Citymoves Interns, Where are they now? Katie MacPhail

I joined Citymoves in 2024 during my second year of studying law at the University of Aberdeen. Now, over two years later, I have graduated from my undergraduate degree, completed a postgraduate course, and had the opportunity to be involved in all things Citymoves. During this time, I have gained valuable experiences and developed skills both personally and professionally.

I was welcomed into the team as a Project Management and Events Intern working primarily alongside Hayley Durward and Michelle Soto to conduct business research for a charity gala event, and coordinate research questionnaires. This role marked my first introduction to working within a third sector organisation and provided invaluable experience in a professional environment. This role began to develop confidence as I began to communicate with team members, contribute ideas, and share my thoughts at weekly team meetings.

Following my internship, I was fortunate to be asked to take on the role of Studio Assistant. This position introduced me to the wider team, including other studio assistants, tutors, and the participants who attend our classes. This term I have been working the Tuesday evening shift, and welcoming participants into our incredible Pilates, Ballet and Belly Dancing classes has become one of the highlights of my week! This role has strengthened my interpersonal and communication skills while allowing me to play a small role in creating a positive and supportive environment within the studio.

As my time with Citymoves has continued, my enthusiasm to become more involved in the different projects grew. I began assisting at STRIVE classes in community centres across Aberdeen, which gave me my first insight into the work Citymoves do outwith the Anatomy Rooms. This experience expanded further through supporting Dance for Dementia classes in various care homes across the city. These opportunities allowed me to interact with individuals of different ages and backgrounds, and helped me develop valuable life skills such as adaptability, empathy, and confidence in working with diverse groups of people.

I have also had the opportunity to chaperone at SPECTRA Festival and work at different events and external venues as part of the DanceLive Festival. As a result of these opportunities, I have been lucky to watch several incredible performances from both our internal performance groups, and external dance artists. These experiences have given me a deeper understanding of the scale and impact of the work Citymoves do.

Towards the end of 2025, I was asked to return to the office to assist with the early stages of planning our annual Spring Show, along with supporting our cohort of studio assistants. This role allowed me to further develop the event management skills I first began building during my internship back in 2024. I communicated with external dance schools wishing to participate in the show, as well as with our talented internal tutors, discussing the details of their choreography, and coordinating key details. Spring Show weekend has always been one of my favourite events on the Citymoves calendar. Being involved in the organisational side of the show this year allowed me to challenge and develop my planning, communication, and coordination skills. Watching the show come to life after witnessing the hard work behind the scenes from every member of the team was a special experience.

Following this, I continued to work in the office, alongside Lynn Shaw as the Dance United project began. My role during this time focused on supporting the project, as well as assisting with projects within the Dance for Health pillar more generally. I was involved in the recruitment of young people for the project and assisting with the planning of practical elements essential to its delivery, including exploring catering options and other logistical arrangements. Being backstage during the final performance which marked the close of the project allowed me to witness firsthand the extent to which the young people involved had grown throughout the project. This was testament to the dedication and passion of the team leading the project each day, and it was a privilege to contribute to such an impactful initiative.

Throughout my time with Citymoves, I have experienced significant development in both professional and personal skills that I will carry forward into my future career. Every project, class, and event I have been involved in has contributed to that growth in a unique way. I feel incredibly fortunate to have begun my journey with Citymoves as an intern, and to have progressed into roles where I am trusted with greater responsibility within the office and wider team. The belief and support afforded to me by the team has had a significant impact on my confidence and professional development.

I am continually inspired by each member of the Citymoves team, and the genuine passion and dedication everyone has for the work they do. While the next stage of my career will see me train to become a solicitor, I will carry forward the values, experiences, and lessons I have learned during my time with Citymoves.