SE19DanceProject is dedicated to making the arts—especially dance—accessible to local residents in the Crystal Palace, Penge and surrounding areas, eliminating the need to travel into central London to experience high-quality cultural engagement. We create meaningful opportunities for our community to experience dance both as participants and as audiences, fostering connection, creativity, and belonging.
Our programming includes a wide range of participatory projects and regular classes, developed in collaboration with artists and dance educators. We pride ourselves on being truly inclusive—welcoming children from the age of two, young people, and adults of all ages and experience levels.
Deeply embedded in our local landscape, we work across multiple platforms: presenting performances, facilitating workshops, and forming partnerships with organisations such as Crystal Palace Festival, Crystal Palace Park Trust, Stanley Arts, and the Upper Norwood Library Hub, Croydon Libraries and local schools.. These collaborations help ensure that dance remains visible, available, and relevant to the community we serve.
At the heart of everything we do are the voices of our community. They shape our programming, influence our priorities, and inspire the co-creation of work that reflects their stories, needs, and aspirations
OUR TEAM
Ania Straczynska- Founder Director, Choreographer, facilitator and creative producer.
With training in both physiotherapy and choreography from institutions in Lodz, Poland and a Master’s in Choreography from Trinity Laban, her practice focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration and bridges artistic practice and community engagement, including focus on children, families.
As the founder and director of SE19DanceProject she is dedicated to creating inclusive, community-rooted dance experiences that empower participants through movement. Her choreographic approach is informed not only by her creative practice but also by extensive training in inclusive and accessible arts education, ensuring her projects are welcoming and responsive to diverse needs.
I believe dance should be accessible for all and that it has the ability to improve the everyday. As an artist and creative producer I’m committed to making dance happen within communities, allowing them to self-express and connect to one another. I share my time between working at The Place, where I lead team of artists working choreographically in school settings, and running this small organisation, where I’m lucky to be able to develop choreographic work and produce participation programmes.
Kathi Palitz- Director
Kathi is a Trinity Laban alum and fundraising professional with a wealth of experience across the arts, charitable, and education sectors. In her current role as Head of Philanthropy at Dulwich College, she drives initiatives to grow legacy giving, strengthen engagement, and expand access to education through bursaries.
Kathi is a dedicated advocate for making the arts accessible to all, and brings expertise in fundraising strategy, major gifts, trust and foundation fundraising, and high-level donor stewardship, combining her love for the creative sector with a commitment to meaningful philanthropy
Hannah Kidd- Director
Hannah began her training at Elmhurst Ballet School and went onto London Contemporary Dance School where she completed her BA Hons and her MA. In 2007 Hannah joined Richard Alston Dance Company, with whom she performed for six years both nationally and internationally. As a freelance dancer she has performed for many renowned choreographer’s, notably Merce Cunningham Company, Russell Maliphant, New Movement, Collective, Didy Veldman, Ashley Page, Wayne Parsons Dance, Darren Ellis Dance and Mark Bruce Company. 2016 saw Hannah nominated for the National Dance Award Outstanding Female Performer. Hannah was an original cast member for Bruce’s Dracula, winner of the Sky Arts South Bank Award 2014. Alongside performing Hannah has taught in many of the UK dance conservatoires including Royal Ballet School, London Contemporary Dance School, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Rambert School, Central School of Ballet and at Trinity Laban, as well as for companies Company Wayne Macgregor, Richard Alston Dance Company, Protein, Matthew Bourne, New Adventures and Mark Bruce Company.
In 2019 Hannah was commissioned to create the Rambert Grades Syllabi, where she is now in post as Head of Education and Examinations. Alongside this, Hannah lead’s the artistic vision of Rambert School Prevocational programme’s.