Founded in January 2015, Dance Centre Kenya (DCK) has grown to become Kenya’s preeminent dance school, with over 500 students taking classes in the three DCK studios (Karen Hardy, Lavington and Rosslyn) and approximately 1,000 more taking DCK-taught classes in 15 schools throughout Nairobi.
From small beginnings, Dance Centre Kenya was established by a few families of talented dancers who wished to advance their children’s training: the Plumbe, Shaw/Dolan and Vadera families. With very different backgrounds and professions, these families shared the same vision of providing a world class level of training to children in Kenya. Professional American ballerina Cooper Rust was brought on board as Artistic Director, and Dance Centre Kenya was born.
Since then the number of students has grown and the range and styles of dance classes offered has expanded greatly. The breadth of support and involvement of artists and ballet lovers both locally and abroad has been humbling. Our first performance on a makeshift stage in the gardens of the Purdy Arms without tutus has grown over the years into full-length ballet performances on the stage of the Kenya National Theatre, including Cinderella, a Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo & Juliet. The Nutcracker at Christmas time has become an annual tradition on the Nairobi social calendar and has previously included collaborations with the Nairobi Philharmonic Orchestra and visiting international conductors and guest musicians.
Throughout the pandemic, DCK has continued to provide its students with world-class dance and gymnastics training, whether through virtual learning or live classes in our three studios across Nairobi. All of this culminated in our first ever virtual recital held in June of 2021.
From DCK’s inception there has been a commitment to teaching talented students from all walks of life, irrespective of their ability to pay for training. DCK’s sponsorship programme, in conjunction with American charity Artists for Africa, has already affected the lives of many dancers from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are honoured to have both generous local and international sponsors for these talented dancers, and for the past five years a number of our students have travelled to the U.S. to train in South Carolina, while others have been accepted in summer intensives in Europe. Some of DCK’s sponsored students are now in full-time dance training programs abroad and others are in colleges and universities using the skills gained from their dance training to pursue their own dreams. Most recently Joel Kioko, one of DCK’s first sponsorship students, was given a contract to dance with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago for their 20212022 season and is now with the Nevada Ballet Theatre. With a training programme based on the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus and annual examinations, as well as multiple performance opportunities, DCK provides aspiring dancers with so much more than just technical training.
By the dead and drowsy fire;
Every elf and fairy sprite
Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty, after me, Sing and dance it trippingly.
In a mythical period in a remote and romantic city-state, the Duke, Theseus, and his bride to be, Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, are entreated to allow Hermia to marry Lysander, her true love, instead of Demetrius, her father’s choice. Hermia begs, but Theseus refuses. He demands that she marry Demetrius or be banished. Lysander also pleads his case and reminds the Duke that Demetrius is deserting his true love, Helena, to marry Hermia. The entreaties are to no avail. The Duke is adamant. Hermia must marry Demetrius.
Lysander and Hermia bewail their sad fate. They are truly star-crossed lovers. They decide to escape the Duke’s jurisdiction and marry outside his realm. They tell Helena of their plans and flee to the enchanted wood. Helena, truly in love with Demetrius, and blinded by the falsity of his love, tells him of Lysander and Hermia’s plans. He rushes to the wood after them. Helena follows, ever hopeful of regaining her love’s affections.
Nick Bottom and his fellow rustics arrive, looking for a place to have a picnic and make plans for the entertainment they will be providing for the Duke’s wedding.
I must go seek some dewdrops here and hang a pearl in every cowlip’s ear. Farewell, thou lob of spirits. I’ll be gone. Our queen and all our elves come here anon.
The fairies and butterflies of the enchanted wood watch over their King, Oberon, and his Fairy Queen, Titania, as they celebrate in honour of the approaching marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. Oberon and Titania quarrel over the changeling child who was stolen from the court of an Indian King. Titania wishes to keep the child to grace her court while Oberon wants to make the child a knight of his own followers. Then, as is natural with fairies, for continued spite and anger belong only to human beings, the quarrel ends. Titania asks Oberon to join her in their dances. He consents on condition that she surrender the child. She again refuses and leaves with her attendants, Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb, and Mustardseed.
After she leaves, Oberon decides to play his mischief with her before she departs the wood. He summons the Fairy of the Enchanted Flower for a special elixir and he calls his sprite, Puck, reminding him of a former night when they saw cupid take aim, “At a fair vestal throned by the west” but the arrow fell on a certain pansy, guarded by the Fairy of the Enchanted Flower, “Now purple with love’s wounds.” Since that time its juice, laid on the eyelids of sleeping people, makes them fall in love with the first living creature they see when they awaken. Puck will put a drop of his elixir on Titania’s eyes to make her fall in love with the first living creature she sees in the wood when she awakes.
After Puck leaves, Oberon makes himself invisible so that he can oversee the affairs of the two people, Demetrius and Helena, who have just entered the wood. Helena wins his sympathy and
he plans to help her gain Demetrius’ love by applying some of the potion to Demetrius’ eyes. Puck returns and Oberon tells him to apply the juice to Demetrius. Puck will recognize him by the garments he wears.
Lysander and Hermia enter the woods exhausted. They decide to rest for the night before continuing their journey. Puck, seeing the sleeping youth and supposing him to be the one he is in search of, anoints his eyes with the elixir from the enchanted flower. Helena wandering helplessly in the wood in search of Demetrius, comes upon the sleeping Lysander. She wakes him to ask for his help. The potion takes its effect! Lysander falls in love with Helena, the first person he has seen! The confusion continues. Puck has made a glorious mess of the entire situation. Oberon tells him he has worked the charm on the wrong man and commands that Puck rights his error.
