African Routes 2025: Equal Measures – day 2

Wanjiku Nyachae

Wanjiku Nyachae (she/her) is a British-Kenyan Gestalt psychotherapist and organisational coach. She explores how inequality lives in the body and champions self-expression, fostering self-empowered psychological safety as a space for healing, resistance, and connection—rooted in the rhythms and legacies of African, Caribbean, and Black British dance traditions.

Rob Jackson  – Dockside Breakers CIC

Dockside Breakers CIC was founded in 2022, and we are a community-led company (voluntary group) that seeks to raise the profile of breaking (break dance) in Liverpool. The company run open training sessions and lessons throughout the week, they  busk and compete, and all revenue generated go towards future breaking projects.

Rob began breaking at the age of 11 through an after-school club in York, led by members of Gravity Control Crew (2007), led to creating a crew, and winning the UK Schools Breakdance Championships from 2008 to 2010. This early success sparked a deeper interest in dance, leading him to train in a range of styles including ballet, jazz, street (commercial), and contemporary at local dance schools.

This foundation led to training at York College, gaining an Extended Diploma and an A Level in Contemporary Dance. In 2012–2013he joined the Phoenix Dance Youth Company, working with choreographers such as Gary Clarke, Sharon Watson, and Douglas Thorpe. This experience inspired him to audition for the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, graduating in 2017.

Louise Katerega- People Dancing

People Dancing is the development organisation, membership body and centre of knowledge for community and participatory dance, driving forward inclusion and excellence through training, qualifications, resources, specialist programmes & networks.

People Dancing believe that everyone has the right to participate in dance in all its diversity. Our vision is a world where dance makes a positive difference. Since its establishment in 1886, the organisation’s charitable work promotes public education and participation in dance, the arts and civil society.

www.communitydance.org.uk

Louise trained at London Contemporary Dance School, Coventry University (Performing Arts), holds a first-class degree in Film and Literature from the University of Warwick and trained as a life coach. Former trusteeships include Birmingham Royal Ballet (Education), ArtReach a multi- and outdoor arts company, NeSSIE, a children’s mental health CIC. She now serves dynamic governance strategists, RIAC and on the board of  Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Louise began working with People Dancing, in 2016, a partnership which two years later became Voice and Presence, activities designed to acknowledge amplify and celebrate the contribution of women of the African Diaspora to participatory dance. By 2020 her work had expanded across the company and to Global Majority heritage artists of any gender identity. In April 2023, she joined the executive team at the organisation as Head of Professional Development, a role that continues to encompass this change-making agenda.

Gerrard Martin

Gerrard is a performer, choreographer, movement director, dance educator, yoga / barre teacher and co-founder of Black Artists in Dance.  He created his company Gerrard Martin Dance (GMD) in 2011.

Performing credits include the English National Opera, Union Dance Company, Tavaziva Dance, the Royal Opera House, West Ends’ The Lion King, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Ballet Black.

Bérnard Pierre-Louis

Bérnard Pierre-Louis, BA Hons, MA, PgCert TLHE, Dance mentor, someone’s friend and a Dad!!

During his time in Liverpool which has spanned over three decades, Bernard has been a contemporary dance tutor within Further and Higher education: LCC, Senior lecturer for Liverpool John Moores University, and currently Hope University. Bérnard delivers contemporary dance practice, choreography, Dance Technology (Intermediality) and music accompaniment and composition. His sabbatical to visit the Limon Institute in New York supported his academic research focusing his practice through the exploration of music/movement enhancement and innovative composition.

Karl C. Newsam

Karl C. Newsam is a Northern-based creative and educator with extensive expertise in both dance and musical theatre. His career has spanned some of the UK’s leading performing arts institutions, where he has served as both a programme manager and a principal lecturer. Alongside his academic work, Karl regularly adjudicates dance and musical theatre festivals across the country.

A passionate advocate for diversity in the arts, Karl works closely with numerous organisations as an advisory board member. He is the proud owner and director of Melt Arts CIC, as well as the founder of Melt Dance CIC — a diverse Merseyside-based dance company dedicated to breaking down barriers to elitist vocational training and creating opportunities for all who share a passion for dance. Most recently, he has joined the board of directors at The Hammond School in Chester, further extending his influence in arts education.

