The QDance Company

Welcome

On behalf of Dance Consortium members, I am delighted to welcome you to the very first UK tour of The QDance Company. Created by internationally renowned choreographer Qudus Onikeku, Re:INCARNATION showcases the vibrancy and splendour of Nigerian culture, and we are delighted that the company has come to share this with our audiences across the UK.

I first saw Re:INCARNATION alongside representatives from across our member venues back in July 2022 in Amsterdam. We were absolutely blown away by the energy and rigour of the dancers, the stunning visuals and costumes, as well as the live music – it really was something we had not seen before. All these elements help encapsulate the central Yoruba philosophy of ‘reincarnation’ – birth / death / re-birth. The work develops each time it is performed, and some new dancers have joined the company for this tour, enabling the piece to continually evolve and be ‘re-born’.

I was also fortunate enough to visit Lagos earlier this year and spend some time with the company. I got an insight into how the company works, particularly the training they provide through their newly launched TheQSchool, and I gained a deeper understanding of the world-class culture of Nigeria and how this creative community is exploding onto the global stage. The ethos of the company strongly aligns with that of Dance Consortium – we strive to present the best international dance and give people around the country more opportunities to be inspired by, engage with and participate in dance activities.

As with all Dance Consortium tours, these performances are supported by a wide range of engagement opportunities. These include workshops, open rehearsals and talks with the artistic director and company members, all of which aim to deepen the connections that our audiences have with international

dance. We are hugely grateful to the company, the dancers and the musicians that help make this possible, especially on top of the brilliant performances you see on stage…their hard work and commitment is really appreciated.

Dance Consortium is committed to supporting the wider dance and touring ecology through extended engagement opportunities and projects, including through our successful Future Leaders Programme. This gives young people an opportunity to visit and explore behind the scenes of our member venues, giving them a real insight and understanding of what it’s like to work in a theatre and tour international dance. We also provide placement opportunities to students such as those from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), two of which will join us for a week as part of this tour and get an insight into life on the road.

As always, thanks to our member venues for their ongoing commitment to presenting international work of the highest quality and for helping to bring the most exciting dance companies from the world stage to audiences around the UK and Ireland. We have some fantastic tours planned over the next couple of years and will be presenting work by both choreographic legends and emerging stars from all parts of the world including South Korea, Canada and South America. So, tell your friends and families, book early to avoid disappointment and we look forward to seeing you at another Dance Consortium show in the future.

Until then, sit back and enjoy the performance!

Joe Bates, Chief Executive, Dance Consortium

Dance Consortium Presents

Re:INCARNATION

Nigeria’s celebrated QDance Company explode onto the stage with their exuberant Re:INCARNATION, an ode to the richness of Nigerian culture, dance, music, fashion and visual art

Re:INCARNATION is an interdisciplinary art creation, that showcases the depth of Yoruba philosophy, mixed with the current Nigerian youth culture. It features the work of Nigerian dancers marked by the rhythm and groove of Lagos. Paying tribute to this diversity, the choreography is written with a highly musical structure, combined with an intricate and carefully designed visual aesthetics, all layered in three parts. Birth | Death | Rebirth.

The work is the result of six years of continuous movement research around body memory with young dancers in Nigeria, all undertaken since Qudus returned from Paris to Lagos in 2014, with subsequent workshops taking place around various cities in Nigeria.

Qudus says: “I found it rather interesting, how the young generation appropriates the energy of the 60s/70s, and reactivates it, renews it, re-incarnates it in the present, consciously or subconsciously loaded with past and current socio-political struggles. Coming from a deep Yoruba cultural understanding, we have placed at the core of this multi-sensorial composition, the Yoruba central concept of reincarnation Ibi (birth), Iku (death), and Atunbi (re-birth) which offers a distinct way of thinking about time in a non-linear, but cyclical manner.

Running time: 90 minutes (no interval)

Photo by Herve Veronese

The QDance Company is a contemporary dance company with an international outlook, working with dancers from different cultures and background. After creating internationally renowned works, that have toured globally over the last decade under YK Projects Paris, Artistic Director Qudus Onikeku now bases his choreographic works, with company dancers and musicians in Lagos, Nigeria.

Since returning to Nigeria, Qudus Onikeku has immersed himself within the creative energy of Lagos and its continuous burst of inspiration and innovation. He has built strong relationships with its major makers and creatives to develop ambitious multi-disciplinary works.

Qudus says: “I want the world to feel of the level of thoughts on art and aesthetic beauty, that showcases the depth of our youth culture, as well as the pure and uncompromising joy, which inhabits present day Nigeria.”

The Company is under the banner of The QDance Center Lagos, which operates as a creative incubator and uses artistic and creative programmes as a tool for socio-cultural development. The QDance Center has been at the fore of showcasing Nigerian culture to the world through dance, music and cultural engagements. In less than a decade of creative entrepreneurial activities, the company has managed over 100 projects internationally.

The QDance Center delivers its work through a six-pronged approach, codename QDance CREATE, which encompasses their core values and strategies and allows the company to maximise their impact and drive innovation in the creative industry.

In 2023, the company opened TheQSchool, which is tailored to nurture the next generation of artists. The one-year intensive program runs from September to July of each year and is tutored by seasoned local and international mentors and facilitators with experience in a range of creative fields. Graduates receive certification and then have the opportunity to integrate into the main company or other areas of The QDance Center. By empowering students to master their craft and fostering an understanding of artistic processes, ethics and techniques, the school aims to contribute to the growth of the local and international performing arts scene.

In 2024, the company is undergoing a significant expansion, investing in a permanent structure dedicated to creatives on Lagos Island: The QDance Hub. This is a first in Nigeria and thanks to a donation campaign The QDance Center will finally have its own space, which will enable the organisation to strengthen and expand their socio-cultural development projects for the community.