The lovers chase through the woods until they finally collapse in fatigue. Oberon and Puck anoint the youths again and this time make certain that they arrange the couples properly: Demetrius to see Helena upon waking and Lysander to behold Hermia at first sight.
Fair lovers, you are fortunately met; Of this discourse we more will hear anon. For in the temple, by and by with us These couples shall eternally be knit. Away with us to Athens; three and three, We’ll hold a feast of great solemnity.
Titania enters with her attendants. Accustomed sometimes to sleep lulled by the sweetness of the flowers around her, Titania rests on a lilac rose petal where the wild thyme blows. She falls gently off to sleep guarded by her nymphs. Eager to play more mischief, Puck streaks her eyes with the potion and hides as he hears people coming into the wood.
Nick Bottom and his rustics, Snug, Quince, Francis, Snout, and Starveling bumble in to have a picnic and make their plans for the play they will perform for the Duke’s wedding. They quickly lose interest in their preparations and get down to the more serious business of playing. Puck is delighted with what he sees and decides to have some fun with the most thick-skinned of them, Bottom. Invisible throughout, Puck torments them and rides Bottom off through the woods only to return him to his companions transformed into an ass. Frightened and superstitious the rustics rush off when they see Bottom’s remarkable transformation.
Titania awakes, sees Bottom, and falls in love with him. She bids her attendants bind them eternally in a garland of flowers.
Come, set thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy. And stick musk-roses in thy smoothe head, And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
Theseus has given his consent that the lovers shall marry their true love on the same day that he weds Hippolyta. Hippolyta’s Amazon warriors and attendants join the nobles to dance in celebration of their Queen’s royal union.
Oberon has released Titania from her spell. They dance in a flurry of fireflies, in jubilant celebration of the triumph of Love over Fate. Puck removes the Ass head from Bottom and laughs mischievously at his own devilment while the First Fairy heralds the approaching dawn with her golden trumpet.
Bottom wakes musing: The eye of man hath not heard, The ear of man hath not seen, Man’s hand is not able to taste, His tongue to conceive, Nor his heart to report, What my dream was.
I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of the dream; It shall be called Bottom’s dream, Because it hath no bottom...
Tooth-Coloured
Sealants
Implants
Crown
Whitening
Root
Extractions
MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8.30AM - 6.00PM
SATURDAY 9AM - 2PM
William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream has enchanted audiences around the world for more than 420 years. The story of magic and mayhem, donkeys and fairies captivates audiences time and time again. In 1962, George Balanchine opened the New York City Ballet’s season with his interpretation of the story and two years later Sir Fredrick Ashton created his own version on the Royal Ballet in London. This weekend, Dance Centre Kenya will be presenting this incredible story here in Nairobi, but it will not be the Balanchine or Ashton version that we will be presenting. My very acclaimed first ballet teacher Ann Brodie created this work and when she died, she left all of her choreography to her students, including myself. This is the legacy of ballet. It has been handed generation after generation, and now I give it to my students here in Nairobi.
The ballet company dancers who will be performing for you are Dance Centre Kenya’s most dedicated students. In addition to their academic commitments, the junior company members take at least two ballet classes a week and the senior company members take at least two ballet classes and one pointe or pas de deux class, as well as all of them participating in an additional dance form. Most of the dancers spend countless hours past this in the studio every week. We were beyond amazed an impressed that more than 85 children were prepared to make the commitment again this year at company auditions. Ballet has really taken Nairobi by storm.
This production would not have been possible without the creativity and the dedication of Nathalie Fusillo and her team at Palacina Interiors who back in 2019 went above and beyond building a life-sized tree for Puck to climb in, creating designs for every fairy and Amazon costume, and making the most beautiful purple rose petal on which Titania will rest her head. It was an investment of time and love, which is being brought back to the stage four years later to the delight of our dancers and audience members.
Finally, I would like to thank all of the student sponsors who support DCK’s dancers, who without a bit of financial help, would not have the opportunity to perform here tonight. The show would not be the same without them, and the spirit of our dance company would not be the same with out them. You sponsors are truly part of what makes this magic happen.
Enjoy,
Cooper Rust Artistic DirectorWelcome to our first production of 2023, A Midsummer Night’s Dream! It has been just over two months since our biggest and most successful annual Nutcracker performance, so I am very excited that we are able to get our kids back on stage so soon and early on in the new year and share their talent with you in yet another classic Shakespeare story.
DCK is a not-for-profit organization focused on making dreams come true and changing lives through dance. Every surplus goes towards giving kids from underprivileged communities an opportunity to join DCK. Our funding model is that we complement our regular income from school fees and shows like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and therefore rely on people and corporations to donate or sponsor on a regular basis so that we can continue to change more lives of the Kenyan kids and continue to produce amazing shows for both our kids to perform in and for you, as audience, to watch. You can also get personally involved in directly sponsoring a student from one of the underprivileged communities. We have several Student and Corporate Sponsorship options so please come and talk to me or any member of the DCK team. As part of this model, we also rely on volunteers both in our activities and in our organization so again please come and talk to us if you would like to get involved.
