News Posts
TIPINI is a Welsh language show on S4C. It’s a colorful series for nursery children that welcomes everyone to sing and dance. Agency talent Jodelle Douglas was cast to entertain and engage through his animated use of movement.
Artists’ Playground was a brand new and unique artist residency taking place in South Korea and held in partnership by National Theatre Wales and Performance Group TUIDA (South Korea). Artistic Director, Liara Barussi was selected after over 150 artists from Wales, South Korea, India and Japan applied to be a part.
The focus of the residency was to support the creation of innovative ideas, artistic experiments and cross-cultural collaborations. The residency explored various artistic practices including theatre, choreography, writing, live art, and installation.It was an opportunity for these artists to develop their practice alongside others – collaborating across artform on new ideas and sharing the results. The group also spent time reflecting on their current practice, as well as discussing and investigating the different approaches other artists take to making new work, ranging from the personal to the cultural.
Our Academy students Lukas Gabco, Shakira Ifill and Gui Pinto featured in their first short film in 2018 ‘Edgar’s Hair’ which was written by Liam Kelly, and directed by Gavin Porter.
Lukas starred as the lead, Edgar Bootle who is fed up with being unpopular at school. Mocked by bullies for everything from his shoes to his phone, and most notably his hair. Edgar makes the decision that it is time for a change of image.
But will his new image change him for the better?
Watch here
To celebrate 10 years of Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel (SSAP) Jukebox Collective were commissioned to develop a bespoke performance for the Gala. The event celebrated the vibrancy of the continent and the African community in Wales. It showcased the cultural treasures of Africa, the world’s most vibrant continent and celebrated her food, fashion, music, dance and poetry.
Local Welsh storytellers, poets, musicians and guest speakers and a DJ entertained guests with sounds from across the continent including Highlife, Rhumba, Ndomboloo, Afrobeats, Soukous, Kizomba and more.
This was definitely one of our favourite Welsh events of the year!
SSAP
SSAP is an independent think-tank on international development. SSAP aims to consider and pursue the needs of Diaspora Groups in their international development work, and to facilitate the knowledge and skills of Diaspora Groups in Wales to be used to advice and support indigenous Welsh International Development Organisations. Follow their work here.
For Black History Month, we celebrated our favourite dance pioneers – from the inventors of locking to those that shaped the future of dance. Get to know the incredible list of those that paved the way for us today!
The Nicholas Brothers
Fayard and Harold became one of the most popular double acts of the mid 20th century. They excelled in a variety of techniques, specifically tap dance.
James Brown
A progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music and dance.
Gregory Hines
One of the most celebrated tap dancers of all time. Hines starred in more than forty films and also made his mark on Broadway during his lifetime.
The Black Resurgents
Pioneered Boogaloo & Stepping groups in 1960’s – 1970’s Oakland.
The Lockers
Credited for inventing ‘Locking’ in the 1970’s. Members included Don “Campbellock” Campbell & Greg “Campbellock Jr.”
Geoffrey Holder
Cultural icon Geoffrey Holder was a Trinidadian born dancer, choreographer, actor, designer & painter based in New York.
Tyrone Proctor
1970’s soul train dancer & pioneer of waacking.
The Black Messengers
Formed in 1972, the group innovated a Boogaloo technique of “posing hard” which would develop into popping.
Alvin Ailey
Dancer, director, choreographer, and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958.
Pearl Primus
Proselytizer for African dance. She was a dancer, choreographer and anthropologist who played an important role in the presentation of African dance to American audiences.
Josephine Baker
American-born French dancer and singer who symbolized the beauty and vitality of Black American culture, which took Paris by storm in the 1920s.
Elroy Josephz
Jamaican-British dancer, actor, producer and teacher. He played a central role in changing how modern dance is both taught and performed.
Katherine Mary Dunham
Dancer, choreographer, author, educator, anthropologist, and social activist. She has been called the “matriarch and queen mother of Black dance.”
Berto Pasuka
Founder of Les Ballet Negres, Europe’s first Black dance company in 1946.
Buddy Bradley
Dancer and choreographer of the 1930s and later. He was the first Black dancer to choreograph an all-white show in London.
The Electric Boogaloos
Founded by Boogaloo Sam in Fresno, California in 1977. Members included Poppin Pete, Skeeter Rabbit & Sugar Pop.
