Who are we?

Evolving from a passion and lifelong commitment to delivering the work of Veronica Sherborne through Emeis, I am able to share this transformative practice with students, education professionals, parents, Occupational Therapists, Sensory Needs Teams, Physiotherapists, and more. 

With nearly 20 years of experience in Sherborne Developmental Movement, I am a qualified Sherborne Developmental Movement Course Leader which enables me to train others in this technique, and/or act as a consultant. 

Lizzie Chappell

Emeis founder Lizzie Chappell began her journey to Sherborne International Course Leader (IQCL) in 2003 whilst studying for her BA(hons) in Dance Studies at King Alfred’s College, Winchester (now known as University of Winchester).

It was here that she was first introduced to the work of Veronica Sherborne by retired Sherborne Chairperson Penny Rance, on the Dance-Caperbility module.

Inspired, Lizzie began implementing this practice into her dance teaching in and out of schools, hospitals, universities, and community facilitation. 

She found ways to implement Sherborne movement practice into her performance and choreography as well as making literacy links, physically exploring stories and feelings. Through this she saw first hand how her students were able to develop both physical and emotional literacy and retain the movement vocabulary they were experiencing.

In the years following Lizzie continued her progression with the Sherborne method, passing through both Level 2 and 3 practitioner programmes before finally completing the Sherborne International Course Leader certification in 2018. In the summer of 2022 she completed the new internationally agreed Sherborne programme and is now an Internationally Qualified Course Leader. Only those with this qualification can now deliver Sherborne training.

With a background in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Lizzie spent many years as a curiculum leader within the Creative Arts Education sector. It was here that she was able to successfully implement the Sherborne method into a variety of contexts including training and coaching for the health sector. Currently Lizzie works in Leeds alongside specialist OT’s and SALT as part of her role as TLG Lead.  

Lizzie has also worked with cultural organisations including Oldham Coliseum and Gallery Oldham, to improve access to and their provision for inclusive arts taken from a strategic and operational perspective. In addition, she has been an active board member for Touchdown Dance and Embody Move Association for the last 16 years. Most recently she has joined the board for the Sherborne Association UK.

About Veronica Sherborne

Veronica Sherborne (1922 - 1990) was a dance educator and published author, whose varied career spanned 50 years. Inspired by the work of Rudolf Laban, Sherborne went on to apply his theories to meet the needs of the children she was teaching in mainstream and special education. It was through this applied practice that Sherborne Developmental Movement was born as an inclusive approach to teaching movement to every body. 

For more information about Veronica Sherborne and her work please click here.



S T A F F

Lizzie Chappell - ICL, Consultant, Deliverer

Claire Summers - Website Design

Emma Worsley - Graphic Design