For A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we have once again been supported by many companies coming forward with sponsorship. The sponsors of this production are listed in this programme and we are most grateful for their commitment in encouraging Nairobi’s youth to participate in the performing arts. In particular, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Absa, who have continued to support us for several years and once again have come on board as Platinum sponsors, not just for A Midsummer Night’s Dream but for the whole of the 2023 Season! I would also like to sincerely thank all of our incredible volunteers and private donors. Without the support of these corporate sponsors, volunteers and donors we would not be able to put on these shows!
We have an exciting and full calendar of performances in 2023 so please get all the details from our information desk at the reception or any member of the DCK team.
I wish you all a very Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous 2023! Enjoy A Midsummer Night’s Dream!
Raj Shah Chairman
Bridge is proud to partner with Dance Centre Kenya to support young dancers to develop their talents and aspire to new heights. Like DCK, Bridge is dedicated to ensuring that the opportunity to learn at a world-class standard reaches all of Kenya.
We invite you to join us in this work, and through supporting children from across Kenya to develop their potential, to build a more peaceful and prosperous future for us all.
Please get in touch to enquire if we can work together with you, to ensure every child in Kenya has access to life-changing learning.
+254732 160 000
www.bridge.ac.ke
Original Choreography: Ann Brodie
Set and Adapted by: Cooper Rust
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Director: Cooper Rust
General Manager: Caroline Slot
Board Chairman: Raj Shah
Technical Director: Joep van Binsberg
Stage Manager: Oceane Deloge
Lights & Sound Supervisor: Nawi Eweillar
Costume Mistress: Antonia Mukandie
Set Design: Nathalie Fusillo
Filmography: Nina Schwendemenn
Photography: Yasuyoshi Chiba
Sponsorship Coordination: Ranee Nanji, Raj Shah, Cooper Rust
Kingdom of the Fairies
Oberon, King of the Fairies
Titania, Queen of the Fairies
George Okoth
Flora Liu
Puck Ephraim Kimani
Attendants to Titania
Peaseblossom
Jana Caspara Landolt
Moth Keri Yamane
Cobweb Eve Mwaniki
Mustardseed Makena Kiruki
Fairies of the woodland �����������������������������������������������
Jasmine Kiragu, Cheryl Lobo, Ava Stow, Azza Rollins, Nefertiti J� Fourman, Lola
Poggio, Eva van de Velden, Fiona Liu, Sabrina Kazziha, Chloe Kimmelman-May, Zahra Darker, Natalia Violet Como, Viginia
Karuirwa, Vivian Atieno, Mary Akoth
Juhi Nanji
Lead Butterflies
Butterflies
The Changeling Child
Atiya Gandhi, Sawa Chiba
Avelyn Yong, Gloria Martens, Savannah
Keir, Arianna Kaati, Ava Georges , Xian McGowan, Victoria Mong’are, Jordania
Salins, Charlene Kaane, Sage McGowan
The Lovers
The Rustics:
Nick Bottom, a weaver
Shah
Ochieng
Abilla
Stow
Tom Snout, a tinker Benji Mudondo
Peter Quince, a carpenter
Robin Starveiling, a tailor
Snug, a joiner
Francis Flute, a bellows-mender
The Young Athenian Girls
Obama
Diebate
Wafula
Kamau
Saturday Katherine Susanto, Arabella Kaati, Tula Kiptinness, Leni Das Gupta, Charlie Keir
Friday & Sunday
The Young Athenian Boys
Saturday
Friday & Sunday
The Court of the Duke
Theseus, Duke of Athens
Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons
Amazon Attendants to Hippolyta
Margaret Opiyo, Reigner Gweth, Djenabou Kora Kouyaté, Malkia Kimwaki, Charlie
Yamene, Gift Zidane, Daniel Odhiambo, Bravian Misi
Kiarie, Fortune Atieno, Fabian Njunge, Adrian Sesi
Otieno
Nduba
Okumu, Marije van Binsbergen, Joy
Natalia Como, Neema Lazzaroni, Mitchelle Mulari
Wedding Pas de Trois Alvin Weru, Pamela Atieno, Cheryl Lobo
A Ballet in a prologue and three acts adapted from the Play by William Shakespeare
Cooper hails from Columbia, South Carolina, USA, and trained in classical ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and musical theatre for more than fifteen years beginning with Ann Brodie and finishing at schools including the School of American Ballet and the Harid Conservatory. While dancing professionally with three American ballet companies, she acquired bachelors’ degrees in Dance Performance and Choreography as well as European History from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she was recently awarded Alumna of the Year for the College of Fine Arts.
In addition to this honor, Ms. Rust was awarded the Centennial Community Teaching Award by the Royal Academy of Dance in London, where she achieved marks of distinction in her Post-Graduate Teaching Certification as well as receiving distinctions in the Intermediate, Advanced I, and Advanced II ballet examinations.
She holds a Pilates certification through DK Body Balance and is currently the Executive Director of the not-for-profit organization Artists for Africa, which holds arts programmes serving more than 1000 children throughout Nairobi. While her journey to Kenya originally began with teaching ballet through the Anno’s Africa project in the Kibera and Mathare slums, she has now found homes in Dance Centre Kenya’s Hardy, Rosslyn, and Lavington studios as the Artistic Director, teaching Kenya’s up-and- coming brightest stars in ballet and other areas of dance.
