Carla Trim-Vamben
The grounding I received at Impact – community, discipline, creativity, and care – continues to shape how I lead, teach, and imagine what dance and education can be.
Carla Trim-Vamben
Time Spent at Impact: Early 2000s – c. 2009/2010
Current Career Area / Job Title: Director of Education and Experience, School of Arts and Creative Industries, University of East London; Senior Lecturer and Academic Leader; Advance HE National Teaching Fellow (2025)
Carla Trim-Vamben’s journey at Impact Dance laid the foundation for her career in dance education and leadership. Through mentorship and performance opportunities, she learned to combine creativity with discipline, building the skills to guide and inspire others in her professional life.
The Impact Effect
“Impact was pivotal in shaping the career I have today,” Carla reflects. She gained confidence, teaching experience, and the ability to adapt in the moment – qualities that now underpin her leadership in higher education and curriculum design.
Best Memories / Highlights
Carla cherishes the collective spirit of Impact: the laughter, discipline, friendships, and shared sense of purpose. Performing alongside peers and witnessing the company’s growth remain highlights of her formative years.
Life After Impact
Carla pursued Performing Arts at Middlesex University, an MA in Dance Anthropology at Roehampton, and now leads inclusive, decolonial approaches to dance education at UEL. She has collaborated with East London Dance and Arts Council England, designed leadership programmes for artists, and contributed to sector-wide equity strategies.
Impact was pivotal in shaping the career I have today. Hakeem’s mentorship gave me my first teaching opportunities, encouraged me to take the YMCA Exercise to Movement qualification, and instilled in me the confidence to step into education and leadership.
Selected Highlights / Credits
- Director of Education and Experience, UEL
- Senior Lecturer and Academic Leader
- Advance HE National Teaching Fellow (2025)
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