by Emma-Jane Morbey | Oct 30, 2017 | Classes, The M Word
Since embarking on our focus on mental health in young people – kickstarted by our production of Reflections in 2016 – we’ve seen so many young people grow out of their shells and themselves....Hip Hop Dance Teacher & Gymnastics Coach
Marvin trained in dance at City of Oxford College, before becoming a Level 1 Gymnastics coach for Abingdon Gymnastics Club. Outside of teaching, Marvin is perfecting his craft as a stuntman and has been involved in various exciting projects.
Ashlee Paris-Jabang is a Creative Therapy Practitioner, Freelance Producer, Spoken Word Artist, Filmmaker and Co-founder of Soulfully Creative. She is a mental health advocate, using every opportunity she can to promote the importance of taking care of your mental health from as early in life as you can.
Through her training as a Musical Theatre professional and Poet she recognised the cathartic experience creativity gave her. After graduating with BA Hon. Creative Expressive Therapies, she felt the need to provide this service to the community and thus, Soulfully Creative was born.
Over the past 10 years she facilitated creative therapy workshops with children and young people on the autism spectrum, assylum seekers, refugees, and ex-offenders. She has worked with and performed at the Hackney Vortex Jazz Club, Roundhouse Theatre Camden and Derby Caribbean Carnival.
Ashlee is currently a creative mentor for Plus One Project at Derby Theatre children and young people in the care system.
Her influential poetry on black culture and social injustices has led to her becoming a regular contributor to BBC Radio Derby and a Cohort member of the Momentum project by WeAreParable in collaboration with Channel 4.
Kiyana, 15, has been dancing for BP for 3 years now. One thing she has particularly enjoyed doing for the company is being a young leader. Kiyana enjoys going to the classes and seeing other young people learning to dance. It motivates her, to see smiles on the young people’s faces. Outside of dance I also play football for a team and enjoy learning new styles of hip hop dance.
Kyron Jake Anthony is a professional dancer based in London. He has been training in Hip Hop since the age of 7, frequently battling, competing and winning European titles with the International Dance Organisation (IDO).
Since graduating from the University of East London (UEL), he has performed Anne Marie on the Greatest Dancer, internationally in Athens Greece Nostos festival and been a part of Sky Arts film Project Rebel, a Boy Blue Hip Hop theatre production.
Kyron is a passionate about sharing his love for Hip Hop Theatre with others and is excited about becoming one of Body Politic’s teachers.
Isaac is an independent multidisciplinary artist working mainly in the Hip Hop Theatre world.
His training is rooted in Hip Hop dance, Popping and House, but his curiosity has led him to other disciplines like Contemporary, Contemporary West African styles, and the written forms of poetry and scriptwriting. As well as dance theatre, he is fascinated by visual arts and filmmaking, and his work has grown to communicate through these multidisciplines.
Recently working with Ella Mesma Company, and Kwame Asafo-Adjei’s Spoken Movement he is also a solo artist developing socio-political work The Oreo Complex – an exploration of Black identity through the discriminatory Oreo (Bounty/Coconut) label.
Isaac holds an undergraduate degree in Multimedia Journalism from Canterbury Christ Church University.
Tyrone Isaac-Stuart is a soloist and collaborator currently blending his skills into a series of innovative stories. He studied Jazz saxophone at Middlesex University and the University of New Orleans and developed as a dancer whilst performing for East London’s Finest; Boy Blue Entertainment.
He has taught and performed internationally (USA, Switzerland, Soweto, Kenya, France and Brussels) and locally (UK). His credits include: Sean Graham, Joseph Toonga, Soweto Kinch, Boy Blue Entertainment, Nora Chipaumire, Irene Wernli, Freddie Opoku-Addaie, Sharlene Carter, Body Politic, Theo ‘Godson’ Oloyade & Hayley Matthews.
Tyrone’s style is rooted in musical, physical & spiritual practice. He is currently completing his debut album and gallery space work.
Natalie Wong is a graduating artist and dance teacher.
Natalie trained at the University of East London studying Urban Dance Practice graduating in class of 2020. Alongside this Natalie has taught for Body Politic Dance, Momentum Dance Academy and was an enabler for the Parasol Project Dance. Natalie has worked with different ages and abilities.
She started dancing contemporary at the age of four and then at a later age she discovered breakin’. Natalie has now trained in many styles of dance through clubs, groups, crews, college and university. From Natalie’s education at UEL she has learnt from many different successful artists in the dance industry. Her favourite styles are breakin’, contemporary and hip hop.
Natalie has a real passion for dance as it has had such a positive impact on her life and having the opportunity to teach has been incredibly rewarding.
To be able to express is a gift and to have the privilege to do that through dance is massive.
She loves to be able to see her students flourish and be part of helping them to be the best version of themselves.
After graduating with BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Manchester, Emma-Jane founded professional hip hop theatre company, Body Politic.
As Artistic Director, Emma-Jane Greig works collaboratively with creatives to approach taboo socio-politic subject matter with an authentic flair for integrating narrative with Hip Hop movement. Emma-Jane and Body Politic as a result have been selected by Oxford Dance Forum (ODF) for their 3-year producer support programme, to receive in-kind support to galvanize national partnerships. Alongside, this Emma-Jane was also selected to become an associates artist at Swindon Dance (2020-2022), the only regional dance agency to house an Urban CAT scheme for aspiring young Hip Hop artists.
In 2019, Body Politic’s first full-length Hip Hop theatre work ‘Father Figurine’ embarked on a National tour, touring to 10 venues across the UK including Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, Theatre Royal in Norwich and the Hat Factory in Luton. During Emma-Jane’s first touring project, she delivered 19 educational sessions and worked with 118 young people ages 11-25 years old.
Emma-Jane has a huge amount of experience at facilitating and workshops to engage vulnerable and ‘at risk’ groups in the arts, and directing youth platforms. Her work as a freelance dance practitioner has included work in Pupil Referral Units, Mental Health Care in-patient wards, disabled groups, early intervention hubs as well as schools and FE colleges.
Emma-Jane’s passion is supporting others; helping others grow and providing a platform of opportunities that will enrich and impact the lives of others.
Emma-Jane is proud to be one of the only female choreographers in the UK touring Hip Hop dance theatre and is very excited about the scope this company has to transform the lives of others.
I first started dancing at the age of eighteen with my University’s dance team, Imperial College London. Since then, I have been active in the London dance community, training with various teachers, performing in shows, and creating my own pieces.
Throughout the four years I have been involved in Body Politic, I have choreographed for the Breezeblocks video and Reflections, performed at Pegasus Theatre in February 2016. Most recently, I performed at Body Politic’s 4 year anniversary show case, Profectus at Chisenhale Theatre. All of which were accomplished with my dance partner in crime, and best friend in life, Stephen Brown. In October 2016, Reflections was awarded Arts Council England funding. I look forward to further develop Reflections, creating two new works. I’m excited for my continued involvement this dynamic and exciting company.
I began dancing in 2010 when I started University. Since then, I have joined a number of teams within the London community, building my ability to dance, choreograph and teach internationally. Over this period, I have performed at well known venues such as Saddlers Wells, Wembley Arena and the Dominion Theatre.
My most notable achievements have been with Body Politic where I, alongside my closest friend Derek Mok, have choreographed for their previous theatre piece, Reflections in February 2016. Additionally we’ve created the Body Politic Dance video “Breezeblocks”, and have choreographed and performed for multiple events and showcases. Through love of the art form, I have danced alongside many of my inspirations within the community, whilst creating my own works that I am immensely proud of.