Chains of Connectivity

Last Summer, Fallen Angels embarked on a powerful new project, Chains of Connectivity, a collaboration with acclaimed International Choreographer Russell Maliphant.

For two intensive days at Theatre Porto, seven of our committed Recovery Artists worked closely with Russell, exploring new ways of understanding the body and its potential. This was more than just a dance workshop; it was an opportunity for these artists to dive deeper into their personal journeys of recovery through movement.

This project was both a learning experience, a progression and performance project. FADT Recovery Artists taking part in this project: 

Josh began his journey with Fallen Angels in 2023, Josh was supported to attend FADT originally by a friend already attending the Chester group activity, he was very quiet, timid, and experiencing challenges with mental health, he is autistic, and has fibromyalgia, he initially became a supporting angel volunteer, during the Royal Opera House & New Note Orchestra Creative Exchange collaboration, he was initially participated in a learning capacity, however through his commitment, talent and demonstrating growing confidence he was invited to perform with the FADT company for the first time. Subsequently he has performed and been a featured recovery artist with Samadhi digital production and Chains of Connectivity this year. He is now publicly speaking and growing in his creative and personal identity. 

Gus has danced from a young age, he has trained through the Lowry CAT: Centre for Advanced training, then went onto Liverpool community college and Rambert School. He joined Fallen Angels initially in 2017 and performed at Blackpool UK Recovery Walk “Hell Can Wait”, then rejoined the company in 2021, since then he has become a volunteer workshop assistant, and a recovery artist performing in “Inertia” through the Royal Ballet Creative Exchange with New Note Orchestra, and took a leading solo role in last year’s production “Chains of Connectivity”. He has an ambition to lead workshops as an individual artist, develop choreography with FADT, and to work for the company. Alongside his FADT journey he is volunteering & performing for Cheshire Dance, and independently working on a L4 qualification with the Foundation for Community Dance.

Tom is an army veteran, a husband, dad and grandad, he brings a wealth of “recovery” life experience and wisdom to the RA team. He met FADT at Tate Liverpool in 2018 and is a member or the Fallen Angels Liverpool hub. He has been a Recovery artist since 2021 featuring in the Transfiguration films, Traces through Time, Samadhi & Chains of Connectivity. He has a keen interest in embodying movement and has adopted practices into his morning routine inspired by development training with international choreographer Russell Maliphant. 

Debbie joined Fallen Angels Liverpool Hub in March 2023, through an outreach opportunity at Spider Project in Birkenhead, this sparked her interest, having a passion for performing arts and drama, her first project as a Fallen Angels Recovery Artist was through Royal Ballets’ Creative Exchange which led to being a featured dancer in Samadhi, Debbie additionally is interested in developing skills in arts administration, she has professional experience in administration and has an ambition to work for an arts or social purpose charity, to date she has received mentoring in marketing admin from FADT writing blog’s for the Liverpool hub and has documented the process of working with Russell Maliphant and creating Chains of Connectivity. Debbie is part of the Artist in Recovery Steering group at Liverpool Everyman Theatre.  

Sue, in her younger years engaged in disco dancing, and this formed part of her childhood, leading to performances, competitions and teaching opportunities. Through her recovery process she reconnected to dance through her recovery through Fallen Angels.  Chains of Connectivity is Sue’s first role as a Fallen Angels Recovery Artist. “Having a dance background has helped me with certain aspects of being a recovery artist, but for me most importantly is being able to express myself through movement with Fallen Angels and build my confidence to connect with others in the group.”   

Aleksei joined the Fallen Angels Liverpool hub in 2025. His journey with movement began 5–6 years ago, during the pandemic, when he discovered the 5Rhythms practice. Before then, he felt unable to dance at all: feeling stiff, shy, self‑conscious, and stuck in overthinking. 

Over time, movement transformed him from feeling like a “wooden statue” to being able to move freely. Rediscovering movement has been a liberation of mind, body, soul, and the living spirit within, helping him navigate difficult chapters of life. 

Dance has become both therapy and expression. Joining Fallen Angels has expanded his creativity, and Chains of Connectivity marked his first experience as a Recovery Artist.