Caroline grew up in the Netherlands where she spent her free time training in rhythmical gymnastics, taking dance classes and being part of musical theatre productions at school. In 2003 she joined the Amsterdam School of the Arts for a one year preparation course for a bachelor program in Dance. After this course she joined a dance teacher training program for two years, followed by four years of training in Jazz and Musical Dance for which she obtained a Bachelor of Dance. She received classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary dance, tap dance, singing, musical theatre and acting and worked with directors/choreographers Wies Bloemen, Eddy Habbema and David Greaves. In her last year she did an internship with Musical Theatre Company Briza, performing musical theatre productions for children, and was part of an exchange program with The Kenya Performing Arts Group. After teaching dance in many different schools and projects in the Netherlands, she came back to Kenya and started Ghetto Exposed, a non-profit which offers dance and photography training to talented young people from underprivi- leged communities and aims to build the audience and create jobs in the field. Caroline has been working for Dance Centre Kenya since January 2016 and was promoted to General Manager in 2019.
Antonia (Tonie) is an established fashion designer based in Nairobi. She joined the Industry in 2012 after completing her diploma in Fashion from Vera Fashion Institute. Since then Antonia has worked with renowned designers such as Koki, Katungulu Mwendwa, African Mystique, and Betty Vanetti. Most recently, she has started her own label - ‘Tonie Mukandie Fashion House.’
Pamela Atieno began her dance training with Mike Wamaya and Anna Nygh before becoming a gold scholarship student at DCK. She was featured on Al Jazeera news where she was seen by 12 million viewers. As a member of DCK Company she has danced many roles, including Dew Drop Fairy, Violet, Snow Crystal, Rat Princess, Spanish Chocolate and Lead Russian in The Nutcracker. Pamela was awarded a scholarship to the South Carolina Summer Dance Intensive with Susan Anderson and performed in the 2021 and 2022 Divinity Dance performances in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Rani Shah, 15, is a Grade 10 student at West Nairobi School. She has been a DCK student since 2014 and joined the Company in January 2018 as a Senior Apprentice. She has performed in several DCK shows including the debut Nutcracker in 2016, Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2019, Romeo & Juliet in 2020, Nutcracker in 2021 and as Step Sister in Cinderella in 2022. She also plays the Drums. In July 2019, she attended the Ballet Intensive Program at the University of South Carolina, USA and performed at the Artists for Africa Annual Gala.
Flora Liu, 16,has been dancing from the age of 5. She first started with DCK in 2015 and is now in Advanced I. She has performed in many recitals and shows, such as 2019’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a Wedding Guest, and in the 2021 Nutcracker as a Violet and Snowflake. She is a member of the Senior company and alongside ballet she takes Hip hop. Flora is currently a student at Braeburn High School in year 11.
Watiri Nduba, 18, is a home-schooler. She started ballet in 2008, has enjoyed Tap Dance and dances Hip Hop. In 2019 and 2022, she performed Hip Hop and ballet in Berlin, Germany. She joined Dance Centre Kenya in early 2020 and has done some teaching at DCK too. In DCK’s 2021 Nutcracker she danced as a Violet, a Snowflake and a Party Parent, and she was a Step sister in Cinderella. She enjoys music and plays violin, piano, ukulele, guitar and bass.
Catherine Abilla, 15, is in Year 11 at Braeburn High School. She began dancing at 3 years old, and joined DCK in 2016. She participates in Advanced I, Advanced Pointe, Advanced Pas De Deux and Gold Tap. She has performed in multiple shows, and had one of the lead roles in the Anniversary Gala, 2022. She trained at the South Carolina Dance Summer Conservatory, and performed at the Artists for Africa annual gala in 2019. She is an avid reader, and enjoys hockey, as well as computer science and graphic design.
Shamick Otieno, 18, is an 12th grade student at West Nairobi School. He takes Ballet, Hip hop and Contemporary and has been a DCK company member for seven years. He was awarded a merit on his Advanced II Ballet examination, which is the very final exam in the syllabus. Following three summers of attending the South Carolina Summer Dance Intensive on full scholarship, he spent the summers of 2021 and 2022 dancing with the professional contemporary company Divinity under the direction of Krissie Edwards in Utah, USA.
George Okoth, 18, attends 12th grade at West Nairobi School. George has attended the South Carolina Summer Dance Intensive twice on full scholarship, and spent the 2021 summer break performing with Divinity Dance Company in Utah, USA. He has danced featured roles in The Nutcracker including the title role in 2016, the Sugar Plum Cavalier in 2019 and the Snow Cavalier in 2021; Bottom in A Midsummer’s Night Dream; and the Summer Fairy Cavalier in Cinderella. He won best duet dancing Le Corsaire at the Nairobi Dance Festival.
Alex Stow, 15, is in year 11 at Hillcrest Secondary School. Alex has been studying ballet with Cooper Rust since he was 3 years old. His passion is ballet, and he also takes hip hop and contemporary classes at DCK. Alex has danced in several performances with Dance Centre Kenya, including the part of the Rat King and the Lead Russian in the 2021 Nutcracker. Alex has also acted, sung, and danced on stage for the Karengata Amateur Dramatics Society (KADS). “
Laila Kazziha, 15, discovered her passion for dance when she started dancing with Dance Centre Kenya in 2016. In 2017, she spent four months training in Germany and now takes Advanced I ballet and hip hop. Her debut as a DCK Company Dancer was in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2019; in the 2021-22 season she danced the roles of a Rat and a Flower in the Nutcracker and the Wit Fairy in the 2022 Anniversary Gala.
