Ella is a Choreographer & a Coach who loves all things dance, aerial & embodiment.
Ella is CEO of Maya Gandaia Ltd, Published Author of Journal To JOY & director of Ella Mesma Company. Ella has performed globally including for Russell Maliphant, The Olympics Opening Ceremony (UK), and The Chomondeleys before focusing on her career as a choreographer.
Ella has choreographed commissions for Sadler’s Wells, Little Amal, The International Women’s Conference (NYC) and many many more. Ella loves how dance & aerial remind us we are limitless!
Hey Everyone!
I am Ella (also known as Maya Gandaia!)
I have been dancing forever, but started a wiggly way in salsa clubs in Bristol, then Leeds, getting gigs which eventually took me around the world including Denmark, Serbia, India, Turkey, Spain, South Africa!
I began contemporary when a friend (thanks Helen Wilson!) suggested I audition for a company in Leeds founded by Merville Jones (a founder of Phoenix). It was hard (I had just graduated from Leeds Uni with a Politics & Sociology degree!) & I was so out of shape, but I loved it!
Next, I went to Brazil with one dream: to parade as passista in carnival. In 2006, I was the first gringa to do this & was featured on tv! I also discovered aerial silks!
In 2007, I began to crave an opposite style, so took up breaking. I wanted to be a ‘real dancer’ so moved to London for a masters in dance at LSCD.
In 2009, I was awarded a Lisa Ullman scholarship to train with Angel Ortiz (RIP) in NYC in On2.
When I got back, I was offered an apprenticeship with Upswing Circus which was a dream come true!
In 2011 I danced my first solo for Breakin’ Convention, then had to make a choice: circus or dance? Because I was offered a world dance tour with Russell Maliphant (which was actually really tough but that’s another story!).
The next few years I enjoyed (mostly) perfoming and touring. Some performance highlights and diverse experiences included dancing for Uchenna, touring with Southpaw, guesting for Lea Anderson (The Chomondeleys) and being a dalmation in the Olympics Opening Ceremony!
But still something felt off… in most companies I had an experience which didn’t feel aligned with my values and where only parts of my dance experience were welcome.
In 2014, I decided to set up my own company: Ela Mesma Company, to create something where the dancers wellbeing was a priority, & where all the styles I had learnt on my journey had a place and were valued equally.
EMC have been going strong ever since, commissioned by Sadler’s Wells, the National Centre for Circus, Dance City.
With EMC, I have been Associate Artist at Dance City (2017), Trinity Centre Bristol (2018), Slate World (2020), Pervasive Media Studio, Pavillion Dance South West (2020-2021), and in more recent years, commissioned to choreograph for Conservatoires in the UK and further afield!
The company make about one to two shows (Sometimes three) a year, all with a mission to create in resonance with Mather Earth and in harmony with nature.
I also movement direct & choreograph for other companies (most recently Manchester International Festival: Little Amal & Bristol Old Vic: Anansi), and I coach over at Maya Gandaia Ltd, which is such a joy!
I was also a Dance On artist at Yorkshire Dance working with older dancers in 2019 & I created & toured Roots of Rumba Festival (2013-2018) which was epic!
