Carole Edrich believes that “the language of dance is international. An open hand, a shift in weight, a tilt of the head all give messages that we understand. Movement - not words - is humankind’s primary form of communication. Dance is understood intuitively by everyone, wherever they are in the world. The dancer’s art is not simply discipline and it need not be beautiful, but every move and transition is refined embodied communication, a fusion resulting from history, culture, body language, moves, grooves and the joys , concerns and aspirations of audience and dancers alike. The most eloquent dancers are often inarticulate in terms of words, but their dance says it all. My project, a weekly free magazine available on all platforms, will give them a voice, train and pay them to create spoken, photographic or video content and through this help them re-engage with society, and society re-engage with them. The magazine will also appeal to anyone else who likes dance, providing a better understanding of how the rich mix of cultures, languages and ethnicities make dance great– and society thrive.

Over a decade ago I provided risk management and programme management consultancy at the highest levels. Direct experience of the Asian Tsunami and 9-11-related disaster recovery, along with aggressive breast cancer, provided strong impetus to change my career to something more engaged with the world and its people. I became a prize-winning photographer and journalist specialising in dance, active travel, risk and associated cultures. I wrote several books and research-based papers and have been published online and in print in over 20 countries in languages as diverse as Bahasa Indonesia and Cocani. The cultures and people I interact with continue to change my perspective and I have been doing my bit for society since. That’s why I donate a local monthly photo feature on those who do what they can for others, why I have been an active member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ)’s Photographers Council and the British Photographic Council for several years and why I am thrilled to have been accepted as a mentee with Div-A for my dance magazine project. Watch this space!