Choreographers: Ella Mesma and Akeim Toussaint Buck (and dancers)
Dancers: David Evans and Ffion Campbell-Davies. Ofelia Balogun will be learning Ffion’s role in 2025.
Musicians: Azizi Cole and Joel Stedman
Costume Designer: Audrey Mae
Movement Consultants: Gil Del Prado and Leo Au Yeung
Dramaturgy: Eva Martinez
Collaboration Coach: Nadine Patel
Producers: Polly Dey and Youcef Hadjazi
The choreographers and dancers are Akeim Toussaint Buck of Jamaican heritage (pronouns he/they), Ella Mesma of white British and Black Nigerian heritage (pronouns she/they), Ofelia Balogun of Nigerian and Italian heritage, and David Evans of Kiwi and British nationality with British and Irish heritage.
Experience the captivating, spiritual world of Ọkan, the latest duet collaboratively created by Akeim Toussaint Buck and Ella Mesma. The word Ọkan embodies the concepts of ‘Oneness’, ‘Conscience’, and ‘Heart’ in Yoruba. Its meaning represents a limitless, open-minded approach to the ‘experience of life’. The choreographers’ Caribbean and Nigerian roots and their lived experiences of diasporic movement languages led them to explore a blend of Salsa and Wing Chun martial dances. This exploratory journey seamlessly transcends gender, human and emotional barriers, making it a catalyst for performative transformation.
Ọkan is a breath of hope that leaves a lasting impact on all who witness the artistry, while also paying tribute to the history and legacy of those who came before us.
This project was sparked by a conversation between Mesma, Toussaint, and Thomas Talawa Presto, pioneer of the codified system of body movement Talawa Technique and director of Tabanka Dance. Talawa Presto offered this notion of Salsa as a martial dance. That seed served as inspiration for using Salsa, Wing Chun, and other diasporic movement languages and systems to explore the flexible boundary between partner dance and martial movement, their shared biomechanics and different ways of relating.
The choreographers and dancers acknowledge with gratitude that this dance piece is informed by Salsa, Wing Chun, Silat (Pencuk Silat), Qi Gong, Kizomba, Capoeira, breaking (breakdance) and Bachata.
We acknowledge the painful history of colonialism and enslaved people that led to the creation of these diasporic dances. We commit to honouring and respecting them and their history. We acknowledge all unrecognised cultural lineages and untold stories.
The piece will initially be created as a duet, designed to tour small-scale venues. The main goal of Ọkan’s collaboration is to develop a versatile work that can be expanded into multiple duets and toured with a larger cast.
Ọkan had an exciting Research and Development phase in Autumn 2023, featuring inspiring collaborations, including international sharing sessions and an Artist Residency at Armunia in Tuscany, Italy.
Creation will continue in 2025, with touring planned for Spring and Autumn 2025. Bookings are also available through The Place. In the meantime, please contact the producer with any questions regarding scale and technical requirements.
Touring party: 3 to 4 (2 Dancers, 1 Technician, 1 Producer for some touring dates).
Timeline:
Co-Produced and commissioned by The Place. This work is supported by public funding from Arts Council England. The work’s creation has been supported by Pavilion Dance South West and Yorkshire Dance, with further support from FABRIC, South East Dance and the British Council.