For more information and to support this work visit: www.qdancecenter.com

THE QDANCE TEAM

MANAGEMENT

Founder & Artistic Director | Qudus Onikeku

Co-Founder & Managing Director | Hajarat Alli

ADMINISTRATION

Administrative Officer | Adelu Oyindamade

Finance | Victor Lawani

Administration Intern | Olajumoke Tayo

Project Management Support Intern | Oloruntoyin Oyindamola

PRODUCTION AND MEDIA

Sound Lead and Technical Director | Olatunde Obajeun

Media Lead | Bello Oladele

Media Assistant | Oguejiofor Ikenna

THE QDANCE COMPANY

Artistic Director & Choreographer | Qudus Onikeku

Music Director & Composer | Olatunde Obajeun

Dance Lead & Artistic Assistant | Addy Oyinkuro Daniel Rehearsal Director | Esther Essien

Musicians | Simeon Promise Lawrence | Daniel Ifeanyi Anumudu

Costume | Mary Peter Ochei

Stage Manager | Issac Lartey

Lighting Technician | Michel Abdallah

Tour Manager | Victor Lawani

Photo

Herve Veronese

Who’s who in the UK

Qudus Onikeku Founder & Artistic Director

Qudus Onikeku was born and grew up in the Surulere district of Lagos - Nigeria. At the age of 5 he found his love for acrobatics, finally settling for dance at age 13 while in high school. After dabbling into different dance trainings, it was contemporary dance that finally grounded his interest. After high school he moved from working at the Lagos state dance troupe, to being mentored by Victor Uwagba, Isioma Williams, and Christopher Abdul and then left for France at the age of 20 to work with Heddy Maalem in Toulouse. Following this he enrolled in circus arts training at age 22. Between 2006 and 2009, he received a scholarship from the French Embassy Abuja, to study at the prestigious Ecole Superieur National Des Arts Du Cirque in France. Upon graduation he started his first company, YK Projects in Paris at the age of 25.

YK Projects was conceived as an international production and touring company, which evolved as a cross-cultural organisation that would be open to the migrant experience. His first solo production, My Exile Is in My Head (2010) won several international awards, and toured over 70 shows in 20 countries in Africa, Europe, and South America.

Qudus was named the New Choreographic Talent in 2012 by the French society of authors; SACD. His international artistic practice intersects between visceral body movements, kinesthetic memory, disruptive

practices and finding new forms for performances that aren’t based in Eurocentric approaches. His work embraces an artistic vision and a futurist practice that both respects and challenges Yoruba artistic tradition, contemporary dance, and Afro diaspora dance forms.

In 2013, Qudus made a third creation, which headlined Festival d’Avignon. Following this he decided to return to Lagos in January 2014 where he immersed himself in the hustle and bustle of this mega city. In August 2014, after seven months immersed in Lagos, Qudus created The QDance Center with the sole ambition to take dance out of the stage and see what can be done when both the dancer and the stage is the city itself. Despite growing up in Lagos, he took time to feel the city’s pulse again and to learn its new dance. The Center was envisioned as a social enterprise, an incubator, which applies artistic competence, human resources, innovation and creativity, as capacities for development solutions in a changing world. Alongside Hajarat Alli’s expertise in human resources, talent management, and administration, Qudus co-founded QDance Center as a creative organisation and performing arts hub; a fun, informative and creative space, that aims to help kickstart the professional careers of passionate and creative young Nigerians.

Qudus has danced and toured widely with renowned choreographers, such as Jean Claude Gallota, Sidi Larbi Charkaoui and Boris Charmatz, alongside building a substantial body of critically acclaimed work that ranges

from solos to group works. He has collaborated with visual artists, architects, musicians, poets, multimedia artists, technologists, scientists and mystics, and his works have established Qudus as one of the foremost innovative, collaborative, community building, and challenging choreographers working today.

Qudus’ work has been commissioned and presented at major international festivals and venues, such as Centre Pompidou, Festival d’Avignon, Biennale de Lyon, Philharmonie de Paris and Biennale de Val de Marne, France; Roma Europa, Torino Danza and Venice Biennale, Italy; Festival TransAmerique, National Gallery of Art, National Arts Center, Canada; Bates Dance Festival, Elevate Festival Atlanta, PS21 New York, USA; Kalamata Dance Festival, Greece; Kino Siska Festival, Slovenia; Yokohama Dance Collection at TPAM, Japan; Correios Em Mouvemente, Brazil; Encender un Fosforo, Mexico; Dance Umbrella, National Arts Festival, Jomba Dance Festival, South Africa; Nyoba Kan Butoh Festival, Malaysia; TED Global as well as tours to over 50 countries. His dance works are also in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Canada.

Qudus was a Visiting Professor of Dance at the University of California Davis in 2013, Columbia College Chicago in 2018, a Research Professor at the College of The Arts and the first Maker in Residence at The Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship of the University of Florida until 2023.

Photo

Herve Veronese

Hajarat Alli Co-Founder and Managing Director

Hajarat Alli is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of The QDance Center, Nigeria’s preeminent creative organization with an international reputation.

Prior to The QDance Center, Hajarat served as the Administrative Managing Director of YK Projects France, where she oversaw all administrative and managerial aspects of the company. She also managed grant-making efforts and a three-year government funding project for the organisation.

Throughout her career, Hajarat has held several key roles, including: Human Resources Generalist Intern at the Adecco Group in Paris; Human Resources Manager at DDB Lagos, one of Nigeria’s leading advertising agencies; Administrative Assistant to the Director of the French Economic Mission in Lagos; and Arts Administration and Management Intern at the prestigious Centre National des Arts du Cirque in Châlons-en-Champagne, France.

