For 77-year-old army veteran Tom from Bromborough, dance is a form of self-care. Whilst for Hayden, 66, from Wallasey, dancing makes him "smile on the inside".
Both men are committed members of Fallen Angels, which offers people in recovery from addiction or mental health issues access to quality dance and movement sessions.
The pair, along with six other local community dancers, have been rehearsing ahead of a sold out premiere at the Royal Opera & Ballet (previously known as Royal Opera House) in London this month. Shows at Liverpool Everyman – a first for the company, and Storyhouse Chester will follow.
Leading their rehearsals at the University of Chester dance studio, was internationally acclaimed choreographer Russell Maliphant, one of three creative leads who have been working with the group to produce a trio of short pieces.
The three works, collectively billed as Holding Light, each offer a different perspective on recovery journeys, from navigating everyday struggles to the healing power of community and the human instinct for rebirth. According to Fallen Angels, they are "courageous and honest stories of lived experience that are rarely seen on stage".
For Hayden, who studied at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in his mid-20s after discovering his passion for dance in nightclubs, it will be his first time performing at the top venue.
He said:
" hadn't danced since 1996 until I got in touch with Fallen Angels during a period of crisis. Right away, I knew I was back on track. Being creative with like-minded souls is nourishing - it's what was missing in my life.
London-born Hayden's promising performance career took a turn for the worse after the first Gulf War put a stop to a job offer with a top dance company in Cuba.
It broke me really," he said.
"Through no fault of my own, I had to leave Cuba, a place I loved and where I had met and danced with a young Carlos Acosta. I came back to London, but I had lost my passion for dance. After a few years, I stopped doing it altogether.
Hayden, who moved to the Wirral in 2015, has since worked a series of jobs in social care and catering. He found out about Fallen Angels via Spider Project recovery support service in Birkenhead and has been a member of the group for two years.
Movement helps the body to detox," he said.
"Through movement, you start waking up and getting conscious - recovering your inner intelligence.
"The more I danced, the more I started to love me again. And watching other members of the group become more expansive with their movements and come out of their shells brings me to tears.
Long-standing Fallen Angels member Tom, who has spent "a lifetime" ballroom and disco dancing, has already clocked up two previous appearances on the iconic London stage with the group. An unpaid carer for his wife, Tom signed up in 2019 after experiencing a ‘breakdown or breakthrough’ on his 70th birthday.
I had an out of the blue flashback to something that happened to me aged seven,” he said, “which after some counselling, led to a diagnosis of complex PTSD.
"I dance with Fallen Angels now every week and I call it my self-care Thursday. Expressing yourself to music is so very powerful.
Brought to tears during his first session, Tom says Fallen Angels is a "huge" part of his week and is the only time he has to himself.
My daughter is a very busy teaching assistant but has permission to keep her phone on when I’m dancing in case my wife needs anything. It’s my time for me.
Most of the cross-generational performers have no formal background in contemporary dance, with the exception of Hayden. Two professional dancers - Arianna Sansone and Jo Freeman- will join the group on stage. All started their Fallen Angels journeys at free weekly sessions run by the arts and recovery organisation at Liverpool Everyman and Storyhouse arts centre in Chester.
Fallen Angels was founded in Chester in 2011 by professional dancers Claire Morris and Paul Bayes Kitcher, a former Birmingham Royal Ballet soloist, who has lived experience of addiction and recovery.
Holding Light is at Storyhouse Chester on 24 September 2026 during Recoverist Month, and Liverpool Everyman on 17 October 2026. The production follows 2023's sold out Traces Through Time, a collaboration with New Note recovery orchestra.
Music is by sound artist and composer Feri Gyemant and costumes by Alena Kudera. It is supported by Arts Council England, The Linbury Trust, Ernest Hecht Charitable Trust and Big Give Arts For Impact. Partnership support comes from Storyhouse, Royal Ballet and Opera, and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.
The performance lasts one hour and also includes a behind the scenes film and insights.
Holding Light by Fallen Angels Dance Theatre
24 September 2026 7.30pm
Storyhouse Garret Theatre, Hunter St, Chester CH1 2AR
Tickets: £8-£12
T: 01244 409 113
https://www.storyhouse.com/whats-on/fallen-angels-dance-theatre-present-holding-light/
17 October 2026 7.30pm
Liverpool Everyman, 5-11 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BH
Tickets: £15
T:0151 709 4776
https://everymanplayhouse.com/event/fallen-angels-dance-theatre-holding-light/
