Past
Productions

Sensual Africa

Sensual Africa, created in 2012, pays homage to the fascinating Tumbuka and Chewa Tribes. Bawren injects his own interpretation on the complexities of these intriguing tribes’ movements and the distinctiveness of the rituals that boys and girls go through to become men and women.

Combining symbolic tribal steps with modern dance moves, Tavaziva has created a production bursting with energy and unbridled passion.

Afridiziak Theatre News

Click here to download the Sensual Africa programme.

Cast

Katie Cambridge

Katie grew up in Brighton and trained at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) where she worked with Marc Brew, Colin Poole and toured works by Siobhan Davies and Merce Cunningham to Italy and London, as part of LC3. Katie joined Tavaziva Dance in August 2009 as part of LCDS’s Post Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme. During her time as an apprentice, Katie was also involved in Tavaziva’s Education Programme, creating works for Cornwall Youth Dance and the Wycombe Swan’s United in Dance project. Katie is also an Administrative Assistant for the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) scheme at The Place. More recently she has performed with Cscape in “The Venus Flower” as part of the Global Garden Project. Following her apprenticeship, Katie joined Tavaziva Dance as a full time dancer in September 2010.

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.

Petros Treklis

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Petros moved to London in 2007, and graduated from Laban with a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre in July 2010. During his training at Laban, Petros worked with Rosemary Butcher, Gary Lambert, Dam Van Huynh, Rosemary Brandt, Charles Linehan, and Kerry Nicholls. In early 2010 Petros toured Kerry Nicholls work, ‘Hearth’ in Malta, performing for the Maltese Arts Council. He then went on to tour ‘Sainte Marie-Joseph De La Rose’ by upcoming choreographer Tamara Gvozdenovic in Neuchatel, Switzerland. Petros joined Tavaziva Dance in September 2010.

Anna Watkins

Anna trained at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. She has worked as a dancer with European Ballet, Neville Campbell, Pair Dance, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Maxwell Dance Project, and ‘Dance in Focus’- for their world Premiere UK tour of ‘Broken’ in 2015 . Anna formed her own dance company Watkins Dance Company, in 2011. She was awarded funding from Arts Council England for her production ‘Angled Eye’. In 2014–2015 Anna was commissioned to choreograph for Third Row Dance Company, New College Youth Dance Company, Suffolk Youth Company, English National Ballet Youth Company and LSC Expressive Arts. She was appointed a role on the CAT teaching faculty at Dance City, Newcastle. Anna was Rehearsal Assistant for Tavaziva 2009 – 2010, and is Project Manager for Tavaziva Male. Anna joined Tavaziva in 2007.

Ellen Yilma

Ellen graduated from London Contemporary Dance School in July 2011, having previously trained at Tring Park, School for the Performing Arts. Ellen joined Tavaziva as an apprentice dancer, part of the Postgraduate Apprenticeship Scheme at LCDS. She has toured with Watkins Dance since June 2012, and in spring 2013 took part in the Barbican Exhibition ‘dancing around Duchamp season’, performing Merce Cunningham repertoire. Ellen has also worked with IJAD Dance Company on ‘Infinite-Space’, and with Second Hand Dance in developing ‘Getting Dressed’. In November 2014 she completed her MA in Contemporary Dance with Distinction and has become a contemporary dance teacher for Tring Park Associates. She is a workshop leader for Tavaziva’s extensive education programme. Ellen joined Tavaziva as a company member in September 2012.

Travis Clausen-Knight

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, he moved to England and graduated from the Arts Education School of Tring in 2009. Whilst in training he won several awards for dance and choreography within the school and outside including The National Youth Ballet and the International Competition of Dance, Spoleto. Since Graduating Travis has performed in Matthew Bourne’s world tour of Swan Lake 2010 and featured in the 3D remake of the production. Travis was involved in Michael Clark’s ‘TH’ 2011 residency, at the Tate Modern. Travis joined Tavaziva Dance in September 2011.

Viola Vicini

Viola grew up in Genova, Italy, where she began her training as a rhythmic gymnast as part of the Italian Juniors National Squad. At the age of 14, she moved to ballet and contemporary dance training, gaining professional experience with Kaleido Danse Company. In 2008, Viola moved to London to train at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS). During her time there, she worked with Martin Lawrence, RADC and Darren Johnston, as well as taking part in a number of international workshops and choreographing her own work. In addition, Viola danced in a number of commercial productions and toured to Italy and London venues as part of LC3 (LCDS’s Professional Touring Experience Programme), performing works by Siobhan Davies and Richard Alston. Viola graduated in July 2011 and joined Tavaziva Dance as part of LCDS’s Postgraduate Apprenticeship Scheme in September 2011.

Lauren Wilson

Lauren was born in East Yorkshire and began training with her mum at a young age. She also trained as a Royal Ballet School and Northern Ballet Theatre Associate. Lauren obtained her advanced 2 RAD and won awards such as Most Promising Female and the Ronald Elmblem award. At sixteen, Lauren moved to London to study at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary dance. Whilst at Rambert School she danced pieces by Mark Baldwin and August Bournonville, as well as performing her own choreographed work. In her final year with Rambert Lauren had the opportunity to dance numerous pieces at the Royal Opera House and Sadler’s Wells theatre. Lauren joined Tavaziva Dance as part of London Contemporary Dance School’s Post Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme in September 2011.

Creative Team

Artistic Direction and Choreography

Bawren Tavaziva

Music

Bawren Tavaziva
Douglas Thorpe (percussion for selected performances)

Lighting Design & Production Manager

Antony Hateley

Costume Design

Rosie Jacobs

Producer

Iyshea Hunte