Hajarat recently concluded a role with the University of Florida’s Center for Arts Migration and Entrepreneurship as a Research Assistant on a project involving the use of AI for dance movement recognition. She holds an M.A. in Human Resources from Institut de Gestion Social, France, and a B.A. in European Languages from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Beyond her professional achievements, Hajarat is the founder and organizer of The Ladies Lounge, an occasional event that creates a sanctuary for women to network and express themselves. She is also the Creative Director of IreDesigns, a home improvement brand.

Olatunde Obajeun

Music Director & Composer

Olatunde Obajeun, affectionately known as OBA, is a dynamic and versatile Nigerian artist whose creative endeavours span various mediums, crafting immersive performance experiences. His artistic journey began in the 1990s as a studio engineer at Lagos’s renowned Lemmy Jackson studio. After refining his skills in Nigeria’s eastern region, he returned to Lagos with a vision to mentor aspiring engineers, establishing his own studio to pass on his expertise to the next generation.

Olatunde’s musical evolution saw him form a four-piece band where he showcased his prowess on guitar and captivating vocals. His sonic vision evolved, exploring genres (including blues, jazz, afrobeat, highlife, and pop) and deepening his understanding of performance dynamics and composition, to shape a unique artistic identity.

In 2017, a pivotal collaboration with Qudus Onikeku propelled Olatunde to explore the intricacies of soundscapes. Under Onikeku’s mentorship and inspired by the book Sound On Bound, Olatunde’s journey into sonic exploration intensified. His artistic journey has seen Oba grace stages and festivals worldwide, including the Nigeria Pavilion at the 57th edition of La Biennale di Venezia, TED Global in Tanzania, Taipei Arts Festival in Taiwan and at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Olatunde and his four-man band blend traditional African rhythms with contemporary elements, leading to the development of a genre they have coined “Neo Afro Fusion,” a dynamic sound that resonates with audiences internationally. Beyond his artistic pursuits, Oba is also the founder of Astrophonix, a platform dedicated to fostering community and collaboration among artists and enthusiasts worldwide.

Company Members

Addy Oyinkuro Daniel

Artistic Assistant & Dancer

Addy Oyinkuro Daniel, widely recognised by his stage name Smack, is a celebrated Nigerian dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor. He is the founder of the Bullys Krump Group Nigeria and co-pioneer of the Afro Buck movement, marking his substantial influence in the dance community.

Addy’s dance journey began in his teenage years, fuelled by a deep passion for movement and expression. After graduating from secondary school, his fascination with dance evolved, leading him to pursue professional Krump dancing in 2010. Krump, originating from the streets of the United States, is characterized by its expressive, exaggerated, and energetic movements-elements which Addy has mastered with fervour and dedication.

Esther Essien

Rehearsal Director & Dancer

Esther Essien is a multi-talented artist and performer from Lagos, Nigeria; Dancer, Choreographer, Drummer, Singer, Actor, and Researcher. In 2004, she started training and performing with local theatre Organisations in Lagos until 2009 when she started studying performing arts at Drumsview Academy. She went onto join the Society for Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) and QDance Center. Esther has worked with with Omar Rajeh (Maqamat Dance Theatre, Lebanon), Mikki Shoji (Japan/Germany), Hooman Sharifi (Carte Blanche, Norway), Laurence Yadi Nicholas Cantillon (Geneva, Switzerland) and Nacera Belaza (Cie Nacera Belaza). She won the award of ‘Prix Yongonlon Ou Meilleur Espoir’ at the ‘Africa, Simply the Best Contest 2019 organized by ANKATA in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Esther was selected as one of the emerging choreographers of Generation 2020 at the Dance Biennial in Africa hosted by On Marche Festival International de Danse Contemporaine a Marrakech. Esther Essien is also the co-artistic director of Tantoloun Productions, a dance company based in Lagos.

Photo

Herve Veronese

Dominic Terfa Abella Dancer

Dominic Terfa Abella, is a distinguished movement artist from Dakata in Kano, Nigeria. A graduate of Benue State University, his work critically explores social, political, and cultural themes through innovative movement, often integrating unconventional signs and gestures with a nuanced sense of musicality.

Dedicated to pushing the boundaries of movement art, Abella’s versatile practice spans performance, research, curatorial projects and residencies, feeding a unique style which results in art that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

Awarded a scholarship by TheQSchool for 2023/2024, Abella has contributed significantly to the Nigerian arts scene, with an influence that continues to grow.

Emmanuel Henry David Dancer

Emmanuel Henry David, a dynamic artist from Lagos, Nigeria, is passionate about movement-based artistry, cinematography, fine arts, and sport. His interdisciplinary approach and a commitment to pushing boundaries, drive his exploration of physical movement within visual and performing arts.

Emmy’s work seamlessly blends intricate fine art details with the fluidity of motion, resulting in captivating compositions. As a cinematographer, he masterfully captures the essence of movement, crafting immersive visual narratives. His work has been featured in exhibitions such as The Witness at Terra Kulture and Becoming at TheQSchool.

Committed to deepening his academic understanding of movement, Emmy aspires to expand both the physical and theoretical dimensions of his craft. Through continuous growth and collaboration, he aims to contribute significantly to the artistic discourse on movement and its intersection with various art forms.

Ruth Elphygo Felix Dancer

Ruth Elphygo Felix is a Lagos-based movement artist, excelling in the merging of diverse choreography styles and dance traditions with a unique musical interpretation.

Her creativity and dedication to her craft shine through in her performances, with an artistic versatility, which is a testament to her creativity and her relentless pursuit of excellence in her craft. She regularly shares her artist practice and processes via Instagram under @official_elphygo.

Elphygo is a final-year Mass Communication student at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and is passionate about blending her academic insights and artistic pursuits.

