go at your own pace—ideal for building advanced techniques without relying solely on arm strength.
After a brief equipment check and skill assessment, we’ll dive into the intricacies of vertical dance technique, deconstructing and rebuilding sequences through challenging body puzzles and orientations to expand your movement vocabulary.
When
Monday 12 – Friday 16 January 2026 (10AM – 4PM)
Where
Daimler Powerhouse, Coventry (Unit 4 Sandy Lane Business Park, Sandy Lane, Coventry CV1 4DQ)
The Powerhouse will be open from 9am to 5pm for own movement/warm-up/cool-down practice.
Price
The full cost is £250. We offer the option to spread payments. Select ‘deposit’ at the checkout.
This advanced week is strictly for experienced practitioners with vertical dance practice.
Not sure if it’s right for you, or have a question about skill level? Drop Autin Dance a line at hello@autindt.co.uk
For the best experience, wear snug layers around your hips and waist (or stretch jeans, which can be ideal), as they’ll make the harness more comfortable on your skin. Long-sleeved shirts are also useful for certain movements.
If you have a preferred harness or other equipment, please feel free to bring them along.
There are large toilet cubicles for changing, but no showers.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided, but we recommend your bring your own lunch.
Johnny Autin (Autin Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director)
Johnny Autin is a multidisciplinary performance artist, choreographer, and director based in Birmingham, UK. He is the founder and artistic director of Autin Dance Theatre CIO, an award-winning charity known for creating ambitious, socially engaged, and interdisciplinary performances. Johnny’s work spans contemporary dance, physical theatre, puppetry, and aerial performance, often exploring themes of resilience, belonging, and the human experience in the face of adversity. His notable creations include ‘Parade – The Giant Wheel’, a large-scale performance featuring a striking giant wheel structure, and ‘Out of the Deep Blue’, an acclaimed work that features a 13-foot giant puppet addressing the climate emergency. Johnny’s latest creation, ‘Up in the Sky’, is an outdoor aerial dance and physical theatre performance that delves into themes of displacement and change, blending storytelling with movement.
Committed to community engagement, Johnny also leads intergenerational dance sessions, street arts workshops, and family movement classes, fostering creativity and connection through movement. Johnny has collaborated with international presenters and toured globally, sharing his innovative approach with audiences across Europe, China, Australia, and Canada.
Jamie Higgins (Up in the Sky’s Head Rigger)
Jamie Higgins is a professional aerial dancer with over a decade of experience in the circus and dance industry. Trained initially as a dancer before specialising as an aerialist, Jamie has discovered a powerful synergy between the two art forms, blending technical skill with expressive movement.
After graduating from the London Contemporary Dance School in 2008, Jamie has spent the last 15 years performing across the world. His expertise has led him to perform at prestigious venues including the Royal Opera House, Bregenz Opera House, and Opéra de Lille, and to collaborate with renowned companies such as Gravity & Levity, Fidget Feet, and Levantes Dance Theatre. He has also appeared in major productions including The Olympics, The Commonwealth Games, and the Bear Grylls Arena Tour (Endeavour).
Jamie currently works with Autin Dance Theatre as Head Rigger and a key member of the creative team behind Up in the Sky, an ambitious new aerial performance that began previewing in 2025