- Congratulations on the Danse élargie award in France 2018, has this work evolved since then, or have you had the opportunity to refine and perform it in many places since 2018?
Yes, I have had the opportunity to perform it at Ridcc, which won an award for 100,000 euros, to develop new work on a Dutch artist.
- Family Honour is part of Well Seasoned – Sadler’s Wells programme which is celebrating Black dancemakers and showcasing their work – have you found similar initiatives across the country or is it something that is sorely lacking?
I am happy that due to the influence of Breakin’ Convention and the voice of the public that Sadler’s Wells has created a programme that solely focuses on Black artists. Yes, we need more programs like this, and it should be considered normal. We don’t have programmes for being human (side joke) but I am glad that things are beginning to change and Sadler’s Wells are willing to facilitate this change.
- Exploring family and personal trauma is always a tough watch for audiences – I imagine when imbued with the virility and physicality of dance/hiphop it becomes quite intense. How do you help ensure the audience are brought along on your journey?
By a strong story and narrative, my aim is not to spoon feed the audience but to make them witness to the events that unfold. To feel like they are imposing in a very private situation but carrying them through with truth and African humour. My responsibility first is to cater to my artist and fill their cups with clarity and intention, this cup will leak into the audience based of our performance. Through organic sound, music, movement and dialogue, we discuss the elephant in the room.
- Combining contemporary dance and hip hop must create a unique style of performance and movement – do you envision writing larger pieces that embody this style and larger groups of performers?
Yes, I envision creating larger pieces of art that embody this style. I’m not necessarily subjected to the theatre, I want to evolve where I place my work and experience the challenges this creates. I will work with huge companies and teach repertoire, I will teach acting programmes and my techniques on how the body speaks/moves before dialogue is even said. Family Honour will eventually be performed by other companies and my work will develop into film and will be a catalyst for all of this. I am more interested in fusing styles with dance that have nothing to do with dance, but exist in the same form which is art.
- I have read that you often incorporate/are inspired by your Ghanian background – will we see the influences of Ghana in this piece?
Yes, in terms of character, the atmospheric sound and the dialect of the piece. We try to embody Ghana (back home as much as possible) but still make it clear for audience members that don’t understand this culture or dialect.
- What can we expect to see from you after Family Honour? Have you got other ideas in the background?
I have several projects coming up!
I will develop Obibini, which is my first production that consists of four pieces of work. It will encompass animation and a physical interpretation done in a site-specific format. I will also curate my own show, that focuses on the development of the theatre/choreographic industry.
I am also working on a children’s show, Anansi the Spider, a site specific work based on an African folk tale that works on immersing children to follow a mischievous spider that does everything wrong, so they learn what to do right. In this show we educate and inform the children academically whilst they have an amazing experience.
I will be doing an artistic exchange with one year of research with an artist of my choice, James Thierre, during which I can expand my knowledge of theatre and layer my tools of creation.
For my fellow artist Catrina Nisbett, I would like to make sure she understands the producing side of art, as this is something she is now intrigued with.
I am doing all of this work to prepare for my introduction into the film industry as I see myself directing film in the future. I will also be building my own space in Ghana for international exchanges.
Overall, I will allow my faith in God to guide me through this.
Family Honour is performing at Sadler’s Wells on the 14th and 15th September.