Wisdom Henry Bethel Dancer

Wisdom Henry Bethel, also known as BBOYWE, is a versatile freelance dance artist specializing in Hip Hop, Naija Urban, and Bboying. Originating from the streets of Oworoshoki, Lagos, Wisdom self-taught acrobatics and stunts before refining his craft under the mentorship of renowned street dance champions. He has trained with notable figures like Qudus Onikeku, Kaffy, and Isioma Williams, and has performed at prestigious events such as Dance Gathering, Lagos Carnival, and at the International Theatre Amsterdam.

Wisdom’s achievements include appearances in music videos for Afrobeat stars like Olamide and Tiwa Savage, and he is the creator of the viral Labalaba Dance. He founded the Lagos-based Ultimate Stepperz dance crew and Sweet Vibes, a grassroots event to bring dance to local communities. His accolades include winning the Street Dance Shaku Shaku Dance Competition in Lagos and the B-series Cipher in Chicago.

Oba Ugochukwu Henry Dancer

Oba Ugochukwu Henry, a movement-based artist from Lagos, Nigeria, is a student at TheQSchool. Originally from Enugu State and raised in Jos, Plateau State, Oba expresses complex emotions and narratives through dynamic performance and choreography. His talent earned him a scholarship to TheQSchool, where he deepens his exploration of the human body’s expressive capabilities and its interaction with space.

Oba’s work is heavily influenced by his cultural heritage and upbringing, driving his passion to push the boundaries of traditional art forms. He aims to create immersive, emotionally resonant pieces that challenge and inspire audiences. As he continues his studies, Oba is committed to developing innovative techniques and making significant contributions to the field of movement-based art. His dedication positions him as a rising star in the artistic community, poised for impact both in Nigeria and globally.

Grace Diepreye Okilo Dancer

Grace Diepreye Okilo is a Fine and Applied Arts student at the University of Benin, where she explores the dynamic intersection of visual art and sound. Since 2020, she has honed her skills in painting and digital art, blending traditional techniques with modern technology to create vivid, imaginative works.

Grace’s movement-based art practice delves into the relationship between physical movement and auditory experiences, crafting immersive pieces that harmonize visual and sound elements. Her innovative approach reflects a deep understanding of how these mediums can combine to engage and captivate audiences. As she continues her studies, Grace is committed to pushing the boundaries of traditional and digital art, contributing to a richer appreciation of the arts in her community and beyond.

Faith Chukwuemeka Okoh Dancer

Faith Chukwuemeka Okoh is a pioneering Nigerian dancer, choreographer, and creative director. With training from The Dance Deal Training Foundation, he has gained diverse experience through workshops and performances across Nigeria and Africa. Highlights include Global Media Makers Directing Workshop, guest teaching France’s Le Theatre d’Auxerre, choreographic experimentation with Richard Seigal and Daya Liadi, and Afrospacetime involving 83 artists from 29 cities across Africa and the USA.

Faith has collaborated with NOK By Alara, Oando PLC, performed at major festivals such as Afropolis in Barcelona, and featured as a dancer in Disney’s animated series Iwaju. His web series Speaking Dance and film series In the Studio explore dance and choreographic processes. Awarded the Critics’ Prize for international dance in Spain and multiple Dance to Fame accolades, Faith’s Beghast platform promotes artistic innovation and cultural unity for emerging artists through collaborative practice.

Angela Uchenna Okolo Dancer

Angela Uchenna Okolo, a prominent dance artist from Delta State, Nigeria, with extensive professional and academic experience in dance and choreography. She teaches contemporary dance and choreography at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba. Committed to advancing contemporary African dance, she strives to innovate and blend modern and traditional African dance forms, aiming to develop a neo-Nigerian dance movement. Angela holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Theatre Arts from the University of Benin, where she has made significant contributions to the academic community, and is pursuing a PhD in Theatre Arts.

Angela has trained with notable choreographers such as Qudus Onikeku, Dr Abbe Josephine and Professor Chris Ugolo and has performed with The QDance Company across Europe, the USA, and Africa.

Simeon Promise Lawrence Musician

Simeon Promise Lawrence (aka Simphony) is a versatile artist known for his singing, songwriting, music production, and sound artistry. With a talent for enchanting melodies and playing multiple instruments, he uses his music to raise awareness about societal issues and offer creative solutions. Simphony is currently studying at TheQSchool, where he has engaged and collaborated with notable figures including Qudus Onikeku and renowned visual artist Dawit L. Petros.

Through his work, Simphony has become a dynamic and influential figure in the Nigerian artistic landscape. He leverages his musical talents to advocate for social change, creating music that not only entertains but also educates and inspires. As he continues to evolve, he remains dedicated to making a positive impact through his art.

Daniel Ifeanyi Anumudu Musician

Daniel Ifeanyi Anumudu, also known as Dash, is a dynamic sound producer, drum percussionist, and actor from Lagos, Nigeria. Immersed in the arts from a young age, he pursued a BSc/Diploma in Theatre and Film Studies, laying a strong foundation in the performing arts.

As a sound producer, Dash blends traditional African rhythms with contemporary trends, creating distinctive and high-quality music, recognised for its originality. His exceptional rhythmic skills as a percussionist have captivated audiences at numerous live events, combining traditional techniques with contemporary music styles. In theatre, his performances are noted for their emotional depth and authenticity.

Driven by a belief in collaborative creativity, Dash seeks diverse international interactions to explore new artistic frontiers and fuel transformation. His dedication and versatility make him a significant figure in music and theatre, continuously inspiring and influencing through his innovative work.