Karl’s career reflects a deep commitment to artistic excellence, accessibility, and innovation, making him a respected and influential figure in UK performing arts.

Felix Ologbosere

As performing artist, Felix was born in Lagos with Bini heritage from the Edo people in  Nigeria. A highly skilled African Dancer who focuses on performing arts through dance, Music and drama. Trained in Nigeria (Gongbeat arts) under tutelage of Isioma William (drummer and choreographer).

Currently works for Liverpool City council as a youth support worker. My job entails non-formal educational activities which involve enjoyment, challenge and learning.

Wendy Okoli

Wendy is a self-taught dancer of Nigerian Heritage. She first started dancing at the age of 14 performing hip-hop on stage from secondary school to university.
After moving to England, Wendy learned other dance styles; Salsa, Dominican Bachata, Merengue, Semba, Kizomba and Brazilian Samba. She specialises in teaching and performing Afrodance and Brazilian Samba. Wendy is the co-founder of Samba Livre, a dance troupe that has performed all over the country at various events as well as commercials and TV. Wendy is also an actor and model represented by Urban Talent and has appeared in various films, TV programmes and commercials.

Maxine Brown

Maxine has spent decades working in various communities throughout the UK, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, specializing in African People’s classical and contemporary dance (APD). As a teacher, lecturer, and choreographer, she has dedicated herself to sharing the richness of APD at numerous educational establishments and community groups both locally and internationally. Her extensive involvement in APD has allowed her to become well-acquainted with current developments and practices, and regularly engages with a wide network of practitioners, attending specialist workshops and events to stay abreast of the latest trends.

Her experience includes bringing people together for collaborative projects, coordinating performances and events, and inspiring participants to maintain high levels of interest and engagement. Beyond dance, she is skilled in African crafts, often conducting workshops creating costumes for performers. Currently, works as the Community Engagement Manager at NML while also working as a freelance creative artist and movement educator.

Keisha Grant

Born in Birmingham, UK, to Jamaican parents, Keisha began her dance classes at the age of 3 in ballet, tap dance and jazz at her local dancing school. After her Contemporary Dance training at Laban Centre and Roehampton University Keisha toured internationally as a dancer across Europe, South Africa and Canada with ACE Dance and Music, Tavaziva Dance and State of Emergency. Keisha is a qualified yoga instructor with an interest in how creativity and embodied awareness can support healing trauma.

Under her leadership, Keneish Dances commissions have included those from Jazz Musician Bill Laurence, Sheffield Oratorio Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Museums – Think Tank Science Museum, Sandwell Museums, Warwick University, Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council and Laban Guild International amongst others.

Keisha’s dance work is interdisciplinary, rooted in emotions and human experience, personal and shared narratives from the diaspora.

https://www.keneishdance.com/

Anna Loy

Anna is an artist based in Liverpool was named Portrait Artist of the Year, 2023. The Liverpool based Output art gallery reached out to Anna to be included in their painting exhibition that was in January 2023. In 2019 she began posting her portraits to TikTok for fun. Since then, Anna has achieved over 2.2 Million likes, 60K followers and was headhunted by the Tate Art Gallery to work with their social media team as an artist for the ‘Draw January’ Campaign in 2022. A very successful series of videos that reached over 1 million people!

Karen Gallagher

Born in Liverpool, trained at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in London in the early 80’s. Set up the dance and mime department for Second Out Theatre Workshop (1986) Programme Manager of 051 Media Training Limited (1991-92), Assistant Director at Cheshire Dance Workshop (1992-94), now Cheshire Dance, becoming Artistic Director of MDI (1994-2018).

A Graduate of Liverpool John Moore’s University (LJMU) in 2007 with an MA in Social Enterprise, received a BMOBO for MDI’s community dance practice (2010) and in 2011 was a runner up for Merseyside Woman of the Year. Awarded an MBE, for services to dance (2012) and awarded an Honorary Fellow of LJMU (2014), and Honorary Life Member of People Dancing (2016). In 2020 set up Karen Gallagher and Associates and works freelance.