Joseph Toonga - Born to Exist

This Hip Hop Dance Theatre Production forms Cameroonian dancer Joseph Toonga’s third part of his Nationally acclaimed, Hip Hop Dance trilogy that invites change, and a sense of overcoming stigmas society holds towards ethnic minorities. Analysing representation with an intersectional focus to show untold, underrepresented, individual journeys.
 
Joseph combines his research with his own experiences and the cast to manifest what is means to be a human and show it in all it’s ugliness, beauty, contradictions and complexity. 

Joseph’s choreographic style is used as a conduit for trauma, fed through a vacuum of movement and given to audiences.
 
This work brings together a powerhouse of creatives, lighting design by Simisola Majekodunmi, an original score from Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante and dramaturg Peggy Olislaegers and provides the platform for ultimate activism.

Alongside this theatre production Joseph is collaborating with three afro Brazilan female creatives to establish a social programme in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The progamme ‘Young, Gifted & Black’ works to support and empower low-income black female teenagers favela’s in Rio through dance