Past
Productions

Izindava

Izindava translates as ‘news’ in the Zimbabwean language Ndebele. The work is a bold and universal message about human fragility within our changing world. Growing up amongst persecution, mob-justice and segregation, Bawren’s memories of freedom instilled a strength of spirit and resistance that has shaped this work. Beautiful, haunting and provocative, Izindava unearths raw emotions that are unsettling and unforgettable. Extraordinary sculptural costumes extend and abstract Bawren’s choreography with astonishing results. It is a very personal piece about traumatic religious childhood fears, the work also focuses on the redemptive power of dance, music and Rastafarianism.

I am yet to see a piece that makes me think and reflect on current socio-economic situations and personal experiences the way this did. The dancers were incredible, fully engaged in the work. Performed with more than just their bodies. Full body, mind and spirit

Audience member

Click here to download the Izindava programme.

Cast

Asmara Cammock

BOY'S KHAYA Cast

Asmara is from South East London and began dancing at age 7 at Scott Wiseman School of dance. Her training includes The Brit School for Performing Arts and Technology and 4 years professional training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Asmara’s credits include ACE Dance And Music, Phoenix Dance Theatre: Windrush ‘The Movement of The People’, The 1975, The BBC, Hyundai, Burberry, London Fashion Week, Starbucks, Google& Netflix, JD Sports and more.

 

Nicole Victor

Izindava Cast (Apprentice Dancer)

Originally from Gibraltar, Nicole Victor has recently graduated from Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD). Before moving to England she trained and performed competitively in several dance styles such as Jazz, Modern and Ballet. Throughout her time at NSCD she has worked with artists such as Laila Diallo, Gracefool Collective, Dam Van Huynh and Freddie Opoku-Addaie. The highlight of her time studying at NSCD was performing in her Graduation Showcase with a piece choreographed by Kerry Nicholls as well as being selected to present her own solo work. Nicole joined Tavaziva as an apprentice in July 2017.

Luke Crook

Izindava Cast

Luke is a freelance dance artist based in London. He trained at London Contemporary Dance School, where he graduated in 2015 with First Class Honours and has had the opportunity to perform works by Richard Alston, Didy Veldman, Crystal Pite, and Kerry Nicholls. Since graduating Luke has been working in both commercial and contemporary settings; dancing in music videos, gallery exhibitions and fashion promotion. Luke has performed in conceptual works by Pablo Bronstein as well as Holly Blakey, N’da Dance Company, Hubert Essakow, Fevered Sleep and Shobana Jeyasingh Dance. Recently working with Alexander Whitley Dance Company, Luke has performed a new solo work, Ulysses Awakes in collaboration with the 12 Ensemble, as well as the company’s newest work 8 Minutes. Luke joined Tavaziva in July 2017.

Yaa Appiah-Badu

Izindava Cast

Yaa graduated from London Contemporary Dance School in 2010, where she had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Kerry Nicholls, Aletta Collins and Etta Murfitt. Upon graduating, Yaa has danced for various artists including Freddie Opoku-Addaie, Simeon Qysea in collaboration with the Merce Cunningham Company, Shaun Parker, Rhiannon Faith as well as performing at Secret Cinema and the Olympics Opening Ceremony. She was a featured dancer in the Guinness commercial ‘Intolerant Champion’ directed by Jake Nava and choreographed by Gary Nurse and Jreena Green. Yaa worked as a backing dancer for the sensational singer Laura Mvula performing choreography by Aaron Sillis in music videos, live shows and for television. Yaa joined Tavaziva in July 2017.

Carmine De Amicis

Carmine was born in Italy and trained in Ballroom and Latin American. In 2009 he received the award for best Latin American Dancer category. He trained in Ballet and Contemporary dance at the Italian National Academy of Dance in Rome. Whilst in Rome, he worked with Matteo D’Alessio, Salvator Spagnolo and Laura Di Biagio. He graduated with a BA in foreign languages with a specialisation in dance history and then moved to the UK to join the postgraduate dance company MAPDANCE (University of Chichester). In 2014 he performed internationally with pieces by Kerry Nicholls, Gary Clarke, Yael Flexer, and Liz Aggiss. He worked for Chantry Dance Company (UK), Grange Park Opera and recently started an experimental project on hybrid partnering dance forms with Harriet Waghorn. Carmine joined Tavaziva in 2014.

Lisa Rowley

Izindava Cast

Originally from Leicester, Lisa trained at the Dupont School. She then trained at Laban graduating in 2008. Since then she has toured internationally with Transitions Dance Company. Lisa then went on to work with Henri Oguike Dance Company. Following this Lisa joined ACE Dance and Music with choreography by Andile Sotiya and Douglas Thorpe.

Lisa was a founding member of Joss Arnott Dance Company and has toured with them since 2010. In 2014 Lisa worked on a solo ‘Not waving’ collaborating with director Paul Sadot which was awarded Arts Council funding to develop and tour in autumn 2015. Lisa went to Africa alongside Bawren to work with Dinani dance group in Ghana. More recently Lisa has been back in the studio with Joss Arnott working on a new trio called ‘A Movement in 3’. Lisa also teaches her own workshops throughout the UK and at certain vocational schools such as Italia Conti. Lisa joined Tavaziva in September 2010 and was our Rehearsal Assistant in 2018.

Tom Shale-Coates

Izindava Cast

Tom started dancing at the age of 14 when he was accepted to the Swindon Centre of Advanced Training. At the age of 18 he successfully gained a place at The Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. After graduating he started working in Malta with Contact Dance Company. Whilst in Malta he had the opportunity to work with the newly formed ZfinMalta Dance Ensemble, where he learnt rep from artists like Mavin Khoo and Jose Agudo. Since then he has been performing at The Royal Opera House in such productions as Eugene Onegin, Boris Godunov and Oedipus. Tom joined Tavaziva in July 2017.

Andy Race

Mbulelo Ndabeni

Creative Team

Artistic Direction and Choreography

Bawren Tavaziva

Music

Bawren Tavaziva

Dramaturgy

Peter Glanville

Rehearsal Director

Joanne Bernard

Rehearsal Assistant

Lisa Rowley

Production Manager

Christopher Silvester

Lighting Design

Sherry Coenen

Costume Design

Ben Voorhaar and Sabrina Zyla of Karisma

Producer

Beth Cinamon