about
Olly Otley
Olly teaches creative movement to a broad range of ages and abilities in a variety of settings.
She specialises in dance for children and teaches creative contemporary in local nurseries, at Rambert and Adrenalin Dance, as well as running the Saturday morning classes at Chisenhale Dance Space. She has delivered dance for primary and secondary age children with autism, and children with disabilities. Having deepened her early years practice, she now delivers CPD workshops and presentations on movement play in Early Years settings.
She loves facilitating movement for adults at her Hackney venture, Wednesday Moving, and runs a dance project for local learning disabled adults, Dancing Together. Olly has led and supported dance for women affected by cancer through Move Dance Feel and has taught several different groups of older adults, through Trinity Laban and other organisations, including dance for better balance, dance for dementia and dance for sustained brain injury.
A mother of two and a lover of nature, Olly started Wild Things in 2020 and loves exploring the woodland on her weekly romps with toddlers and their carers. Nature and Play are integral to all her work, and in 2021 she qualified as a Level 3 Forest School Leader. She runs regular outdoor moving sessions for adults and leads urban nature workshops for schools with The Garden Classroom.
Whoever she works with, her focus is on facilitating their creative agency, and in building playful communities through dance. Her sessions often draw on storytelling, music and making to create a joyous, playful mish-mash.
Olly came back to her childhood passion - dance - after a career in corporate film production, community work and charitable project management. She holds a distinction in Community Dance PGDip from Trinity Laban and she continues to learn from everyone she moves with. Olly dances because it makes her feel good: her mission is to share that feeling with others.
projects
Wednesday moving
Every Wednesday during term time in Hackney, dance artists Galit Criden and Olly Otley provide a welcoming space for dance in all its forms. Classes often include somatic influences, guided improvisation, a spattering of technique, and each term we introduce something a little different to widen this field. These are joyful sessions for every body and no experience is necessary - just bring yourself and an openness to exploring how your body moves.
The Round Chapel Old School Rooms, E5
Wednesdays, 6:45-8pm
No need to book; pay by card; from £12 per class.
No need to book, but email galit.cridenness@gmail.com to be added to our whatsapp group and follow us on Instagram.
Wild Things
“We love all the dancing, jumping, running, moving to music, silliness - it’s just wonderful!” Lilou’s mum
“I like how free the children feel to make the session what they want - exploring using their imaginations” Remy’s mum
“Joni is more confident around other kids thanks to these sessions, and we find new creative ways to enjoy the outdoors together, we have made some really lovely new friends. Olly brings out a sunny lightness and brightness in all of us on even the cloudy & rainy winter days!” Joni’s mum
“The most wonderful experience with both girls so engaged with Olly’s direction. Joyful, empathetic, infectious positivity.” Nix and Ione’s mum
Wild Things is a chance for children aged 2 – 4 to dance with their parents or carers in the outdoors. We put on great music and explore, gather, stomp bounce and spin amongst the trees and leaves.
Wild Things is back from hibernation on 6th March 2025. We meet in Millfields Park South at 10:00 on Thursday mornings, and London Fields Woodland at 09:15 on Friday mornings.
Please visit happity.co.uk/wild-things-dance for more information, plus details of dates and exact locations. Or email olly@oodance.co.uk to be added to the WT mailing list.
No need to book, just turn up ready to dance, play and explore. £8 per adult-child pair, card or cash.
Chiskids dance
Olly Otley and Robyn Holder run a programme of children’s dance classes at Chisenhale Dance Space in Tower Hamlets. These are super fun and creative classes in London’s most beautiful dance space. We aim to build children’s confidence and love of dance while introducing technique gently through storytelling and movement games.
We currently have four separate classes on Saturday mornings during term time:
Mini Movers, for 2-3 year olds with parents
Wiggle On, for 3-4 year olds with parents
Leaps & Strides, for 4-5 year olds
Creative Contemporary, for 6-9 year olds
Booking is per term: click on the image above and don’t delay as our classes sell out fast. Email chiskidsdance@gmail.com with any questions, and follow us on Instagram.