Movement: The Industry - the black men making moves in london’s dance scene
By Zen Rose
Creative Director, Film Photographer & Movement Director ZEN ROSE // Digital Photographers JOSEPH OSAS, KIT IBBOTT
Words SHOKIRIE CLARKE & MIRANNE WATLEY
Black culture has always been movement. A rhythm carried through generations, expressed in sound, style, and spirit. Influencing art across the world. Yet, for many Black men (or young black boys), stepping into the world of dance can still be met with hesitation or stigma.
This Black History Month, in collaboration with Zen Rose, we’re celebrating those breaking the mould. Male artists of Black and mixed heritage redefining what it means to dance, to express, and to honour the cultures that move through them.
The featured artists - Rio Allison, Tendai Chitate, Tyresse Hare, Jordan ‘JFunk’ Franklin, Michele Zan, and Masaiya Thomas are all making MOVES within the London dance scene, challenging stereotypes, embracing their identities, and embodying the essence of both their cultures and their environments.
Jordan ‘Jfunk’ Franklin
Hometown East London, UK
Heritage Britain/Barbados
What MOVES you?
What Moves me is Music, Feeling and the people around me
How has your culture/heritage impacted your dance/creative voice?
This question makes me think about family parties and barbecues and those real connections to movement and music. My surroundings have definitely influenced whats important to my storytelling within dance.
Masaiya Thomas
Hometown South East London, UK
Heritage Jamaica/Sweden
What MOVES you?
Story Telling + Visual Cultivation is what truly MOVES me.
How has your culture/heritage impacted your dance/creative voice?
Being of Caribbean descent my culture has always been involved in hip hop culture and therefore always something that I was encouraged to embrace and wear proudly - I came to realise that just as much as I embed that culture into my literal being I can (and have come to) embrace it in my creative voice too.
michele zan
What MOVES you?
Feeling moves me the most, I'm usually able to move and react based on how I'm feeling in the moment, if I'm not moved I didn't feel.
How has your culture/heritage impacted your dance/creative voice?
For sure I'm very inspired by the motherland every time I move, it's in the veins and one of the most creative places in the world, bold, fun and free.
Heritage Nigeria/Italy
rio allison
Hometown Douglas, Isle of Man
Heritage Britiain/Jamaica
What MOVES you?
Music moves me, people move me, being excited moves me, being happy moves me.
How has your culture/heritage impacted your dance/creative voice?
learning about my culture as I’ve grown up and and relating to different people and different cultures has given me more confidence in my creative voice. I'm still learning and still have so much to learn
tendai chitate
Hometown London, UK
Heritage Zimbabwe
What MOVES you?
Freedom. Being in a world where there’s so many rules and laws. Stepping into my creative world is a place I feel free to do what I want, I’m the president.
How has your culture/heritage impacted your dance/creative voice?
My cultural heritage has played a big role in shaping my creative voice as a dancer. I grew up studying black artists such as B2K, Michael Jackson & Ciara.
I was obsessed by the way they approached choreography in such an authentic way whether that was by adding comedy or by making the simple details iconic. They inspired me to value authenticity, so when I create, I try to bring a sense of identity and honesty into my movement. My culture reminds me that dance is more than performance, it’s identity and history.
tyresse hare
Hometown Hertfordshire, UK
Heritage Jamaica/Barbados
What MOVES you?
The thing that moves me the most is taste. When you can see that an artist has taste I think it makes their story much more interesting.
How has your culture/heritage impacted your dance/creative voice?