African Routes Revival – day 1

FREE Exhibitions, workshops, discussions, performances

African Routes Revival: (ARR)

Starting at 10:30am for each of the two days. Incorporating Black Dance Forum 2024 And discussions about the Future of Black Dance. Dance performances by IRIE! dance theatre!

Book your FREE tickets via “Skiddle.com”, just click on the button below!

A free two-day event taking place on October 25th and 26th, 2024. This special event is dedicated to celebrating and exploring the rich traditions and future of Black dance.

Using the theme of Belonging it will explore how African Dance and Music influences cultural practices and dance forms across UK and Internationally

Live Stream the event on YouTube Here!

ARR 2024 information

Day One: 25th October

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE

Jeanefer Jean-Charles – Artistic Director & Choreographer is a globally renowned artist. Since starting her journey as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Bullies Ballerinas’ Jazz Dance Company (1990-2000), her work has taken her to over 21 countries. As Artistic Director of Big Dance, she gained recognition by the Guinness Book of Records by choreographing and coordinating 800 dancers in Trafalgar Square in 2006. Her unique creative process aims to bring to life the talents, strengths and shared stories of local communities and artists in inspiring and unforgettable ways.

Credits: The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022, Artistic Director for The Rugby League World Cup Opening Ceremony 2013, Mass Movement Director for Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected 2016, the Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace 2013, the F.A. Cup Final Opening Ceremony at Wembley 2016. Choreographer for the award winning The Return of Colmcille, Derry-Londonderry City of Culture 2013, the film Engineering Happiness for the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mass  Movement Coordinator on all four of the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

Her recent work  Black Victorians and Patois – both touring with a cast of 5 dancers – Produced by festival.org and co-commissioned by Without Walls, Brighton Festival, Hat Fair and Norfork & Norwich Festival.

Cherilyn Albert

Cherilyn Albert is a London based dance artist and Artistic Director of Instigate Unknown Dance Company. They have over 10 years professional experience choreographing, teaching and performing across the UK and abroad. Their work uses Hip Hop and Contemporary theatre to draw in new and overlooked audiences.

Franics Angol

Francis is the founder and Artistic Director of Movement Angol dance, a UK based Dance Company that produces work which draws from the teachings and practices of dance from the African Diaspora and Western Contemporary dance. Francis other roles are that of Somatic Movement Educator/Therapist, performing artist, choreographer, and Lecturer in dance, working extensively in higher and further education, professional and community practice.

His work is greatly underpinned by Somatic practice which forms the framework for his artistic explorations. His work is deeply rooted in the spirituality of the self, and offers individuals a fresh and creative approach to engaging with their bodies to awaken the inner self through a dialogue of movement, rhythm, dance, imagery, and the imagination. This forms the basis of his “embodied flow” dance practice.

During the course of his career Francis has produced work that has contributed to the enrichment of British dance culture through a range of training programmes, classes, courses, and performance works. His company Movement Angol, was one of the first UK based dance companies to stage the festival of contemporary African dance art – ‘Flat Feet Dance Festival’. This was a performance platform, showcasing works by UK dance artist who draw from the teachings and practices of dance from the African Diaspora in their work.

As well as working in the UK, he has worked overseas and held various artist in residence positions at  a number of artistic establishments including the Edna Manley School of Dance in Jamaica, Nigeria State Council – Lagos, Merseyside Dance Initiative (MDI), Singapore – WOMAD, York St John University, to name but a few.

Francis produces work with the aim of enabling people by creating opportunities for intercultural exchange and dialogue. In his work Francis synthesises cultural traditions with contemporary norms to offer individuals a space for self-actualisation through exploration and expression. Francis strives to encourage change by influencing the future through impacting the present with work that is accessible, inclusive and is physical and mentally empowering.  His work is distinctive and offers an individual approach to dance art, which places focus on the interplay between body, experience and the imagination set within an intercultural dialogical framework of self and presence.

Jonzi D

An MC, dancer, spoken word artist and director, he is the foremost advocate for hip hop who has changed the profile and influenced the development of the UK British hip hop dance and theatre scene over the last two decades.

Since founding Breakin’ Convention in 2004 Jonzi has triumphed in raising the profile and giving a platform to hip hop disciplines, which has gained worldwide recognition as being at the vanguard of the development of the art form. Through professional development projects Open Art Surgery and Back to the Lab, Jonzi has supported hundreds of hip hop dance and rap/poetry artists on their journey to creating theatre.

