The use of tuned and ethnic percussion has enlivened many a class from capoera to cunninghame and can give the teacher more freedom to move with an idea rather than working from a recording.

Derek has worked on many specialised residencies from Contact Improvisation Masterclasses in Amsterdam to Scottish Ballet summer schools in Glasgow.

He also has experience working on outreach programmes, taking dance and music to outlying or underprivileged communities.

In addition to this he has worked on several large scale 'Special Needs' performance projects.

His work with State Theta provided a stimulating environment in which artists with skills in different media were brought together to design not only a multi-media performance piece for the company but also a creative teaching environment available to the communities through which the company toured.

Some of the teachers and companies he has played for include:

• Lyn Denton
• Christine Juffs
• Gregory Nash
• Julyan Hamilton
• London Contemporary Dance Theatre
• Sue McLennan
• Motionhouse
• Peter Royston