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AHRB Research Centre for Cross-Cultural Music
and Dance Performance |
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Photograph of Peter Badejo OBE |
Peter Badejo is one of Nigeria's foremost choreographers, dancers and African performance specialists. His presence in Britain since 1990 has made a dramatic impact on British arts in general. He is the Artistic Director of Badejo Arts a company he founded in 1990. He was awarded an OBE in 2001 in recognition of his work with and commitment to African people's dance.
In addition to his own productions of allegorical contemporary African dance, including Emi Ijo (The Heart of Dance) The Pain of Aspiration, Sisi Agbe Aye (Opening the Gourd of Life), The Living Circle and Ebo Iye (Transitions), Peter has appeared in major dramas such as Cambridge University's Eshu'sFaust, and Phyllida Lloyd's productions of Medea and Death and the King's Horseman.
Dance companies throughout Africa, Europe and America have commissioned Peter Badejo's work. In this country, Peter's list of collaborators and commissioners includes Adzido, Kokuma (History of the Drum and Awakening), Irie (Agbara), Sakoba Productions, H Patten, The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, Cambridge Arts Theatre and Pan Project.
Greatly in demand as a teacher, Peter has conducted residencies and workshop programmes throughout the UK for organisations such as the International Workshop Festival, London Contemporary Dance School, The Birmingham Summer School and WOMAD. Professionals and experienced performers flock to his well-known annual dance and music summer school, Bami Jo. Peter Badejo has also assisted in the development of African dance in Liverpool in his work as artist in residence at Merseyside Dance Initiative.
Choreographer, performer, teacher and academic, his commitment to the field of African performance arts has also involved research conducted through the Universities of London, California, Ghana and Ahmadu Bello University.
Badejo Arts's spring 2003 national tour, Elemental Passions, opened on Saturday 26 April 2003 at the New Wolsey Theatre and ran through to Friday 30 May at Town Hall Studios, Swindon. The London dates at The Place were on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May.
