ZoieLogic Dance director awarded MBE for services to dance

Artistic director of ZoieLogic dance theatre Zoie Golding has been awarded an MBE for her services to dance.

The 40-year-old from Southampton has dedicated the past 22 years of her life to dance - from creating youth dance company FuzzyLogic to establishing ZoieLogic, which encourages more people, especially men and boys, to dance.

Zoie says being awarded an MBE is “very surreal.”

Zoie Golding

She said: “I was instantly overwhelmed when I found out. It is a bit surreal but I am very, very honoured to be awarded an MBE.

“This is a chance to show what we do and how I did not come from a traditional route. I did not train as a dancer and I am self-taught.

“I built my company from the ground up, so from an entrepreneurial side of things I didn’t have a network and I just kept moving forward. That builds a lot of tenacity and strength.”

Zoie Golding leading The Grid Experience

Zoie’s passion for dance was ignited after her mum took her to her first dance lesson.

From then, dance has been a big part of her life and she has incited change and encouraged the love of dance in the city’s community.

From developing and delivering a number of community projects, including specialising in working with vulnerable young people, from working with thousands of schoolchildren, Zoie has widely encouraged a love of dance.

Zoie Golding

She has recently led on the Headfunk project, which seeks to highlight and address issues surrounding men’s mental health through participation and performance.

Zoie has also developed and delivered a number of community projects, specialising in working with vulnerable young people.

She said: “There is a lot of love that I have for Southampton. The community here is amazing and I knew my work could make a difference here.

“If you really want it, you can make it happen.”