Community Impact
Gef’s 30 Under 30 Winners: Q&A with Sophie Linham
Ten categories. Thirty young visionaries making their mark on the Isle of Man. Introducing the all-new #Gef30Under30 winners: the next generation of our island’s leaders.
The H&B Community Impact winners find meaning in supporting and teaching those around them, and are shining examples of how small actions can have a positive effect for generations to come.
What is your name and age?
Sophie Linham, age 23.
Job title or role in the community?
I’m a dance practitioner, teacher and choreographer. I’ve worked with Isle of Man Arts Council and Theatrix Theatre Company.
How did you start your career or role in the community?
I started dancing at a young age, but it was never a big goal for me. I swam competitively for years, so that took over my life. I eventually decided to focus more on dance and managed to get a place on the course at Edge Hill University studying dance, and came out with a first class degree. I came back to the island and got involved in teaching dance straight away – I work with children and adults as well as a competition team. I was then so lucky to get a job as The Isle of Man Arts Council’s Arts Graduate Intern for a year and I was given the opportunity to do my own projects (all of which brought dance to the wider community and to different age groups and backgrounds).
Tell us about your business/industry, is there something interesting about it that most people wouldn’t expect?
So, in the dance industry, especially on the island, from an outside perspective it is usually just seen as lots of dance schools and some really talented individuals who will choose it as a career and move off the island to create their future. But really, there are so many successful dancers, dance teachers, dance practitioners and more who stay and share their knowledge and experience with the community. I think it can be seen as a very competitive industry and whilst it is at times, especially for the big performing jobs, there is always lots of support for one another and it can truly be a friendly and uplifting community. I think that there is always more space for practitioners who want to share dance for fun over competition, there are so many strands of dance to be explored and made available to the public.
Tell us about why you think you won the category you did?
I was so surprised to be announced as a winner in the community impact category (or just a winner in general). Thinking of some of the projects I have worked on, I believe that my work with a vast amount of ages, abilities and backgrounds has truly been a standout. I have worked with a dementia group at Hospice and with Manx Care to provide dance and movement classes for both patients and partners/carers. I will be offering them for the rest of the year and hopefully more in the future. I have been lucky enough to work with almost 20 primary schools and almost 2000 children from different backgrounds, some of whom may never have had access to dance. I think my open mindedness and willingness to want to encourage dance to absolutely everyone could be why I was nominated and why I won.
What do you wish you knew when you were getting started in your career?
I wish I knew that not everyone is going to be on your side. Not everyone thinks the work you do is valid, but for me, after being angry, it made me want to work harder to allow more access to the arts and creativity for all members of our community.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue dancing forever, as I’m happiest when dancing. But I also plan to continue my work with Hospice and dementia patients to get them active and use music to allow them to remember small things. I hope to expand this to more general elderly groups and also groups with specific disabilities. I also hope to start a full time primary school project, based on the work I have already done, offering dance workshops based on their current topics, helping them be creative in new ways and link ideas with movements. Finally I will always be teaching dance to children and adults in a dance school environment, and hope to put on community events to engage people and expand their knowledge of what dance is.
What would you say to young people nominating themselves, or people nominating others, for 30 Under 30 in the future?
Just do it. There is absolutely nothing to lose. Always talk to people and let them know what you’re doing and how you’re doing. Don’t be afraid to ask people for help or ask people to nominate you, you should be proud of EVERYTHING that goes into what you do.
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