Photo by Herve Veronese

The meteoric rise of Nigerian culture

“Qudus Onikeku and The QDance Company on a mission to push contemporary African and Nigerian dance to dizzying heights”

We have Nigeria’s youth culture to thank for much of the world’s recent Black artistic expressions. You can’t ignore the meteoric rise of Afrobeats and its biggest stars such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, Ayra Starr, and Tems constantly topping our charts. Even global superstar Beyoncé couldn’t get enough of the infectious genre, featuring many Afrobeats artists in her 2020 Black Is King visual album. And then there’s the fashion industry, driven by youthful, avant-garde reimaginations of traditional garments – designers such as Lisa Folawiyo and Mowola Ogunlesi have featured multiple times in British Vogue to much acclaim.

It’s within these fertile grounds that artistic director Qudus Onikeku and The QDance Company have bloomed with their signature production 2021’s Re:INCARNATION. And they’re on a mission to push contemporary African and Nigerian dance to the same dizzying heights.

Re:INCARNATION is a carefully curated mix of “hypervibrant youth culture, ancient Yoruba philosophy and contemporary dance aesthetics,” says Onikeku ahead of the debut UK tour. The show too can’t ignore the significance of Afrobeats nor the statements Nigerian fashion makes. You’ll find live composition of the genre – with influences from hip-hop, jazz, soul, funk, and traditional Nigerian music – paired with strikingly visual costumes showcasing the coming together of tradition and urban life brimming in the capital Lagos.

“Re:INCARNATION is a first for me, there’s something that I’ve been pursuing in my head,” Onikeku says in a 2021 interview. Specifically, there has been a searching for a distinctly Nigerian and contemporary aesthetic, and a pursuit of placing young people at the forefront of these aesthetic movements.

This ever-evolving ethos has seen him gradually transition from a soloist choreographer into an artistic director, cultural leader, community organiser, and founder of social enterprise The QDance Center – a resource, training, and talent-development organisation for dance in Nigeria. This transition may seem normal to some, but don’t be fooled – the reality is frustrating, with countless trials preceding triumphs.

Born in 1984 in the Surulere district of Lagos, Onikeku first found dance at the age of 13 after an interest in acrobatics. After mentorship from industry dance artists Victor Uwagba, Isioma Williams, and Christopher Abdul, he left for France in 2004, at the age of 20, to work with Heddy Maalem in the Algerian

Photo by Damilola Bankole

choreographer’s Le Sacre du Printemps – his version of The Rite of Spring. Maalem made a pivotal visit to Nigeria where he bore witness to ‘the urban boom and devastation in Lagos’ – an experience that marked him so much he felt called to choreograph a reflective piece on an ensemble of fourteen Black artists hailing from Nigeria, Mali, Bénin, Senegal, and Guadeloupe.

Perhaps it’s this devastation that also marked Onikeku. “For every conscious Nigerian artiste, there is always a moment in time when it becomes evident that there is in fact, a deliberate control and censoring of our creative temperaments,” he says. Around that time, the choreographer also debuted his first solo choreographic piece LOST FACE, which toured around Nigeria, Benin, France, and the Dominican Republic. The title speaks volumes. To ‘lose face’ is to experience humiliation, and a ‘lost face’ can be interpreted as a losing of an identity.

“When such standards are placed on who should be in control, the very first feeling that comes with such

realisation, is a feeling of humiliation. This feeling of humiliation grew day by day in me, it evolved into anger. In my own case, what sent me to the path of exile was a series of NO(s) which threatens an article of faith and killed a determination.”

The socio-political, cultural, and economic hardships of Nigeria’s youth are well documented. From high youth unemployment rates to anti-youth police brutality – most notably the #EndSars protests of 2020 –migration has long been on the mind of a demographic searching for opportunity. In 2022, 70% of Nigerians aged 18-35 surveyed by the African Polling Institute reported that they would relocate if given the chance.

Onikeku followed this trend back in 2010 when he formally relocated to France to pursue his art. Thanks to a scholarship from the French embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, he had enrolled at the prestigious Ecole Superieur National Des Arts Du Cirque in 2006, and trained there until 2009, before finally deciding to make France his new artistic home.

Photo by Damilola Bankole

YK Projects was established then, conceived to produce and internationally tour cross art productions focusing on the migrant experience. The company’s first work in 2010, My Exile Is in My Head, was a saving grace for Onikeku. “With this autobiographical work, I seek to return, in a manner of speaking, by reconstituting the past, participating in the present, as well as envisioning a new world,” he says. A new world which contains a safe space for young movement artists to grow without the NOs and censorship he himself encountered.

Determined by this ethos and mission, and the various success, funding, and visibility the work and following productions STILL/LIFE (2011) and QUADDISH (2013) afforded him, Onikeku pushed for a homecoming in 2014. “This quick rise and the access it gave me before the maturing age of 30, coupled with the boredom and futility that arises from triumph in exile, activated a shift of interest for me. I knew we could do more with the access and experience.”

The QDance Center was co-founded by Onikeku and managing director Hajarat ‘Haji’ Alli in the same year. The social enterprise has since established itself as a leader in Lagos and Nigeria for artistic development, employment, cross arts festivals, and community engagement programmes geared towards Lagos’ vibrant youth culture.

Afropolis (formerly danceGATHERING) is one of the

center’s reoccurring platforms, bringing together artists, creatives, and thinkers from multiple Nigerian cities and African countries into ‘a space for antidisciplinary practice’ – a term Onikeku coins for different disciplines that don’t necessarily fit into a singular practice. It’s through this programmes that Re:INCARNATION was first conceived.

“This work has really been a journey,” he says. The work represents a bright, hopeful, and youthful “Lagos on stage in a way that’s never been seen before – its groove, its history and what the city means to so many people”.

