Ben Needham-Wood
Founder & Director of Redirecting Dance
Ben Needham-Wood is an Emmy Award-winning choreographer, filmmaker, and dance educator. His interest in the therapeutic potential of movement began as a young child, and grew throughout his performance and choreographic career. He believes that dance has the capacity to support both personal wellness and interpersonal empathy.
Ben’s works have been presented nationally by professional companies, TV networks, commercial airlines, film festivals, and galas. In 2018 Ben co-created the dance film BaseBallet: Into the Game, which was awarded 4 regional Emmy Awards and recognized by film festivals across the country. This feature was preceded by the short film, BaseBallet, which was also recognized with a regional Emmy Award and was later exhibited at the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY.
You can learn more about Ben through his personal website here.
“Dance has been many things in my life - a passion, my career - but most importantly it has been a means to understand myself and connect with others. The isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how important those connections truly are, and it’s that reflection that inspired the launch of Redirecting Dance. I’m so proud to be sharing this art in the hopes of inspiring empathy, raising awareness, and generating support for those in need. Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. I hope you’ll send us an email, and I look forward to sharing our art with you.”
Kelsey McFalls
Managing Director
While simultaneously working as a professional ballet dancer, Kelsey spent the last five years co-founding Socos Labs, an artificial intelligence (AI) incubator and media company focused on inventing and researching technologies to maximize human potential and inform public policy. Kelsey is dedicated to creating art that has a measurable impact on positive social change.
Dr. Jermaine Thomas
Mental Health Advisor
Dr. Jermaine Thomas is a licensed clinical psychologist. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown University, and he acquired his doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) from Adler University. He is the author of The Examined Life: A Journal of Questions and Quotes, and his work has also been published in The Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Additionally, Dr. Thomas manages a Patreon page titled, Promoting Wholeness in a Partisan World. In addition to his written work, Dr. Thomas has been featured on podcasts, and he has provided psychological commentary as a participant in panel discussions regarding important issues of the day.
Board of Directors
Patrick Gallagher, Board Chair
Trisha Carter, Secretary
Cara Moyer, Treasurer
INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR BOARD?
Redirecting Dance is excited to meet you! If you align with our mission and want to help us build our potential, please email your cover letter, resume, and references to info@redirectingdance.com.