Join us for our Freelance Networking Day on Wednesday 27 November and meet likeminded artists, take part in workshops, learn from each other’s artistic practice, discuss ideas and connect with those in our local community.

Leeds and the North has such an abundant community of freelancers and we want to offer opportunities to bring people together to network, get creative and spark new connections. We know how challenging it can be within the current landscape of the sector and we want to provide opportunities to connect with one another and meet the team at Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Registration also includes the chance to experience the final performance of our second annual Community Engagement Tour at our studio theatre in the evening.

We’re excited to announce the artists leading workshops on the day are Mayowa Ogunnaike, Azizi Cole, Bakani Pick-Up and our Associate Artist Iolanda Portogallo.

Secure your spot here

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About the artists

Mayowa Ogunnaike

Mayowa Ogunnaike is a British-Nigerian contemporary dance artist based in Leeds. Her name means ‘brings joy’ and she aims to encourage that sentiment throughout her practice.

In 2017 she graduated from Trinity Laban with a first class honours degree and an award for ‘outstanding achievement in Choreological Studies’. After graduating she joined Phoenix Dance Theatre as an apprentice dancer and has since worked as a performer for a variety of choreographers. Currently she is working on new productions with Gary Clarke Company and Léa Tirabasso.  

Alongside performing, Mayowa delivers creative and technique classes across the UK, using this practice as an opportunity for sharing a wide ranging movement vocabulary, experimenting, collaborating with artists and facilitating cultural exchange. 

Mayowa will lead a dynamic contemporary technique class embedded with groove and West African influence. Mayowa will be sharing some of the movement concepts that she has been researching recently as part of her ‘Phoenix Fridays’ residency. Working with improvisation and set sequences, embracing individuality and encouraging connection with others. Expect to liberate the spine, play with physical power and force, investigate intuitive flow and to move from a state of joy.

 

Bakani Pick-Up

Bakani (he/they) is a Queer Zimbabwean, Leeds based choreographer, movement artist & improvisation practitioner. As well as creating their own work they have performed nationally and internationally works by Theo Clinkard, Anthea Hamilton & Fevered Sleep. With practice as research at the core of their work, they explore themes of decolonisation through dance opractice, haptic visuality and choreographic composition. As Artistic Lead for Bakani Pick-Up Company they have presented works at Vienna Secession, The Place, Hayward Gallery and on BBC4. Bakani is also part of the Chisenhale Dance Space board of Trustees and the National Dance Company of Wales Artist Advisory Group. 

Bakani’s workshop will focus on exploring a diverse palette of what movement can be and what we do with it. Working through our own interests and physicality guided by both Western & South African philosophies we will venture to find our groove through guided improvisation. We will explore ways of creating unison material and performing in improvisation settings. How do we move to question not solve?

 

Azizi Cole

Born and raised in Handsworth, Birmingham, Azizi’s introduction to the arts started from as young as four years old. Before journeying into music, he began training in traditional West African and contemporary dance techniques with Gail and Ian Parmel at ACE Youth. Through his dance training Azizi was introduced to live musical accompaniment which led him to exploring his creativity within music. Developing his artistry he spent several years touring with many singers and bands across the UK playing internationally acclaimed venues such as Symphony Hall and Royal Albert Hall as well as festivals including Latitude and Bestival. In 2015, Azizi moved to Leeds to become a musician at Northern School of Contemporary Dance where he has been able to reconnect his relationship; accompanying, composing, performing and teaching music for dance. In recent years Azizi has been developing a creative practice that encompasses his knowledge and experience of both backgrounds with a heavy emphasis on musicality within movement. 

Azizi’s workshop will be centred around his multidisciplinary practice. Drawing from his experiences in both dance and music he aims to strengthen dancers authentic connection to sound and movement. With a strong emphasis on internal groove and listening, Azizi invites you to ‘see the music and hear the dance’ – quote by Ian Parmel.

 

Iolanda Portogallo 

Iolanda Portogallo is a freelance artist based in Leeds from Italy, Aversa (CE). In 2019 she graduated from Northern School of Contemporary Dance and until 2022 she worked and toured with Mobius Dance and Extended Play, alongside other freelance projects around UK. After presenting her first professional choreographic work “IO” at Resolution 2022, she has been taking these years to research more into her own practice and movement language, expanding her vision about dance and music and sharing that with improvisation/freestyle sessions at NSCD, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Middle Floor and many more. 

Iolanda told us about what to expect in her workshop:

“The creative jam will be a time for us to just connect and share our unique expression with each other. We’ll learn by watching others enjoy their flow or how they express themselves, get to listen to music in a more playful way, give you the space and time to discover more of yourself and how others communicate ideas.”

Secure your spot here