What it means to him is no longer a place of oppression and humiliation, but a city with unbridled dance potential. The production is performed by ten dancers and two musicians, described by Onikeku as “the best Nigeria can offer. This is the next generation. I can trust that they will deliver”. The cast are already fulfilling their potential, boasting artists such as Faith Okoh and Angela Okolo – multidisciplinary artists, dancers, and community organisers making significant impact in Nigeria’s dance scene as artistic directors and changemakers.

Photo by Damilola Bankole

Through collaboration with this next generation, Onikeku has found a “quest into body memory and to seek a contemporary choreographic vocabulary that is peculiar to this new generation of dancers”. The production is so generous with this vocabulary. The trance-inducing undulations and fluid bird arms are quickly joined by dizzying afro house footwork and Onikeku’s own distinctive acrobatic influences.

There’s a rich connection to the contemporary dance forms borne out of the 60s and 70s, spearheaded by Yoruba travelling theatre troupes. Contemporary dance in the first place began in Nigeria as a result of the mixing of British and Nigerian cultures through colonialism. Under Christian missionary rule, deities and their spiritual dances were taboo and banned with harsh repercussions on those found practicing. Hubert Ogunde, described as the forefather of

contemporary dance in Nigeria, reembraced dances of tradition and began blending the forms with European contemporary steps within Afrocentric inspired Churches. He formed the country’s first professional performance company in 1961 and set the tone for a unique vocabulary that spoke to changing contemporary tides of the country.

“I think it’s my responsibility to begin to investigate what contemporary dance should look like coming from Lagos,” Onikeku adds. “Re:INCARNATION is actually a continuous effort. It’s a culmination point of this energy, [and] this amount of work that we’ve been doing since 2014. And I feel like this is the first time [that] I’m finally starting something”.

The production is large and audacious. Split into three acts, each section is as visceral as the next. There’s spoken word, song, synchronised hip hop grooves,

Photo by Damilola Bankole

and brash stomps of the feet that soon take flight in gravity-defying feats. “Coming from the Yoruba culture and philosophical approach, I would like to place at the core of the piece the Yoruba central concept of Re:INCARNATION (birth, death, re-birth) which offers a distinct way of thinking about time and space in a cyclical manner.” This cycle may not be dissimilar to Onikeku’s own artistic journey. A processing of his exile and return, and of his artistic growth and transition from performer to community leader. The artists equally shift through these cycles across the production, changing costumes throughout to represent everything from their vibrant selves to energetic, playful, and mischievous spirits.

There’s a lot to enjoy in Re:INCARNATION and there’s a lot to think about too. But the groovy rhythms of the Afrobeats score will ensure you never miss a beat.

Isaac Ouro-Gnao is a Togolese-British multidisciplinary artist, somatic trauma therapist, mental health scholaractivist, and freelance journalist. He has worked with a range of hip hop, contemporary, and African contemporary dance professionals including Alesandra Seutin, Kwame Asafo-Adjei, Seke Chimutengwende, Maxine Doyle, and Botis Seva. His writing has appeared in the forms of features, essays, reviews, and poetry in publications such as The Stage, Dance Gazette (Royal Academy of Dance), The Lancet Psychiatry, Lolwe and more.

Photo by Damilola Bankole

Photo

Herve Veronese

When and Where

Southbank Centre London

Wed 18 - Thu 19 Sep 2024

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Milton Keynes Theatre

Sat 21 Sep 2024

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Marlowe Theatre Canterbury

Tue 24 - Wed 25 Sep 2024

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Brighton Dome

Tue 1 - Wed 2 Oct 2024

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Nottingham Playhouse

Sat 5 Oct 2024

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The Lowry Salford Quays

Tue 8 - Wed 9 Oct 2024

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Hull New Theatre

Fri 11 - Sat 12 Oct 2024

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Theatre Royal Newcastle

Tue 15 - Wed 16 Oct 2024

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Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Fri 18 - Sat 19 Oct 2024

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Learning and Participation

Dance Consortium’s engagement programmes run parallel to tours, offering audiences an opportunity to deepen their understanding and passion for dance. The QDance Company’s UK tour not only delivers captivating performances but also presents enriching learning and participation activities tailored for schools, community groups and dance enthusiasts.

Post-Show Q&As: Artistic Director Qudus Onikeku and company members host illuminating post-show Q&A sessions on the tour’s opening night in each city. Audiences gain valuable insights into the artistic process, inspirations and stories behind Nigeria’s celebrated company.

Dance Workshops: The company provide a diverse mix of different workshops from afro-contemporary to street to krumping. These provide budding dancers and participants with a unique chance to learn from worldclass performers and give an insight into the different dance styles that influence the company’s work.

Open Rehearsals: Audiences are welcomed to observe The QDance Company in open classes and rehearsals, as it prepares for evening performances. These sessions are an integral part of a performer’s working day. Check with you local venue to see what they are offering.

Insight Notes: Teachers and performing arts students can access complimentary introductory notes about The QDance Company’s shows. Available at Dance Consortium, these valuable resources offer background information about the company and insights into the creative process. Suitable for formal and informal learning, these materials support curriculum study and enrich understanding and appreciation of dance.

Explore More: Learn about our year-round commitment to supporting creative careers and talent development, including recent initiatives like the Ailey Project UK, which fostered diversity in dance through a partnership with Black-led youth dance organisations across the UK and the world-renowned

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Our ongoing project, Future Leaders, establishes connections between our 19 member theatres and the next generation of off-stage theatre workforce.

Dance Consortium is also a registered Arts Award Supporter, signposting young people to as many arts experiences as possible. Visit danceconsortium.com for more information

“The programme opened my eyes to the vast array of professions within the arts industries.”

Future Leaders in dance

Dance Consortium is dedicated to developing the future workforce of the dance/theatre sector by nurturing and supporting young professionals through various initiatives.

