A Very British Rhythm

Akram Khan, of Bangladesh heritage and born in London, studied Indian classical dance Kathak under the tutelage of Guru Pratap Pawar and contemporary dance at De Montfort University and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. He has choreographed a wide-ranging oeuvre of performances including Jungle Book Reimagined, Outwitting the Devil, XENOS, Until the Lions, Kaash, iTMOi (in the mind of igo...

Jonzi D is a skilled dancer, theatre performer, rap artist, poet and emcee. After graduating from the London Contemporary Dance School, Jonzi D. founded Breakin’ Convention - an annual festival of hip-hop dance theatre. He was an Associate Artist at The Place. His critically acclaimed performances include Lyrikal Fearta, Aeroplane Man, TAG… Just Writing My Name, Markus the Sadist, and he directed...

Dance producer Farooq Chaudhry is joined by Geni Lou and Steph Be for a conversation about the future of Dance. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Geni Lou has forged a career as a dancer and choreographer in the UK. She’s presented her work at The Place, The V&A, The Yard, Sadler’s Wells and many other prestigious venues.  Steph Be is a producer working mainly in Contemporary & Hip Ho...

Farooq Chaudhry is one of the most well-known and respected dance producers working in the UK. He’s perhaps best known as the co-founder of the Akram Khan Company, but his passion for dance has led him to work with many acclaimed international artists and organizations, and he has consulted, mentored and taught emerging artists and producers around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

David Hamilton is the founder and first artistic director of Phoenix Dance Theatre (formerly Phoenix Dance Company) in 1981. His choreographies fused vernacular reggae dance, martial arts and contemporary dance technique with Black British cultural experiences and rose to national prominence. He established RJC Dance and is Chair of the Black History Month Sub-Hub in Leeds. He also encouraged aspi...

Shobana Jeyasingh is accomplished in Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance, in which she had honed her skills while living in India under Guru Vazhuvoor Samraj Pillai, and later in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. As a dance-maker and internationally recognised choreographer, she combines movements across genres for stage, screen, and unconventional performance sites. Known for intellectual rigour, her...

Born Norman Murray, Namron moved to the UK from Jamaica, and upon discovering dance, he joined the Willesden Jazz Ballet Group, a community dance group in London. After completing his training at the Rambert Ballet School on a scholarship, and then at the London School of Contemporary Dance at The Place, he danced with the new London Contemporary Dance Theatre (LCDT) and was one of the first black...

Dr. Debanjali Biswas is a researcher of anthropology and theatre, performance and dance studies and an accomplished Manipuri dancer. As lead researcher for A Very British Rhythm, she has been unearthing the stories of the performers that shaped the dance culture we know today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Urja Desai Thakore is a Kathak practitioner and choreographer, and the artistic director of Pagrav Dance Company. Her thought-provoking choreographies have charted new terrains and is highly regarded by both traditionalists and modernists alike. She studied Kathak with Guru Kumudini Lakhia at Kadamb in India for over two decades and she received her BA in Kathak from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Maha...

Vilmore James is a breakdancer, dance teacher, educator, television artist formed the Phoenix Dance Theatre (formerly Phoenix Dance Company) in 1981. He choreographed Midnight Movers, Harlequins, Leave Him Be, Anniversary. He has been associated as a performance maker with Dundee Rep dance company, Tammara Mc’lord, Vivian Freaky on the Black Initiative, Royston Moldoon, London Middlesex University...