His critically acclaimed works include 1995‘s Lyrikal Fearta, 1999’s Aeroplane Man, 2006’s TAG… Just Writing My Name, 2009’s Markus the Sadist and 2013’s The Letter: To Be Or To MBE? about his choice to decline an MBE from the Queen. Jonzi’s has been featured in HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, had his short films Silence da Bitchin’ & Aeroplane Man screened on Channel 4, toured his work extensively all over the world and delivered his own TED Talk about the influence and evolution of hip hop culture.

In 2020 Jonzi directed Our Bodies Back which won ‘Best Artistic Film’ as part of the Detroit Black film festival, followed up by the sequel, AUTOCORRECT in 2022. He also wrote Here/Not Here, a short film directed by Bim Ajadi which won the ‘Best Film’ category in Deaffest 2022.

In 2023, Jonzi D was awarded a citation from Al Taylor of the 71st District – New York State Assembly in recognition of his efforts for advancing and advocating hip hop culture in the UK and abroad, and the De Valois Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Dancing Times Critic’s Circle. In 2024, Jonzi D was nominated for his artistic direction of Breakin’ Convention, cementing the festival’s two decades as a mainstay in the world of theatre and beyond.

Image Credit Ben Wachenje

Nikki Blaze (Nicola Duzant Hayden)

Nikki is an illustrator, performing artist, performance skills coach, recording artist and songwriter who has worked with many organisations locally and internationally and  Founder and director of Liverpool Hip Hop Festival.

At present she works with young artists on their personal development as well as her own hair company from the UK and New York, alongside OEC to Epiphany Bliss. Currently she is a Director at Toxteth TV, Catalyst Dance and Drama and at Smithdown Social Arts Hub, and works at The Royal Court project as part of their Na.

Natasha Gooden

Natasha Gooden is based in Merseyside and is a professional dancer of over 17years.

TV credits include: Xfactor Dancer for One Director & JLS, Got to dance Sky1- First Female Crew to make it to the finals (Boadicea) 2012, BBC ONE, Strickly Come Dancing. London Olympics Opening Ceremony 2012.

Theatre credits: The Kate Prince Zoonation dance company, UK Tours: Into The Hoods Remix, Some Like It Hip Hop, Played the role of Alice in  ‘Mad Hatters Tea Party’ at the Royal Opera House in the Linbury. Breakin Convention- Freestyle Funk Forum.

Theatre World Tour: Message In A Bottle, Sadlers Wells Company based on the music of Sting.

Boy Blue Entertainment UK & International Tour: Blak Whyte Gray.

Iona Waite

Iona is a long-standing member of ACE dance and music. Iona was a performer and in ACE’S professional company for 10 years and transitioned to the role of Rehearsal Director in September 2021. Working alongside the company’s directors, Iona supports the strategic development of dance in the African Diaspora, oversees all studio activity, assists guest choreographers and technical teams to support the delivery of national and international tours. Iona is also an Independent Director for Dance Consortium and People Dancing.

Bérnard Pierre – Louis

Bérnard Pierre-Louis, BA Hons, MA, PgCert TLHE, Dance mentor, someone’s friend and a Dad!!

During his time in Liverpool which has spanned over three decades, Bernard has been a contemporary dance tutor within Further and Higher education: LCC, Senior lecturer for Liverpool John Moores University, and currently Hope University. Bérnard delivers contemporary dance practice, choreography, Dance Technology (Intermediality) and music accompaniment and composition. His sabbatical to visit the Limon Institute in New York supported his academic research focusing his practice through the exploration of music/movement enhancement and innovative composition.

