Maya & Toussaint was established in 2022 by Akeim Toussaint Buck and Ella Mesma to create their new show Okan as a collaborative venture, with plans to evolve and expand into more events and dance performances across theatre and rural contexts in the UK and Europe.
Maya & Toussaint’s mission is to engage communities through workshops, feedback sessions, and conversations with experts on the themes they explore, while creating work that celebrates identity, ancestry, and movement!
Akeim Toussaint Buck is an interdisciplinary performer and maker, born in Jamaica and raised in England. After graduating from The Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2014, Akeim began creating his own work in 2016. His intention is to create moving, thought-provoking, accessible and free-spirited projects. Akeim’s work has been supported by Yorkshire Dance, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Inspired, Geraldine Connor Foundation, IRIE! Dance Theatre, Spin Arts, RJC, Deda, Fabric, Streatham Space Project, Serendipity, NSCD, Sadlers Wells and Arts Council England.
Ella Mesma, pronouns are she/her or they/them is a Multidisciplinary Artist, Choreographer, Movement Specialist, Accredited Coach, Published Author, Teacher, and the Director of Ella Mesma Company. Trained in Afro-Latin, breaking, aerial silks and contemporary dance, Ella’s work is deeply inspired by Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian traditions, particularly the Orishas, Yoruba deities of her grandfather’s lineage that Ella has studied for 20 years, and that guide much of Ella’s movement style. Ella has danced across continents, from the Olympics Opening Ceremony 2012, to the Joyce Theater in New York City; to Ella’s own commissions being featured at Sadler’s Wells and The Place and across the UK.
