Photo Credit: Pete Martin
Work
Experience
My work draws on over three decades of experience in the arts and cultural sectors, with a love for dance and storytelling at the centre.
​Between 1985 and 1994, I was active in media practice in Nigeria. Whilst in University I began freelancing for the arts pages of the Nigerian Guardian. I worked as a radio actress with FRCN1, wrote for Quality magazine, MR magazine, and the Daily Times, and worked as an associate TV producer with Prime TV and Swift Studios. Alongside this, I performed as a poet and was a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
From 1996 to 2005, I was a touring performer in England. My credits during this period include collaborations and performances with Mushango African Arts and Music, Maambena Cultural Dance Company, Adzido Pan-African Dance Ensemble, Ritual Theatre Arts (African dance-drama), Artistes-in-Exile (a multinational movement-based theatre collective), Banner (Physical) Theatre, Horse and Bamboo Mask and Puppetry Company, The Cholmondeleys (contemporary dance), and Dele Sosimi and his Afrobeat Orchestra and The Global Fusion band (popular music).
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I worked as a dance advocate mainly with the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (now part of One Dance UK from 1995 for over 20 years spearheading and project managing a number of projects supporting independent dance artists. I began to develop my practice as a dance dramaturge in 2013.
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From 2017 to 2025, I held an academic position at De Montfort University in Leicester, England. Between 2017 and 2020, I was appointed as a VC2020 Lecturer in Dance (Early Career position), and from 2020 to 2025 I served as a Senior Lecturer in Dance. My research has centred on Black British choreographers, Dance as a profession, African cultural production and Creative Industries. I have also pursued interests in Creative Health and practice-based research.
Alongside FAE STUDIOS, I run a Community Interest start up called Enact Arts CIC. I am an honorary fellow with the Centre of Dance Research (C-DaRE) at the University of Coventry England, a committee member with the Society of Dance Research and a member of Creative HQ, an organisation for digital and film producers. I am also an associate with two amazing organisations:
Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE) directed by Nike Jonah and Erwin Maas and Kauma Arts founded by Mercy Nabiriye.
Photo Credit: Pete Martin
AWARDS
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Lifetime Achievement Award Winner in Dance of the African Diaspora 2019
Presented by One Dance UK, the UK National Body for Dance, for changing perceptions of Black dance in the dance sector in Britain.
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De Montfort University Faculty of Arts Design and Humanities Awards
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Research Award for Best Article 2019
Joint-winner for the article ‘Contemporary dance as African cultural production: James Mweu and Kunja Dance Theater’ (2018).
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Most Impactful Research 2018.
Nominated for performing The Sleepwalker at Tangente in Montreal in 2017.
EDUCATION
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​2018: PhD in Dance Studies, De Montfort University, Leicester, England
Thesis: British Dance and the African Diasporas, the Discourses of Theatrical Dance and the Art of Choreography - 1985 to 2005
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2009: Professional Graduate Certificate in Education, Christchurch Canterbury University, England.
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2007: M.A in Postcolonial Studies, Goldsmiths College, University of London, England
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1990: B.A French and English Combined Honours with options in Theatre and Communication arts, the University of Ibadan, Nigeria
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Companies I've worked with
