Creative Team

Deborah Baddoo MBE

Artistic Director

Having trained at the University of Surrey, Deborah Baddoo went on to gain an MA in Performance Arts at Middlesex University. A performer and choreographer in her own right, in the fields of jazz and African contemporary dance, Deborah went on to open Pyramid Dance Studio in London in 1985, which was instrumental in providing a launch pad for so many artists and companies. Throughout her varied career she has pursued a passionate, long-term vision to support the development of Black dance and choreography nationally and internationally, and in 2010 she was awarded an MBE for services to British dance.

Dumisani Ngubane

Choreographer

Dumisani ‘Muntu’ Ngubane is an experienced performer, actor, teacher and choreographer. His credits include television work on Strictly Come Dancing in South Africa as well as teaching dance on Big Brother Africa. He appeared in the Vodacom Face of Ballroom Challenge 2008 and 2009, and Simply Ballroom 2011 (UK Production).

Muntu was also the lead dancer in African Footprint, directed by Richard Loring. Over the past sixteen years Muntu’s professional dance career has involved Ballroom, Latin American, Tap and African dance (including Gum Boot and Zulu dance).

Bafana Solomon Matea

Choreographer

Bafana studied at Pro Arte Alphen Park Art School in South Africa before continuing his training at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, New York on a Judith Jamieson scholarship. He has performed extensively across America, Europe and the United Kingdom with companies including Ballet Hispanico, Dance Anonymous, Juxtapower (South African Song and Dance), Battery Dance Company, and Tavaziva Dance.

His work includes a variety of styles and influences including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip-hop, Contemporary, Zulu dance, African, Boot dancing, and Break-dancing.

Steve Marshall

Musical Director

Steve Marshall is principally a singer/songwriter who, in 1983, co-founded Pyramid Arts Development, a seminal music and arts centre in Dalston, East London. He set up State of Emergency with Deborah Baddoo in 1986, which was the beginning of a long association with dance theatre.

Notably, Steve created three albums with Lee “Scratch” Perry. Two of these productions received Grammy nominations. Working with Lee led to recording and mixing projects with Keith Richards and George Clinton.

“...Marshall’s excitingly layered, infectious music remains a sensory pleasure.” Donald Hutera, The Times

Wouter Kellerman

Guest Composer

The multi-award winning Wouter Kellerman is a world-renowned South African flautist and music composer who recently won the Grammy® Award in the Best New Age Album category for his album Winds of Samsara. He has also won two SAMA awards (South African equivalent to the Grammy); one in 2010 for his show Kellerman Colour Live in the ‘Best Jazz/Instrumental/Popular Classical DVD’ category, and his second in 2011 for Two Voices in the ‘Best Instrumental Album’ category, reinforcing his status as one of South Africa’s foremost musicians.

"Flutist Wouter Kellerman brings together global musical elements to form a powerful, jubilant and universal sound." CD Insight's review of 2013’s Mzansi

Michael Joseph

Choreographer

Since completing his training at Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance, Michael has consistently worked as a choreographer, dance artist, teacher and DSLR dance filmmaker – nationally and internationally. In 2008, he left his position as Assistant Artistic Director with Union Dance after 23 years to establish his career as an Independent Dance Artist.

His work has been influenced and inspired by an eclectic mix of various choreographers, and he has had the privilege to work with Bill T Jones, Doug Elkins, Rafael Bonachela, Laurie Booth, B Boys, Axè (Capoeirista), Tom Jobe and Derek Williams.

Natacha Lacosse

Designer

Designer Natacha Lacosse, founder of Acossi Jeans in 2010, started her brand in Italy and kept it as an Italian brand by an American. Her brand has been featured in NYC USA, China, Hong Kong and Milan Italy, and she has designed for several major fashion brands within the industry. For Where Is Home? a lot of thought has gone into the design, referencing the period in history, and digging deep into the meaning and message of the story. Although the costumes look like everyday clothes, they are actually made of a range of stretch materials that allow for flexibility of movement.

Irven Lewis

Choreographer

Trained in dance at The Urdang Academy, London, Irven has an extensive career in performance and teaching. His performances have included the Purcell Room (South Bank), British Dance Edition, National Dance Festival Resolution (The Place

Theatre), Islington Dance Festival, Leap into Dance (Richmond Dance Festival) and has toured nationally

and internationally. He is a jazz dance specialist with international acclaim most recently working in Japan and Russia.