FUTURE LEADERS

This initiative, established in 2015, connects our 19 member theatres in a free, flexible leadership program designed for individuals aged 19 to 26 interested in exploring off-stage careers in the arts. Future Leaders promotes a range of producing and theatre management roles, engaging over 120 aspiring arts professionals through skills workshops, networking sessions, work shadowing, and venue open days. The

programme is committed to giving more people access to the arts and at least 50% of places reserved for underrepresented backgrounds in the UK theatre workforce, offering opportunities to those facing barriers.

THEATRECRAFT

Join us annually at #Theatrecraft, the UK’s largest free creative careers event at the Royal Opera House, where Dance Consortium and One Dance UK showcase a wide range of job opportunities in dance and theatre, featuring panel sessions that delve into various roles across our vibrant creative sector.

“The chance to be around like-minded people in a similar stage of careers was very supportive and inspirational and made me feel motivated.”

and theatre

ON-TOUR WORK PLACEMENTS

For the past decade, Dance Consortium has provided hands-on placements for students from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) during our international dance tours, offering invaluable realworld tour management experience. Stay updated for more opportunities for students to gain work experience with our member venues.

Keen to know more?

• Explore the Future Leaders flexible leadership program.

• Visit danceconsortium.com for career opportunities across our 19 theatres in the UK and Ireland.

90% of previous participants rated Q&As with industry professionals as excellent.

95% said Future Leaders gave ideas or information to apply to the next steps in their training or careers.

Past tours and credits

Supported 2009, 2010, 2012 & 2014)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (2005, 2007, 2010 & 2016)

Ailey 2 (2011 & 2023)

Dance Theatre of Harlem (2004)

Danza Contemporanéa de Cuba (2010, 2012 & 2017)

Australian Dance Theatre (2007)

Bill T Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company (2004)

Breakin’ Convention (2007.

Cirque Éloize (2015. Supported 2011)

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (2013)

Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker (2004, 2006 & 2010)

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (2008/2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018 & 2022)

Mark Morris Dance Group (2001, 2009 & 2019)

Paul Taylor Dance Company (2003)

Dada Masilo (2019 & 2023)

Acosta Danza (2020 & 2022)

Sao Paulo Dance Company (2024)

Les 7 Doigts (2021)

Stephen Petronio Company (2008)

m¡longa (2017)

Sutra, A Sadler’s Wells Production (2013)

Ballet British Columbia (2018)

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan (2008)

Grupo Corpo (2005 & 2014)

Nederlands Dans Theater NDT 1 (2008)

Batsheva Ensemble (2012)

Compagnie Kafig (2005 & 2014)

La La La Human Steps (2008)

Nederlands Dans Theater NDT 2 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2016 & 2022)

CO CHAIRS

Stephen Crocker & Marianne Locatori

DIRECTORS

Anand Bhatt, Sebastian Cater, Helen Costello, Stephen Crocker, Andrew Hurst, Rosie Kay, Marianne Locatori, Iona Waite & Suzanne Walker

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Joe Bates

SENIOR PRODUCER

Claire Morton

ACCOUNTANTS

Rebecca Gaskin and Janice Jane Webster at Rowlands Webster

MARKETING

Helen Snell and Emma Russell at Helen Snell Ltd; Shereden Mathews and Mark Dooley at Dresssing Room 5

PRESS

Sue Lancashire and Martha Oakes at Martha Oakes PR

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT

Matt Fishel

WEBSITE

TOUR COORDINATOR

Amy Dolan

Julia Munro

ADMINISTRATOR & TOUR MANAGER

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Jenny Wheeler

PRODUCTION ELECTRICIANS

Catherine James & Jude Devoil

LIGHTING & TECHNICAL

Chris Tidmarsh & Richard Gaul

LIGHTING HIRE

White Light

SOUND, VIDEO AND BACKLINE HIRE

Stage Sound Services & John Henry’s Ltd

TRUCKING ARRANGEMENTS

Fly By Nite

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

The Production Touring team at Specialised Travel

AUDITOR

Gordon & Co Insurance Brokers Learn

Vanessa Graham at Topaz Solutions

INSURANCE

HdK Associates

PROGRAMME DESIGN & PRINT

Consider This Agency

Greener Touring

Dance Consortium is committed to exploring ways to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment through its environmental action plan. Whilst acknowledging that international touring creates an unavoidable carbon footprint, we are actively seeking ways to improve and mitigate against this. We endeavour to promote best practice across our membership and to raise awareness of the effects of climate change amongst our members, the companies we tour, suppliers, audiences attending our performances and the young people engaging in our Learning and Participation programme.

We continue to develop and promote new and innovative initiatives across the member venues. In the meantime, here’s a snapshot of some of the achievements that we are proud of…

• We supply all visiting companies with reusable Ocean Bottles for each company member and our venues provide water stations next to the stage. Dancers drink lots of water, so this reduces plastic waste from single-use bottles of mineral water.

• Our touring technical team uses Velcro fasteners in place of PVC electrical tape for cabling work wherever possible, reducing the sacks of tape waste usually produced at the end of each run of performances.

• Eden Court in Inverness has achieved a 10% reduction in gas use compared to 2019 and has transitioned to Automated Meter Readings meaning they can now get electricity readings for every half an hour. They’ve had a Climate Emergency working group since 2020, with representation from Senior Leadership and board level, and publicly shared their Climate Emergency Commitment which is supported by an Action Plan that includes all areas of operations.

• To date, the solar panels at the Marlowe Theatre Canterbury have powered the equivalent of 111 shows. In partnership with Canterbury City Council, they have installed new all-LED lighting in the auditorium which will save up to 83% energy use compared to the old lighting.

• Norwich Theatre Royal installed a 10.6m x 2.6m Living Wall on the side of the fly tower.

• Brighton Dome and Festival is on a mission to reduce single-use plastics across the whole organisation and have teamed up with reusable cup experts Green Goblet to serve up audience drinks in an earth-friendly way.

