Watson is the CEO and Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Prior to this, Watson was the seventh and longest-standing Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre. Trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, she was one of the first female Principal Dancers invited to join Phoenix Dance Company, touring with the company from 1989 to 1997 where she choreographed Never Still and Shaded Limits. Having left Phoenix to pursue a number of other ventures including setting up her own company ABCD, Watson returned in 2009 as the new Artistic Director. During her tenure at Phoenix Dance Theatre, Sharon has received a number of awards and accolades. In 2018, Watson was presented with an Honorary Fellowship by Northern School of Contemporary Dance and in 2019 received an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for her contribution to the arts. In 2020, Watson was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and in 2021 she was awarded an MBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours list.

Image Credit: Sharon Watson by Lauryn Pinard