I Dance Jazz (IDJ)
Formed in the 1980’s these UK dancers were pioneers of a jazz dance style fusing vernacular jazz, tap, ballet, West Indies and African dance traditions. Primarily practiced by Black male dancers from poor immigrant communities across the UK, they were known for their intricate footwork, incredible tricks, and tireless energy.
As part of our online trip to Ghana, we held a conversation with Joey Lit – Artist, Designer, Creative Director, Philanthropist, Electrical Engineer & founder of Free The Youth Ghana. Free The Youth are a collective we look up to; they’re leading the way, engaging with the diaspora and presenting an image of Africa that defies stereotypes. Their cult streetwear label has gained local and international attention, and their future plans are taking them on an exciting journey, empowering youth globally.
This year we celebrated 10 years since Jukebox Juniors competed in Got to Dance! The success of Jukebox Juniors brought us a global audience, with the show airing in many countries across the world. We loved representing Cardiff on the show, and sharing this video brought back memories for many in our community!
Our annual Academy showcase is the highlight of the year; an exciting, full production that gives students the chance to showcase their projects and celebrate their hard work. Our 2020 showcase saw us do something we’d never done before – hold our celebrations online!
Our students had been working remotely on their end-of-year pieces during lockdown, receiving virtual mentoring and classes from our dedicated tutors and mentors. Students conceptualised and filmed their own pieces with our help, creating beautiful and unique results in a range of mediums – from dance, to spoken word, to visual arts. Many of our students’ pieces were inspired by the political climate and Black Lives Matter movement, resulting in powerful concepts that allowed them to explore their heritage, self-expression and comment on historic events…
On Zoom, we held a private premier for friends and family, followed by a public version of the showcase which was attended by many local creatives and industry professionals. The showcase was a huge success, consisting of live performances and premiers of Academy students’ videos, as well as featuring special guest, local music artist B Written.Throughout the event, the encouraging support was evident in all the comments received by attendees in the chat box and our social media channels. Some of our favourite comments include:
“Congratulate all of your talented bunch on last night’s work. It was really inspiring and the range of artforms was something else.” – Michael Waters, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
“An amazing evening with Jukebox Collective – you guys are an inspiration! Your work made me smile and cry, so much talent! Loved every second.” – Catherine Young, Dawns i Bawb
Butetown Carnival was first staged in the mid-1960s, celebrating the culture and musical heritage of multicultural Wales. The origins of this iconic event go back to the earlier part of the 20th Century, when seamen from Africa, West Indies and elsewhere led impromptu performances and processions in the streets. This inspired a tradition of cultural and social activities that took shape in the annual Butetown Carnival…
Through parades, performances, workshops and activities, the Carnival represented the community spirit of Butetown, a hub of multiculturalism where people from different backgrounds lived harmoniously despite hostility and racism. Over the next 40 years, the carnival attracted tens of thousands to Cardiff and grew as popular as other UK Afro-Caribbean carnivals Notting Hill & St Paul’s.
Performers at the carnival were a mix of local bands, sound systems, musicians and celebrities, including Aswad, Musical Youth, Bo Diddley, Tipper Ire, Roots & Branches and The Little Butes. To this day, locals talk fondly of memories of Carnival as the highlight of their summers growing up, every year, rain or shine.
After a gap of 16 years, Butetown Carnival was revived by the community in 2014 in response to local demand and is now firmly established as an annual event to celebrate the rich history of African and Carribean culture.
To learn more about Carnival:
Butetown Carnival Documentary: Big Scott Radio & It’s My Shout Productions
Images sourced from BBC Wales, Simon Campbell & Cardiff Music History
Ebony on the road was a six part series presented by Brinsley Forde Aminatta Forna and Martin Shaw, in which Ebony goes out on the road to meet Britain’s Afro-Caribbean communities. This one takes us back to Butown, Cardiff in 1984 and features performances by Welsh bands Bissmillah and Denym as well as interviews with community leaders including Gaynor Legall.
Our favourite segment is the highlight on Mount Stuart Primary School. It features Wales’ First Black Headteacher and Champion of Multiculturalism, Betty Campbell. Born into a working class family in Butetown in 1934, Betty overcame setbacks and racism and made history putting Black culture on her Cardiff curriculum.
