Ọkan by Maya & Toussaint
‘Truly an intimate and spiritual dance, supported by a live sonic landscape that is seamlessly threaded into the overall offering.’ Dance Art Journal
Experience the captivating world of Ọkan, translating to “heart”in Yoruba and rooted in rhythm and connection, this performance invites you into a dialogue of bodies and live music, a meeting of cultures, and a celebration of unity.
Choreographers Akeim Toussaint Buck and Ella Mesma, draw from the aesthetic of Salsa and teachings from the martial art of Wing Chung to ask fundamental philosophical questions: How can force become fluid? Where does true power lie—in resistance or in release? Can we move together without losing ourselves?
Enter a fluid, dreamlike world, and explore new ways of relating – heart to heart – with those around us and those who have come before.
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.
Choreographers: Ella Mesma and Akeim Toussaint Buck
Dancers: David Evans and Ofelia Balogun
Composers and Musicians: Azizi Cole and Joel Stedman
Costume Designers: Audrey Mae and Annette Raudmets
Lighting Designer: Ciaran Cunningham
Set Designer: Stella-Jane Odoemelam
Dramaturg: Eva Martinez
Movement Consultants: Gil Del Prado and Leo Au Yeung
Commissioned and co-produced by The Place.
Supported using public funding from Arts Council England.
Supported by Pavilion Dance South West.
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Credits for An Evening With Okan:
Choreographers: Ella Mesma and Akeim Toussaint Buck
Dancers: David Evans and Ofelia Balogun
Composers and Musicians: Azizi Cole and Joel Stedman
Costume Designers: Audrey Mae and Annette Raudmets
Dramaturg: Eva Martinez
Featuring guest artists Sabroso Dance Academy, DJ Lubi and a digital artwork by Bryan Aldea.
Commissioned and co-produced by The Place.
Supported using public funding from Arts Council England.
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.
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.