Mitchelle Mulari, 15, is a 10th grade honor roll student at West Nairobi School, and has attended the South Carolina Summer Dance Intensive in Columbia, SC on scholarship. She was an Angel in the first DCK Nutcracker and enjoyed dancing the Maid, Flowers and Snow in the 2019 production, and a Rat Princess and Parasol in 2021. In addition to her classes at DCK, Mitchelle also teaches dance to underprivileged youth at Life Spring Children’s Home in Kibera.
Viginia Karuirwa, 16, a year 10 student at St. Austins Academy. She likes netball, dancing, and listening to music. She started ballet six years ago and now takes Intermediate Ballet, as well as Gold Contemporary, Intermediate Pointe and Pas de Deux Ballet. In the 2021 Nutcracker, she danced the parts of a Party Girl, a Rat and a Flower. She also danced in the 2022 DCK production of Cinderella.
Pauline Okumu, 14, goes to St. Austins Academy. She has been dancing with DCK since 2017, seeing her passion grow as she advanced to the higher levels of ballet. She now takes Intermediate Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux and Gold Contemporary, and performed in both the 2021 Nutcracker and Cinderella in 2022. She enjoys swimming, dancing, singing and trying new things!
Vivian Atieno, 15, a year 10 student at La Fontana International School. She has been a DCK member for 6 years and was happy to join company in 2021. She is currently taking Gold Contemporary, Intermediate Pas de Deux, Ballet and Pointe, and performed in last season’s productions of The Nutcracker, Cinderella and the Anniversary Gala. This year she will be performing as a rat princess and a parasol in The Nutcracker. Apart from dancing she enjoys reading novels and swimming.
Charles Kamau started out dancing back in 2013 when he trained in African dance, hip-hop, contemporary and jazz, and performed around the country. Now a junior dance teacher at DCK, Charles has completed his Intermediate Foundation RAD exams and will be taking both Intermediate and Advanced Foundation Ballet this year. In the 2022 production of Cinderella he danced the part of the Spring Cavalier.
Alvin Weru started dancing professionally in 2017, dancing Dancehall, Afrobeat and Hip-hop. In 2021, he started to train with Dance Centre Kenya, and now teaches Ballet, Hip-hop and African Dance, both at DCK and at external schools like Hillcrest, Banda and Stepping Stones. He danced the part of a Party Father in the 2021 Nutcracker, and was the Summer Cavalier in DCK’s 2022 Cinderella.
Eve Mwaniki, 16, is currently a Year 12 student at Braeside School. She is passionate about dance and especially ballet, having started her ballet training at the age of 9. She is now taking Advanced Ballet and is looking forward to being a professional ballerina! She is also passionate about animals and hopes to someday use dance to support rescued animals.
Marije van Binsbergen, 14, is in 9th grade at Rosslyn Academy. She has been dancing for 5 years with Dance Centre Kenya; currently she takes Intermediate Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux and Contemporary. This is her 2nd year in Company. She danced in The Nutcracker in 2019 and 2021, and Cinderella and the Anniversary Gala in 2022. Outside of ballet, she enjoys playing the piano and clarinet, swimming and baking.
Jana Landolt, 12, first started ballet at age 3. She takes dance classes every day, and also does gymnastics and musical theatre, as well as playing the piano and the guitar. This year Jana received a special award for promising young dancer at the Varna International Ballet Festival, and also came second place in Classical Dance and Contemporary Dance. She has danced in many different roles in DCK productions, including the role of Clara in last year’s Nutcracker.
Keri Yamane, 12, a Grade 7 student; she started dancing at the age of 3 and has been with Dance Centre Kenya since 2016. She has a strong passion for classical ballet and loves the tap class. In previous DCK Nutcrackers, she has danced the parts of Columbine, Russian Dancer and First Attendant to the Sugar Plum Fairy. This year, she danced the part of the Beauty Fairy in 7th Anniversary Gala, and Amour, Spirit of Love, in Cinderella.
Joy Gitonga, 17, has been dancing at DCK since 2016 and has performed in many of their shows, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, and several Nutcrackers. She is currently in her senior year of high school and takes Advanced 1 ballet. Besides dancing she also enjoys playing sports.
Cheryl Lobo is 14 years old and in Grade 9 at NJA. She has been dancing with DCK since 2017. This year she has been given the chance to teach pre-primary ballet students. This year in Nutcracker she is going to be playing the roles of a party mother, snowflake and shepherdess. She has shown interest in darts and archery and wishes to pursue them further.
Juhi Nanji, 14, is a year 9 student at Peponi School and has been part of the DCK family for 8 years, taking Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux and Contemporary Dance classes. She has performed in numerous shows, including as Louisa in the 2021 Nutcracker and Ruby in Sleeping Beauty in 2022. In 2022, she gained a high merit in her RAD Intermediate Ballet examination. Aside from dancing, Juhi likes to draw, bake and play tennis.
Neema Lazzaroni is a proud US, Kenyan, and Italian citizen. She is currently in year 9 at Hillcrest Secondary. She has been an enthusiastic member of DCK ballet for 6 years and enjoys it more than anything else. Neema also loves cooking, singing, and entertaining her friends and family.
