Kofi Walker - My online portfolio!

Dancers and other Artists I have worked with throughout my career...

Zoobin Surty, Zorastrian dance artist from Mumbai, India trained in Indian classical forms of dance and graduated from Northern School of Contemporary Dance – is a Cultural Dance Ambassador/resident artist from South Asian Arts in Leeds.

He has performed, choreographed, directed Dance theatre, commercials, pop stars, films with his dance company and toured India, USA, Canada, South Africa, Dubai & Japan. His expertise and experience in Contemporary Bollywood dance has been very popular in the region and he believes in honest dance Karma with Quality, Aura and Style. Zoobin runs his classes all over the region, promotes Indian dance in schools, colleges, Universities & Special needs dance education and is a director of his Dance Company ‘Karma Dance.’

He promotes Indian dance culture in the UK with Saa-uk & Karma Dance while pursuing his Masters in Contemporary choreography & Dance with Netherlands University & create new works with his Dance Company.

Recently Choreographed for West Yorkshire Playhouse – BOLLYWOOD JANE which was a great success. His new dance work ‘Dukh-sukh’ tours in March 2008. Currently venturing on new productions & Bollywood

Karma Dance is a new electrifying dance force in the region to promote Indian Contemporary Bollywood Dance performances to spice all souls with holistic Auras & style. Karma Dance performs for institutions, organisations, corporate bodies & events.

Artistic director - ZOOBIN SURTY

For information about Zoobin please follow this link. http://www.zoobinkarmadance.com/

Maya Martinez

Maya is a versatile performer and choreographer with over 20 years experience in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, and Contemporary dance. Although proficient in most dance styles and as a result of her intercultural heritage has studied with Dance masters the styles of Balinese, Mongolian, classical indian, West African and afro-caribbean. In 1995 she was chosen by Dance master Kofi Walker from Jamaica to be principle dancer of the Afro Caribbean Dance theatre. The company, a tribute to “black dance” produced dance theatre shows telling the stories of Slavery, Negro spiritual, Primitivo, Haitian folk dances, Dancehall reggae and Afro-contemporary as seen in the style of companies like the New York Dance Company or Alvin Ailey Dance theatre. The ACDT toured NSW and QLD holding master classes and workshops in Dance schools and Universities. Maya has studied under and worked with other well know influences of global dance throughout her career like Paul Saliba, Shirley Sweeney, Aboriginal Islander Dance school, QLD Folkloric Dance Association and Bangarra Dance Theatre. Although Maya specialises in African derived modern dance styles she also performs Jazz/funk/Hip-hop with experience touring on the national tours as international support acts for Public Enemy, Naughty by nature, De La Sol, Beastie Boys, Ice –T, New Kids on the Block and House of Pain. Additionally to holding master classes for full-time performing arts schools she has choreographed videoclips for Sound Unlimited, Renegade Funktrain, and most recently Vassy and Kid Confucius.

http://www.dancecentral.com.au/teachers.html

ACE Dance Company

Founded by Kofi Walker in 2002 while working at Park House School and Sports College as Artist in residence... from well known touring companies to create new and exciting work on the group as well as creating rep of their own. They have worked with established professional dancers such as, Stuart Waters (MotionHouse Theatre Dance Co.) Racheal Mossom (Henri Oguike Dance Company, Xfactor Dance Company), Kiera Martin (Biserk Dance Co. Burmuda Dance Co.) plus many more.

The company is sponsored by Park House School and Sports College, who enable ACE to work in their fabulous purpose built dance studio, where they run an Open Class every Thursday evening for 16yr+ dancers some previous dance experience.

ACE will be running a Dance Summer School for two weeks starting 24th July. They are delighted that former members of the Company, Will Lomax and Tom Pritchard will be returning to take class during the summer school. Both boys are now studying dance in London at The Rambert School of Dance and at the Laban Centre of Movement.

Dance in The Park

This community dance programme has been run by Laura Kelleher, Helen Bonner and Kirsty Martin (All ACE Dance Co. members) since 2004 and is going from strength to strength. The classes are held for young people who want to dance from the age of 5 – 16+yrs. Each group has the opportunity to work in many different dance styles and are encouraged to be creative and play and active part in creating group and individual choreography.

The children are taught the technical element of dance as well as watching professional work to gain ideas and inspiration. Dance is a great way to get fit, make new friends and gain confidence whilst having lots of fun!! Each group also has the opportunity to perform at least twice a year, at The Newbury Fringe and their own annual dance show in July.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10524500275&oid=4871488219