CHOREOGRAPHIC CREATIONS
Helen’s choreographic work is highly physical, story-driven, and tender, with a fierce determination to hold space for true intergration of artistic form. Her practice engages the body as an instrument of detail, utilising the nuanced dynamics of precise, physical connection and poetic rhythm to create emotionally resonant work, often exploring themes of vulnerability, mental unrest, and resilience.
Helen celebrates connection as communication through dance, inviting audiences to witness touch, timing, and the power of shared linguistic intention to build living, breathing dialogues.
Helen is creator of ‘The Hypha Method’ – a pioneering choreographic approach to text articulation within contemporary movement: and in 2024 founded dance-theatre company, Beyond Words.
COMMISSIONS
Helen has created new work in theatres, warehouses, outdoors stages, care homes, and as part of vocational choreographic study. She was nominated for a Women in Dance Award with AWA Dance (Advancing Women’s Aspirations with Dance) in March 2021.
Credits include ‘When I Was 10’, a commission for Total Insight Theatre (2025), ‘Fountain of Light’ (R&D), research & development, site-specific R&D (2025), Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, final year piece (2024), ‘Three Poems,’ joint commission by Hounslow Acton for Youth & Apple T.V. (2023) ‘Descent’, for Midlands Actors Theatre (site-specific production, 2022 &23), Curated by Carlos, Birmingham Royal Ballet (2021), I’d Do It All Again’, Midlands Actors Theatre, care home community touring (2019), ‘The Darlaston Dog Fight’ with Regional Voice (2017) ‘STAY’, commissioned for the Birmingham Weekender Festival (sign-language / gesture integration, 2017. ‘Marina’, solo performance as part of Poetry International Festival (2016).
INDEPENDENT WORKS & PROJECTS 24-25′
WHEN I WAS 10
Total Insight Theatre 2025
The creation of bespoke gestural choreographic language to translate the emotional and narrative content of Total Insight Theatre’s powerful new verbatim theatre work ‘When I was 10’, directed by Kieran Vyas and produced by Total Insight. Drawing on the principles of the Hypha Method, Helen worked to build a playful physical vocabulary that echoed the rhythms, themes, and emotional arcs of the script.
FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT (R&D)
MIDLANDS ACTORS THEATRE, 2025
The research and development of a new site-specific work by Midlands Actors Theatre, directed by David Allen. Helen devised an organic movement language through ensemble choreograpy and characterisation to physically re-imagine the script, expanding and illustrating the narrative. Performed at FABRIC studios and Huntington Hall.
GRIEF IS THE THING (WITH FEATHERS)
BEYOND WORDS, 2025 (touring 2026)
‘Grief’ is a groundbreaking dance adaptation of Max Porter’s acclaimed novel, directed and choreographed by Helen Calcutt. The project began as an exploration into developing a new movement language—a precise and consistent way of speaking words through the body. The result is what One Dance UK described as a “poignant and vital” reimagining of a timeless text, in which a five-strong ensemble leads audiences through a journey of despair, humour, and resilience in a bold and emotionally charged new work of contemporary dance-theatre.
‘Grief’ will move into full production in October 2025, ahead of an international tour beginning 2026, made possible with support from Arts Council England and the National Lottery.
MEDIA & WATCH
ROPE / eXperimental short
GRIEF / TRAILER
GRIEF / THE WALTZ
DESCENT / Midlands Actors
PERFORMANCE COMMISSIONS
Performance work includes live television, outdoor arts, community dance, and immersive theatre.
CREDITS: Sonia Sabri Company (Sharing the Light), DUNDU (Germany), the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony (2022), Autin Dance Theatre (The Walk), Akeim Toussaint Beck (Okan R&D), Midlands Actors Theatre (Descent), ME Dance Company (Chain Stories), Vamos Cuba, Def Motion (outdoor arts), Poetry International, and others.
TEACHING & LEADERSHIP
Helen teaches professional class across the U.K. She has over a decade’s experience leading career-focused training in Contemporary dance-theatre/technique work, and Cuban Rhyhtms. Helen works with professionals and new learners, with touring dance companies, and in community based settings, with people aged 3-90.
CREDITS: Tripspace (London), Brum Pro Class (Birmingham), Drift Pro Class (Northampton), Ballet Britain, the Royal Birmingham Conservatioire, FABRIC Dance, MAC Birmingham (resident teacher) alongside choreographic training, open workshops, and research sessions through her company Beyond Words.
Helen regularly shares her practice, reaching schools, Universities, conferences, arts centres, and community groups leading workshops, classes, 1-1 guidance, and career talks.