Aske Ballan, 13, started dancing at age 7 at the Royal Danish Ballet School in Copenhagen and performed in various shows at the Royal Danish Ballet including The Nutcracker and Raymonda. In 2020 Aske moved to Nairobi where he joined Dance Centre Kenya, studying ballet with Cooper Rust and starting to explore contemporary dance. Last season he danced the lead part in the Nutcracker and the Jester in Cinderella. He holds the 2022 DCK Award of Excellence.
Eugene Ochieng, 15, is an 8th grade student at West Nairobi School. Eugene was featured in an Associated Press article on the difficulties of dancers in Kibera throughout the pandemic, which led him to receiving a full gold sponsorship to Dance Centre Kenya. He began his ballet training under Mike Wamaya in 2018. In the 2021 Nutcracker, he danced the part of Harlequin, and is very excited about dancing the title role in this year’s Nutcracker.
Abdoulaye (Laye) Diebate, 10, is in Year 5 at Brookhouse Runda. He has been dancing since the age of 3, and has performed in The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mother Goose and Cinderella. Laye also plays the piano and violin, and loves gymnastics. In the 2022 Nutcracker he is dancing the roles of Fritz’s friend and Chef.
Jasmine Kiragu, 12, has always loved to dance. She started her ballet training at Invisible Crown Kenya when she was 3 years old and joined Dance Center Kenya in December 2020, taking ballet and contemporary Jazz. She also likes to swim, bake and read. She calls herself the dancing chef as she hopes to be a professional ballerina and pursue culinary art.
Eliana Ciugu, 12, is a 7th grader at the Nairobi Waldorf School. She has been a DCK member for 5 years, having taken Musical Theatre, Gymnastics and now Grade 5 Ballet and Intermediate Pointe. She has performed in several shows including The Nutcracker. Besides dancing, she enjoys reading, swimming and baking.
Ava Stow, 11, has trained with DCK since she was 2 years old. She has performed in the Nutcracker for DCK since she was 5 years old. She has been an angel, a lamb, a mouse, a soldier, and a party girl. In 2022, she danced as a Shade in the Kingdom of the Shades. This is Ava’s first year in Company.
Mazaruni Khan 17, started ballet in 2021. She is in her last year of High School and she has been extremely dedicated to dance, taking multiple classes at DCK. This year’s Nutcracker will be her first ballet performance. Mazaruni will be performing as a rat and a harem dancer.
Makena Kiruki, 17 years old, has been dancing since she was 3. She won gold in the category of best character from the Nairobi Dance Festival performing her contemporary solo piece. She is now taking Intermediate and Advanced Foundation Ballet. She is a 12th grader in West Nairobi School and is hoping to continue her dance career in the future.
Azza Rollins, 13, is a Somali/American dancer who has been dancing at DCK for 6 years. She is a year 9 student at Braeburn school. Other than ballet, she also enjoys taking tap, contemporary, hip hop and will be taking her RAD Intermediate Ballet exams in May of 2023.
Nefertiti Fourman 13, is in Year 9 at Braeburn Garden Estate. She joined DCK in 2016 and currently takes Intermediate Ballet, Intermediate Pointe, Intermediate Pas de Deux and Gold Contemporary. Over the years she has performed in various shows and recitals. Other than dance, she loves playing the cello, singing, acting, creating stories and art.
Lola Poggio 13, started dancing at 5 years, and is a newcomer to pointe, starting in January. She takes Intermediate Ballet, Intermediate Pointe, Pas de Deux, Platinum Hip-hop and Senior Company. During the summer, Lola was in an intensive dance workshop at Pineapple Studios in London and went on to perform at the Leicester Square theatre.
Evangelia (Eva) van de Velden, 11, is a 6th grader at the International School of Kenya and started ballet in France at the age of 3. Eva takes Intermediate Foundation Ballet, Pointe and Hip Hop. She has been a Company member since 2018 and has danced in every Nutcracker performance since - in 2021 she was a Party Girl and Seraphim. She also plays the piano and does choir.
Fiona Liu, 12, is a Grade 7 student at Kenton Preparatory School. She has been dancing for 6 years and has been doing pointe for 2 years. In past DCK Nutcracker productions she has been a Angel, Candy Cane, Lead Mouse and a Russian Dancer. She currently takes Intermediate Pointe, Intermediate foundation and Hip hop.
Sabrina Kazziha, 12, joined Dance Centre Kenya the year it was founded and has performed in every Nutcracker since, starting as a tiny Mouse in 2015 and performing as the Attendant to the Sugar Plum Fairy in the 2021 Nutcracker. In the 2022 Anniversary Gala, she danced the part of the Joy Fairy. She takes Intermediate Foundation ballet and Hip-hop, enjoys musical theatre, sings and plays the flute.
Chloe Kimmelman-May, 12, is in Grade 7 at the International School of Kenya. Chloe has studied with DCK since its inception, and performed in the Nutcracker since 2016, as well as in Mother Goose, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cinderella. At DCK she studies Intermediate Foundation Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux, and Contemporary dance. Chloe has also studied with Ballet West, Utah. She enjoys drawing, creative writing, singing, and sewing.
Zahra Darker, 11, started dancing at the age of 1 1/2 despite being unable to hop and leap, let alone plié and pirouette! Since then, dancing has become one of her biggest passions and she now takes multiple classes. She has performed in all of DCK’s Nutcrackers and other shows and will be dancing as a Snowflake and Russian in the 2022 Nutcracker.