• Theatre Royal Plymouth sends food waste to Langage Farm where it’s used in an anaerobic digester to power their dairy….and then the farm supplies the theatre with ice creams – yum!

• Each of our member venues has appointed a Green Champion and Dance Consortium facilitates a nationwide e-group to share ideas and resources.

• In November 2023, Dance Consortium held its first Greener Touring Symposium at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, bringing together representatives from across the large-scale theatre sector to explore the challenges and support changes to ensure touring is more sustainable.

• Two of our Trustees are part of Arts Council England’s Board Environmental Champions Programme, which aims to embed environmental responsibility within Dance Consortium at governance level. This will support the members to step up their sustainability plans, reduce their environmental impact, and inspire peers and audiences at a time when it is most needed.

As well as the direct actions Dance Consortium and our member venues are taking to mitigate the climate crisis, we also see our role as helping to support our audiences understand what they do to help.

A recent report titled Act Green by Indigo, an awardwinning organisation that researches audience behaviours and trends, showed that 86% of cultural audiences are worried about the climate crisis and 93% have made changes to their lifestyle to help tackle it. However, audiences feel that organisations are not doing enough or feel that they are not communicating what they are doing effectively. Whereas, 72% think cultural organisations have a responsibility to influence society to make radical change in response to the climate emergency.

In November 2023, Dance Consortium ran its first Greener Touring Symposium which looked at what large-scale theatres and their audiences can do support climate action.

Here are just a few ideas that you could consider:

• Travel: Can you use public transport to travel to the theatre? If not, then could you travel with friends and family to reduce the impact of private travel? Try using You Smart Thing, a new tool which can help you compare travel options and the amount of CO2e for each option: yousmartthing.com

• Reduce waste: Think about the flyers and brochures you collect and throw away. Could you take a photo of the information, so you have it digitally instead? Could you change your subscription to receive news from your venue via its e-newsletter rather than printed material through the post?

• Reuse cups and glasses: The Act Green Report suggested that 88% would reduce their use of disposable packaging and single use plastic at venues. Many of our member theatres now have reusable cups to help eliminate single use plastics. If you have a drink before the show, take them back for a refill at the interval, rather than requesting a fresh cup – we reuse glasses and cups at home so why not when we’re out and about!

• Recycling: Look out for recycling points around the theatres and if you can’t see them, just ask a member of staff to direct you.

• Turning your lights off at home: by coming together for a collective experience in the theatre, you can help offset the energy being used on stage to make the show happen by making sure lights and appliances are turned off whilst you’re out of the house.

Photo by Herve Veronese

Where we are

Dance Consortium is a group of 19 large theatres located across the UK and Ireland.

Dance Consortium was formed in 2000 with the aim of enriching the high-quality dance offer in the UK by presenting regular tours from international companies. It has since grown into a widespread consortium of venues with a core strategic aim to develop audiences for dance across the UK and Ireland, engage new attenders in innovative ways, and promote the art form as a source of accessible enjoyment and entertainment.

Since its formation Dance Consortium has presented 53 tours by 29 different companies whose performances and education activities have been experienced by hundreds of thousands of people across all parts of the UK and in Ireland.

Grand Opera House BELFAST

Tickets: 028 9024 1919 www.goh.co.uk

BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome

Tickets: 0844 338 5000

Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Alhambra Theatre BRADFORD

Tickets: 01274 432000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

BRIGHTON Dome

Tickets: 01273 709709 www.brightondome.org

The Marlowe Theatre CANTERBURY

Tickets: 01227 787787 www.marlowetheatre.com

Wales Millennium Centre CARDIFF

Tickets: 029 2063 6464

Mac croeso I chi cysylitu â ni yn Gymraeg www.wmc.org.uk

The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre DUBLIN

Tickets: +353 (1) 677 7999 www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

Festival Theatre EDINBURGH

Tickets: 0131 529 6000 www.capitaltheatres.com

HULL New Theatre

Tickets: 01482 300306 www.hulltheatres.co.uk

Eden Court Theatre INVERNESS Tickets: 01463 234 234 www.eden-court.co.uk

Sadler’s Wells and Peacock Theatre LONDON Tickets: 020 7863 8000 www.sadlerswells.com

MILTON KEYNES Theatre Tickets: 0844 871 7615 www.atgtickets.com/venues/miltonkeynes-theatre

Theatre Royal NEWCASTLE Tickets: 0191 232 7010 www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Theatre Royal NORWICH Tickets: 01603 630 000 www.norwichtheatre.org

Theatre Royal PLYMOUTH Tickets: 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

The Lowry SALFORD Tickets: 0343 208 6000 www.thelowry.com

Southbank Centre LONDON Tickets: 020 3879 9555 www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Mayflower Theatre SOUTHAMPTON Tickets: 02380 711811 www.mayflower.org.uk

WOLVERHAMPTON Grand Theatre Tickets: 01902 42 92 12 www.grandtheatre.co.uk

Bradford

Salford

Hull

Nottingham

Norwich

Birmrmingham

Wolverhampton

Cardiff

Plymouth h

Southampton

Brighton

London f

Milton Keynes on

Canterbury

Belfast

Dublin

Edinburgh

Inverness

THRILLING’ Culture Whisper

24 & 25 February

SOUTHAMPTON Mayflower Theatre

28 February & 1 March

CANTERBURY Marlowe Theatre

4 & 5 March

BRIGHTON Dome

7 & 8 March

MILTON KEYNES Theatre 14 & 15 March NEWCASTLE Theatre Royal

18 & 19 March INVERNESS Eden Court

21 & 22 March BRADFORD Alhambra Theatre 25 & 26 March BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome

Photo

Herve Veronese