Laura Connolly clog dancing, Stewart Hardy fiddle

Laura graduated from Newcastle University in 2005 and was the first person ever to gain a degree in foot percussion as a first instrument. She has achieved success with flute (RSM) and ballet (RAD) exams..

For five years she worked as a music practitioner in the Early Years Learning Department at The Sage Gateshead and also freelances as the lead creative practioner of the ‘Movers & Shakers’ group who work mainly with primary schools.

Laura is a Northumbrian champion clog dancer and is a member of The Demon Barber Road Show, was the best live act in BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2009 and Best Live Act in Spiral Awards 2010. In December 2010 she took the leading part in a BBC Channel Four clog dancing programme presented by Charles Hazelwood.

In 2011, she was part of a national folk dance tour.

Stewart has accompanied Laura with Northumbrian folk music in many of her activities particularly through ‘Movers & Shakers’ consultancy. With Laura he has devised a winter show for Music for Life schools in 2011 & 2012.