Ruvimbo Bliss Munodawafa

Ruvimbo Bliss Munodawafa  is  a passionate storyteller. A Zimbabwean Scouse woman that leads with the guidance of her intuition and ancestors at the fore front of walking in her calling.  Ruvimbo is a multidisciplinary artist with 14 years of experience in the creative industry working on screen and off screen as a writer, model, dancer and spoken word rapstress. To name a few Ms Munodawafa’s credits  include: Modelling for Holi Moli a local  sustainable clothing line, being  featured  in a Virgin Trains advert, featuring  as a model on Vogue. After her co-production with photographer Sane Seven led to their work featuring on PhotoVogue.  Ruvimbo has had the dazzling experience of producing  and choreographing  dance routines with  her mentor Ms Maxine Brown. Choreographing dance routines  for a music video a  co-production that occurred  with Wendy Okoli . Ruvimbo  has worked as a runner and poet on  independent film  ‘Itsy’ a short film about kindness. A film that  premiered globally and won numerous awards at The Monthly Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. An opportunity that led to her being hand selected to work as  a Directors assistant and Prop assistant  for Reel Brit productions  for their independent film ‘Nine Nights’ which was screened and premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

After working tirelessly to make her mark in the industry Ruvimbo discovered that she wanted to work closely  on projects that made her soul sour,  and enabled her to pass on the knowledge she had discovered on her life’s  journey whilst connecting with her roots and community locally and globally. This gave her the  determination, inspiration, motivation and empowerment  to take control of her destiny leading to her starting  her own business Nyaya.

Nyaya is a spiritually centred well being and personal development business, with elevating mass consciousness at the core of what they  do. At Nyaya they  assist individuals and organisations with reaching their professional and personal goals by providing high level thinking workshops and programmes that focus on improving one’s self image, and mindset, in order to create a paradigm shift.

So far Nyaya has provided its services to The City Of Liverpool College, Fact, Liverpool City Region, and  Africa Oye.

Image Credit Ean Flanders

Talisha Thomas-Lindsay

Over the past 10 years Talisha has worked professionally as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Working with commercial brands, community dance and the education sector, delivering workshops, classes, choreography, and performance work. Talisha’s formal dance training took place at Liverpool city college and Liverpool, John Moores University to gain her dance diploma and dance studies degree. During covid she gained her PGCE teaching qualification with Bolton University in partnership with Shock Arts Manchester. Outside of her formal dance training Talisha focused on refining her contemporary, jazz, hip hop, Afro-Caribbean and commercial dance skills through taking part in various classes, intensives and training programs within the UK, Europe and the USA. Talisha’s dance credits for live, recorded and campaign performances include Snow Patrol, Damian Marley, PUMA, JD, Red bull, Selfridges and many more. Recently Talisha has created the foundations of TMC Collective. A collective that focuses on dance classes, dance performance and support of artist development and well-being.

Photo Credit: Lee Isserow

Romanah Buchanan

Romanah is an award winning creative entrepreneur, artistic director, choreographer and speaker.

Her journey as an entrepreneur kicked off when she was just 17, co-founding her very first venture ‘ELOQUENT’. This achievement earned the organisation the prestigious Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service, a nod to the remarkable impact it has on the community.

As the Artistic Director of the award-winning Eloquent Dance, Romanah’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping the company’s legacy of artistic excellence. Her deep love for dance is the heartbeat of her creative expression, an inspiration for her groundbreaking work.

Romanah’s choreography extends to music videos, outdoor productions and live shows, including collaborations with prestigious institutions like the Birmingham Hippodrome, on the Birmingham Weekender, and a most recent commission with the Birmingham 2023 Festival, for a new musical ‘What If.’ In addition to her thriving arts career, Romanah wears the hat of a qualified lecturer. She shares her extensive knowledge and expertise as a Dance Lecturer at Performers College, building on her previous role at Walsall College.

Fuelled by her unwavering passion for the arts, entrepreneurship, and education, Romanah consistently thrives in her various endeavours with a collection of notable awards, including Birmingham’s Top 30 Under 30 Most Inspirational Young People (2019), Author of the Year (2021), and West Midlands Lieutenancy Young Active Citizen (2022).

African Routes Revival incorporating Black Dance Forum is a vibrant and dynamic event dedicated to exploring and celebrating the rich heritage of Black dance. This forum provides a platform for in-depth conversations that trace the roots of Black dance from its historical origins to its present-day expressions and future possibilities.

Through panel discussions, workshops, and performances, participants will engage in meaningful dialogue about the cultural significance, evolution, and sustainability of Black dance. The event also serves as a safe space for artists, dancers, and enthusiasts to connect, share their experiences, and collaborate on shaping the future of this powerful art form. Join us as we honour the past, embrace the present, and envision the future of Black dance.

The Black-E / IRIE! dance theatre / Arts Council England