CREATIVE TEAM

Michael Heatley is the Founder and Artistic Director of Hit The Ground Running Dance Theatre Company, established in 2015.

Following the successes of ‘Macho’ in 2016 and the 2018 North East Regional tour, Michael has successfully transcended Macho from stage to screen with his Award Winning film debut ‘Macho digital’ in which he directed and produced.

In 2021 Michael directed, produced and choreographed the second chapter of his creative trilogy ‘Suitcases’ in which he collaborated with international artist Jon Crispin from Massachusetts USA. ‘Suitcases’ has been brought to life though the creation of an online performance for virtual audiences. A live tour of ‘Suitcases’ is currently in production for 2025 with discussions underway for international touring.

In 2022, Michael launched the creative process for the third instalment of the trilogy "Her", collaborating with an ensemble of female dancers and live musicians to delve into the concept of female empowerment. The main inspiration and focus of this work was the journey of women through motherhood, with Michael's research and development phase setting the stage for a powerful and thought-provoking artistic exploration.

Planning is underway to Premiere the full work in 2025. 

Juliet completed her training at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and returned to the North -East to continue her journey. She has worked as a freelance dancer, teacher and rehearsal director within the community and professionally for over 28 years. She is a longstanding dancer for regional dance company BalletLORENT, and currently teaches technique for the CAT programme ( centre of advanced training) housed at Dance City.

North East based artist who has worked extensively for various companies around the U.K. touring nationally and internationally for over 10 years. Credits include: Motionhouse Dance Theatre, Southpaw Dance Company, Linden Dance Company, Lo-Giudice Dance, Theatre Hullabaloo and Fully Booked Theatre.

Performer, teacher and choreographer from the North East, she trained at Dance City in professional dance and deepened her studies in Sunderland on the MA for Dance Performance. Further into Jess's studies, she worked alongside choreographers such as Gary Clarke, Renaud Wiser and Neus Gil Cortez who created works that were performed as a trilogy. Most recently, Jess has worked with Hit The Ground Running Dance Theatre Co. on the company's most recent project for the final chapter of the trilogy, "Her". This work focussed on the real stories of female empowerment and was inspired by a story of surrogacy.

Jon began his interest in abandoned 19th Century New York State asylums in the early 1980s. He subsequently spent several years photographing 4 different decommissioned asylums which resulted in the traveling exhibit “Silent Voices”. That project was funded by the New York State Council on the Arts. 

This work led to several other Council on the Arts funded projects including the photographing of 19th Century New York State Prisons, State Fairground architecture, the living conditions of the rural poor, and the architecture of Syracuse, New York.

In 2011 Jon was given unlimited access to a collection of over 400 suitcases brought by patients to the Willard Asylum when those patients were admitted to that institution. These amazing artifacts are part of the permanent collection of the New York State Museum. He spent the following 6 years photographing the cases. His work on this project was funded by two successful Kickstarter appeals.

Jackson comes from Washington Tyne and wear and originally started breaking in 2007 under the teachings of the UK Champions ‘BAD TASTE CRU’. Jackson then went on to be one of the founding members of Battalions Cru in 2010, one of the current top Crews in the UK. 

Jackson transitioned into Contemporary dance in 2014 graduating with a BTEC diploma in dance at Gateshead Collage/Dance City studying Contemporary, Ballet and modern dance. He now works with ‘Hit The Ground Running’ and touring theatre shows with Battalions Cru around the UK. 

With over 10 years teaching experience in breakin, contemporary and creating local theatre pieces with schools and community groups. 

Catherine has been involved in performing arts, movement and dance from a very young age, graduating from Newcastle College with a Performing Arts Diploma in 2010 and went on to specialise in Contemporary Dance at The Northern School Of Contemporary Dance, Leeds where she graduated with a First Class Honours and the Outstanding Performers Award. Since graduating, Catherine has worked as a dancer, singer & circus artist with a diverse range of companies and artists both nationally and internationally including James Wilton Dance, Parkour Dance, Abbott Dance Theatre, Gary Rowntree (Ireland), Lets Circus, LoGiudice Dance,The D Project & Mad Ramblings Dance Theatre.