Natalia Como, 12, is passionate about ballet and hopes to pursue to a professional level. She takes Intermediate Ballet, Intermediate Pointe, Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate Pas de Deux and Gold Contemporary. Away from dance, Talia loves cooking, sports and swimming.
Francis Kibe, 14, started dancing ballet in 2019 and attends 7th grade at West Nairobi School. He takes Intermediate and Advanced Foundation ballet, Contemporary, Hip hop, Pas de Deux and Gymnastics. He has danced the roles of Chinese Tea, Louisa’s Beau, Party Boy and Angel in The Nutcracker.
Benji Mudondo, 13, is in Intermediate ballet and also takes hip hop, Gymnastics, pad de deux and Contemporary at DCK. He in 6th grade at West Nairobi School, where he is also a member of the swim team. Benji was featured on the poster for DCK’s 2018 production Mother Goose, where he played the “Little Dog” in Hey Diddle Diddle.
Davis Obama, 14, is a 7th grader at West Nairobi School and is on the soccer team. He started ballet in 2018 at Karen C and was selected to join Dance Centre Kenya, receiving a gold level scholarship that same year. One of his most memorable parts was dancing a Montague Child in DCK’s 2020 production of Romeo and Juliet.
Ephraim Kimani, 14, is a 7th grade student at West Nairobi School and gold sponsorship recipient at Dance Centre Kenya. In addition to his love of dance, Ephraim enjoys playing soccer on the school team, creating art, and playing flute. The 2021 Nutcracker was his first, and he danced the roles of Chef and Cadet.
Mercelyno Wafula, 13, is a 6th grade student at West Nairobi School. Having passed Grade 3, 4, 5, and Intermediate Foundation ballet exams, he will now sit the Intermediate exam in March of next year. He has been dancing since 2018 and has performed in DCK productions of Mother Goose, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker. In the 2021 Nutcracker, he danced the part of Fritz.
Mimi Sharada Mohandas,10, in year 6 at Kenton College, started ballet with DCK when she was 4. She has danced in Nutcracker since 2016. Also takes musical theatre & Hip hop.
Savannah Keir, 9, started dancing at DCK at the age of 4 and also loves singing, gymnastics and aerial silks. She has performed in the Nutcracker and Cinderella.
Hyogo Yamane, 10, in Grade 5 at the Japanese school. He takes grade 5 ballet, pas de deux, and gymnastics. He was a Party Boy and Guardian Angel in the 2021 Nutcracker.
Atiya Gandhi, 10, started ballet in Kuwait at the age of 3, joined DCK in 2021. She takes ballet, hip-hop and contemporary and was an angel in last year’s Nutcracker.
Sage McGowan, 10, is in grade 5 at the International School of Kenya and joined DCK last year. She loves all styles of dance, especially jazz and contemporary.
Xian McGowan, 11, is in grade 5 at the International School of Kenya. This is her second year at Dance Centre Kenya. Xian enjoys ballet, tap dancing, and all types of art.
Charlene Kaane, 11, is in Year 7 at S.C.S.S Academy. She has been at DCK for 2 years and takes Grade 4 ballet and pointe. She has performed in the Nutcracker and Cinderella.
Edwin Kiarie, 10, is a 4th grade student at Karen C Primary School. He has performed in the Nutcracker and DCK’s 2022 annual recital Celebrating Kenya. He also loves football.
Gloria Martens is a year 4 student at The Vale School Muthaiga. She started dancing at 2 and takes Grade 3 Ballet and gymnastics. She was a mouse in the 2021 Nutcracker.
Arianna Nduku Kaati, 10, is in CM2 at Lycée Français Denis Diderot. She takes Grade 4 Ballet and Tap, and was a Soldier in the 2021 Nutcracker. She plays piano and flute.
Ava Georges, 10, is in Year 6 at Braeburn Gitanga School. Joined DCK in 2019, taking ballet, pas de deux, hip-hop, dance-mix & contemporary. She loves art & plays the cello.
Victoria Mong’are, 9, joined DCK at age 5 and has danced in Cinderella and The Nutcracker. She is in year 5 at Cavina school and enjoys singing, playing cello & violin.
Sawa Chiba, 9, is in 4th grade at West Nairobi School. She started ballet when she was 3 years in Brazil and joined DCK in 2018.
Jordania Salins, 10, is in Grade 5 at Nairobi Waldorf School. She joined DCK at age 4 and has danced in The Nutcracker as a mouse, angel, candy cane and a soldier.
Avelyn Yong, 9, is in Grade 4 at Rosslyn Academy. She started ballet at 5, and also enjoys tap and musical theatre at DCK. She also swims and plays the piano.
Gift Zidane, 9, is in Grade 4 at Karen C Primary School. He started dancing 2 years ago and did a class award through the Royal Academy of Dance for Grade 2 Ballet.
Fortune Otieno, 9, is a 3rd grader at Don Bosco Primary School. He takes ballet, pas de deux, tap, and dance mix at Dance Centre Kenya. He also swims and plays football.
Bravian Mise, 12, is a 6th grader at Karen C Primary School. Last year he did the Grade 3 ballet class award and he hopes to take the Grade 4 exam in March 2023.
Fabian Njunge, 12, is in 6th Grade at Karen C primary school. He has been a scholarship student at DCK for the past 2 years and performed in the 2021 Nutcracker.
