Press Release
Tuesday November 9th, 2010 - For Immediate Release
International African Diaspora dance conference hosted by ADAD, IRIE! dance theatre and
State of Emergency Productions at London Metropolitan University.
Re:Generations – International Perspectives on Dance of the African Diaspora, a gathering of African,
Caribbean, African American and British dance artists, writers and academics, took place on
November 5th-6th 2010. Attended by close to 100 delegates the Re:Generations conference aimed to
shape the future of dance from the African Diaspora (often referred to as ‘Black’ or ‘African People’s’
Dance). The conference was delivered by a partnership including ADAD, IRIE! dance theatre, State
of Emergency Productions and London Metropolitan University and included academic papers,
performances, seminars and dance workshops. The proceedings were opened by representatives
from the partner organisations and Hassan Mahamdallie, Senior Officer for Diversity at Arts Council
England, who highlighted the council's commitment to providing continued support for excellent arts
that reflect the diversity of contemporary England.
The key-note address Researching Performance – The (Black) Dancing Body as a Measure of
Culture was delivered by Brenda Dixon-Gottschild, professor emerita from Temple University,
Philadelphia, U.S.A. Other international speakers and contributors included Dr. Kariamu WelshAsante (Temple University); Christopher Walker (National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica/
University of Wisconsin); Thomas Presto Trinidadian/Norwegian founder of Tabanka Crew (Finalists
in Norways Got Talent 2010); Vivine Scarlett, founder of Dance Immersion in Toronto, Canada; and
British choreographer/researcher Sheron Wray, who is now based at the University of California.
There were also presentations by UK-based academics representing York St. John University,
Lincoln University, De Montfort University, University of East London, Canterbury Christ Church
University and University of Surrey, as well as independent researchers and artists including Funmi
Adewole Kruczkowska. The conference attendees were a mix of performers, choreographers and
academics, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students.
One of the highlights of the event was an evening of performance at Sadler’s Wells Lilian Baylis
Theatre featuring the work of four British companies – Tavaziva Dance, ADiaspora Collective, Pair
Dance and Movement Angol, produced by State of Emergency Productions. There was also a
specially commissioned site specific work entitled This Body by Bristol-based African Contemporary
dance company, Tolo Ko Tolo. The piece enlivened the Graduate Centre at London Metropolitan
University which was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Daniel Libeskind, whose
portfolio includes the Jewish Museum in Berlin and redevelopment of the World Trade Centre, New
York. IRIE! dance theatre coordinated a seminar focused on dance education and training, featuring a
panel of international speakers and highlighting their on-going research project Dance and Diversity,
which has resulted in a foundation degree which trains students equally in ballet, Contemporary,
African and Caribbean dance.
ADAD Director, Jeanette Bain-Burnett said: “Against the backdrop of a challenging time for the arts
and cultural sector in the UK, Re:Generations was a time to envision the international African
People’s Dance community for the future. The event was truly intergenerational, and the immediate
feedback was overwhelmingly positive. This event demonstrated that as a sector we have the
creativity and adaptability to reinvent ourselves and to continue to challenge and inspire our society
through dance.”
The conference was supported by Arts Council England through grants for the arts. A selection of
papers from the conference will be published in Spring 2011.
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Notes to Editors
ADAD is a national organisation that has supported the development and appreciation of dance of
the African Diaspora in the UK for 15 years. ADAD is in strategic alliance with Dance UK, the national
voice for dance, and receives regular funding from Arts Council England. www.adad.org.uk
Established in 1985, IRIE! dance theatre is Britain's leading dance company working in the field of
African and Caribbean dance fusion and education. IRIE! received a grants for the arts award from
Arts Council England to support the Re:Generations conference. www.iriedancetheatre.org
London Metropolitan University is one of the foremost providers of undergraduate, postgraduate,
vocational and professional education and training in Britain. It offers an exciting range of
programmes, including a BA (hon.) in Performing Arts focused on contemporary practices in dance
and theatre. www.londonmet.ac.uk
State of Emergency is an Arts Production and Management company committed to the support,
development and profiling of Black choreographers and their work nationally and internationally. State
of Emergency Productions is supported by Arts Council England.
www.stateofemergencyltd.com
Brenda Dixon-Gottschild is Professor Emerita of dance studies, Temple University and a senior
consultant and writer for Dance Magazine. Professor Dixon-Gottschild is the author of three books,
most recently The Black Dancing Body – A Geography from coon to cool (Palgrave MacMillan 2003).
She performs with choreographer Hellmut Gottschild (her husband) in a form of somatic and
research-based collaboration for which they coined the term, “movement theater
discourse.” Professor Dixon-Gottschild is currently working on a new book about Joan Myers Brown,
founder of the Philadelphia Dance Company.
Attached photos:
1. Professor Brenda Dixon-Gottschild presenting her key-note address.
2. Pair Dance in performance at Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler’s Wells as part of the Re:Generations
Conference.
3. Tolo Ko Tolo opening the conference with a site specific performance of This Body in the Graduate
Centre at London Metropolitan University.
4. Partners pose for a photo call with International and UK-based speakers
Back row (left-right) Beverley Glean, Artistic Director IRIE! dance theatre, Funmi Adewole, Independent Researcher, Judith
Palmer, ADAD Chair, Professor Brenda Dixon Gottschild, professor emerita Temple University, Thomas Presto,
Trinidadian/Norwegian dance artist, Dr. Kariamu Welsh-Asante, Rosie Lehan, City and Islington College/ IRIE! dance theatre;
Jeanette Bain-Burnett, ADAD Director
Front row (left-right) Professor Ramsay Burt, De Montfort University, Sheron Wray, University of California, Lucy Richardson
and Jane Turner, London Metropolitan University, Alesandra Seutin, Artistic Director, Vocab Dance; Deborah Baddoo, MBE,
Artistic Director, State of Emergency Productions
All photos by Toby Ross-Southall
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