My introduction to dance and music was a stroke of luck: my mother was a ballet enthusiast and no-one else in my class could get a sound out of a trumpet. I started lessons and have been completely absorbed in the performing arts ever since. I studied music at Goldsmiths College before going to Yale University as a Fulbright scholar.

My next step was IMG Artists, an international arts management company, where I worked in New York, London and Paris. Artis was then established in 2004 and we have been creating a buzz in schools ever since. By giving every child the opportunity to discover their creative potential, I wanted to take luck out of the equation.