Katherine Susanto, 7, is in Year 2 at Braeburn. She joined DCK when she was 4 and now takes Grade 1 Ballet and Silver HipHop. She has performed in the Nutcracker and Cinderella.
Tula Kiptinness, 8, is always singing, dancing and performing ”home concerts” for the family. She takes ballet, Pas de Deux and Hip-Hop and joined Company in 2021.
Margaret Odongo Opiyo, 8, is in Grade 3 at Loreto Convent Msongari. She takes Grade 2 ballet, hip-hop and gymnastics and performed in the 2021 Nutcracker.
Djenabou Kora Kouyaté, 8, is in Year 4 at Light International School. She started ballet at DCK at age 3 and also loves afro dance genres. She also plays the piano and basketball.
Daniel Odhiambo, 9 goes to Don Bosco Primary School. He started dance 2 years and is in Grade 3 ballet. This is his second time performing in the Nutcracker.
Adrian Sesi, 12, is a 6th grade student at Karen C Primary School. He loves swimming, playing football, doing ballet, pas de deux, dance mix and tap.
Charlie Keir, 7, has been dancing at DCK since the age of 2. She’s danced in two Nutcrackers (as a mouse and a fairy doll). She also takes gymnastics, piano and horse-riding.
Arabella Nyiraneza Kaati, 6, is in CE1 at Lycée Français Denis Diderot. She joined DCK when she was 2 and takes Grade 2 Ballet and Tap Dance. She also plays piano and violin.
Leni Sofia Das Gupta, 8, is in Year 3 at the German School Nairobi. She takes ballet and gymnastics at DCK and has performed in the Nutcracker and Cinderella.
Reigner Gweth, 7, started Ballet with DCK at age 4, and takes Ballet, Pas de Deux and Gymnastics. She has performed in several Nutcrackers and hopes to be a professional ballerina.
Malkia Nyambura Kimwaki, 6, is Grade 1 student at Laleo Co-Learning Group. She started dancing at age 5 and joined DCK in April 2022 to pursue her passion for ballet.
A massive thank you to all the businesses, big and small, and to the individual sponsors who have made this show a reality� We couldn’t do it without you�
Gold Season Sponsor
Bridge International Academies
Bronze Season Sponsor
One A Dental
Platinum Midsummer Sponsor
ABSA
Gold Midsummer Sponsor
For You Restaurant
Silver Midsummer Sponsor
Karen Physio Clinic
Bronze Midsummer Sponsors
Giant Bike Shop
Karen Dental
The official dance supplier of DCK
*Leotards
*Tights
*Ballet Shoes
*Pointe Shoes
*Hair Supplies & Accessories
*TheraBand
*Sewing Kits
*And More…….
Gold Student Sponsors:
Bettina & Bilu Vadera
Tonya & Nigel Shaw
Christiane & Stephen Plumbe
Anail Moon
Raj & Leena Shah
Chetal Patel
Dolly Kelepecz
Mims & Ron Rust
La Cascina Restaurant - Veronica Moresco
Gianni Sganzerla & Nicoletta Grovale
Maureen Syowai
Miriam Carraro
Marjan Verhaegen
Monika Bernhart
Alfredo Ortega
Naila Das Gupta
Nina Schwendemann
Akiko Chiba
Julia Darker
Jeni Stow
Caroline Slot
Raj Shah
Joep van Binsbergen
Antonia Mukandie
Omar Mahboob
Laura Achola
Lauraine Mugasia
Brenda Mukami Bundi
Faith Kariuki
Moses Ouma
Moses Wanja
Maylene Chenjerayi
Silver Student Sponsors
Naveeta Brar
Aphrodite Smagadi
Anne-Marie Schryer
Sebastian May
Boldewjin & Joy Sloet
Arlet Carvalho
Burness Communications
Isis Nyong’o
Julienne Landsdown
Ranee Nanji
Sushyana Mangat
Mariana Garza
Bronze Student Sponsors
Nadia Landolt
Tom Mong’are
Ann Chen
Linet Odah
Kelvin Nguthuri
Cassandra Lobo
Nawi Eweillar
Oceane Deloge
Alfredo Ortega
As proud as Dance Centre Kenya is of our current up–and–coming stars, we are equally proud of our alumni who have been chosen to continue their dance studies and even begun professional careers at some of the most prestigious international schools and ballet companies
Joel Kioko
Graduate from the English National Ballet School London, UK
Joffrey Ballet, Chicago, USA - 2021-2022
Now with the Nevada Ballet Theatre, USA
Lucile Plumbe
Lines Ballet, San Francisco, USA
Nifa Omondi
University of North Carolina School for the Arts, USA
Lulu Heinel
Graduate from Performers College Essex, UK
Now auditioning in the West End, London
Lavender Orisa
English National Ballet School London, UK
Francis Waweru
Cameron University Theatre Program, USA
Our Studios:
LAVINGTON
The Lavington Mall, 4th Floor
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: lavington@dancecentre.co.ke
Tel: +254 (0)796 370937
KAREN HARDY
Hardy Post, 2nd Floor
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: hardy@dancecentre.co.ke
Tel: +254 (0)705 725369
ROSSLYN
Rosslyn Riviera Mall, Upper Ground Floor
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: rosslyn@dancecentre.co.ke
Tel: +254 (0)713 930549
