Artistic Associates

Osian Meilir is a performer, dance-maker and movement artist based in Wales. Originally from Pentre’r Bryn, on the west coast of Wales, Meilir went on to train at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, attaining a degree in Contemporary Dance, before continuing their studies and completing their M.A. in Dance Performance as part of Transitions Dance Company.  

Meilir’s work as a performer has seen them working with a variety of artists and companies across the UK, such as Lizzi Kew Ross & Co, Gwyn Emberton Dance, Satore Tech and National Dance Company Wales. Meilir's work also expands into working in theatre for young audiences, performing in works by Cahoots NI and Birmingham Repertory Theatre touring across the UK and internationally, as well as their own solo work for Arad Goch Theatre Company - Palmant / Pridd (Pavement / Pasture). They premiered their first mid-scale production - ‘Qwerin’, as director and choreographer in 2021 and also has extensive experience in leading workshops and classes for children and young people.  

Meilir’s very early experiences and background of Welsh folk dance has led them to appreciate dance from all different cultures, and to enjoy how dance can build meaningful bridges between people from around the world.

"Being an artistic associate of National Dance Company of Wales is a unique experience. As a Welsh dance artist who’s followed the company’s work for many years, it feels great to have the opportunity to develop my practice and career on a national and international level. As a freelancer, having the support from a company like NDCWales is very valuable. It gives me a platform to develop and showcase my work and an opportunity to build new relationships. Meeting and working with the brilliant artists and people who are part of the company has been a highlight."

In 2023 Meilir worked with us to make a new work for 4x10 - see clips and an interview with Meilir below.
4X10 was one of the landmark projects in our 40th year. It was an important new concept within our programme, enabling the production and presentation of distinctive new work by our Artistic Associates and guest artists.

June is a Cardiff Based dancer choreographer and Carnival Artist. Trained at the Laban Centre for Movement & Dance in London, her early experience working with Moving Being Mixed Media Theatre Company under the directorship of Geoff Moore, Dance Wales, Striking Attitudes under Caroline Lamb left a lasting impression and influence throughout her career. She has worked in higher education teaching students at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff Metropolitan University and for Rubicon Dance’s full-time dance course and outreach programme. Since SWICA (South Wales Intercultural Carnival Arts) folded in 2015, her experience in Carnival Arts as consultant & facilitator has led to new collaborations with Butetown Carnival/Eisteddfod ‘Carnifyl Yr Mor’ and also Wales Millennium Centre’s performance engagement programme.’ 

June returned to theatre with National Theatre Wales production of Lifted by Beauty/Adventures in Dreaming in 2016 a site-specific project based in Rhyl, North Wales, and the River Wye Project outdoor theatre piece ‘The Water Ones’ in collaboration with Bristol Based Duo Act “Desperate Men.” 

To date June is involved with a number of smaller organizations and projects, leading movement sessions alongside other facilitators for Breathe Creative team under the Directorship of Alex Bowen focusing on arts and wellbeing for their outreach programmes. 

For Oasis One World Choir - a newly formed organisation – she is leading regular sessions on a voluntary basis within the Oasis Centre programming, leading movement sessions alongside Singer Songwriter Laura Bradshaw and Tracy Pallant, Filmmaker and Administrator for Asylum seekers and Refugees. 

For Artes Mundi 9 in partnership with National Museum of Wales June was commissioned to create a site-specific durational piece “Sometimes We’re Invisible “ which was created and filmed in 2020 for their Lates programming. 

At present June is one of many collaborators paired with singer-songwriter Seun Babatola for this year's NDCWales/Tŷ Cerdd /SSAP Plethu: affricerdd collaborations. 

"It's been an amazing experience, to be able work in a dance studio with all its facilities, a clean quiet space to work in, to dream your dreams, receive mentorship, suddenly you feel like a different animal, not struggling to feel respected and Artistic Associate its given my time and space to explore some of my ideas along with mentorship, which has been really benifical"

In 2023 June worked with us to make a new work for 4x10 - see clips and an interview with June below.
4X10 was one of the landmark projects in our 40th year. It was an important new concept within our programme, enabling the production and presentation of distinctive new work by our Artistic Associates and guest artists.