VOCAB DANCE
ABOUT
Vocab Dance was founded in London in 2007, the company is dedicated to the choreography of Artistic Director, Alesandra Seutin. Since its inception Vocab Dance has been gaining recognition by performing nationally and internationally.
The company's work is diverse and includes solo works, guest artist collaborations and ensemble productions. The company aspires to ensure continuity by strengthening and expanding their national and international community via on-going professional workshops and educational programmes, development of new audiences, nurturing young talents and presenting strong dance works in a variety of settings.
Vocab Dance work with diverse collaborators/artists to create interdisciplinary performances accessible to a wide audience. The choreography is created from the inside out; producing raw and engaging work, driven by the dancer’s energy.
Artistic Director
Alesandra Seutin
International performer, choreographer and teacher Alesandra daughter to South African and Belgian parents, was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. She grew up in Brussels and now lives in London. She studied dance in different parts of the world including Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States.
"Dance for me is a way of expression and through my work; I intend to speak volume" Alesandra Seutin
She holds a Diploma in dance theatre from Laban and a degree in choreography and performance from Middlesex University in London. Alesandra Seutin also further trained at the École des Sables, Senegal and became a student of Germaine Acogny, under Acogny’s training and guidance, Alesandra Seutin has received transmission of her technique. Seutin is a worldwide ambassador of the Acogny technique, which she teaches at Ecole des Sables and globally.
Since founding her company Vocab Dance in 2007, Alesandra has progressively built an international reputation for creating thought provoking and visually striking performances for small to large-scale theatres as well as non-theatre settings. Her creativity is triggered by issues that address and reflect social, political and economic circumstances and with movement, voice and music she shares stories that induce conversations.
Past company productions include Ceci n’est pas Noire, Temps Mort, Word!, So. We. To, Frusted, Atomic Sun and Kwenda-Kwenda, which have toured around the UK, Holland, Germany, Canada, France, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Brazil, Rwanda and Ivory Coast.
Current works include Giant; an immersive dance meets arts installation duet for black box spaces and gallery spaces and a new group work Boy Breaking Glass, which premiered at Sadler’s Wells, London in October 2018.
Recent commissioned works include, Boy Breaking Glass for Sadler’s Wells, INA (Light) for Sadler’s Well and Random Acts (Channel 4), Paradiso for Company of Elders at Sadler’s Wells and Icon for Studio Wayne McGregor.
Alesandra Seutin has appeared in dance films Concrete Flight (dir. Irven Lewis & Alesandra Seutin, 2012), Danser l’espoir (dir. Vali Fugulin, 2016) and IYA TUNDE (dir. Laure Malecot, 2017).
In addition to her body of work, Alesandra has acted as Movement Director for two plays at Theatre Centre and created work for Phoenix Dance Theatre, Trinity Laban, 12º North Dance, Middlesex University, State of Emergency and 3rdEDge.
Alesandra supports the development of emerging dance artists and was recently a dramaturge and writer for the young dance makers twins Les Mybalés new work À travers l’autre.
Alesandra Seutin regularly leads intensives workshops and classes internationally for professional companies, dance organisations and training institutions in Europe and Africa.
Alesandra is currently touring with the new work Dear Winnie for JR.CE.SA.R supported by KVS & NNT, which has toured in Holland 2019-2020 and received with high praises. The tour continues in Belgium 2020-21.
Alesandra Seutin will be a Guest Artistic Director for the National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) 2020-21. The new work she creates for them will tour in the UK.
Producer
Grace Okereke
Grace has been in the dance sector for eighteen years, with her career evolving from performer, to manager, with the latter being the predominant role. Grace’s work has transitioned between an employed and freelance capacity spanning a wide range of activities, predominately on a national pan-European and international level. As a producer Grace works across performance productions, touring, fundraising and strategic development. Grace has previously worked with, Luca Silvestrini’s Protein Dance, High Hearted Theatre (Theatre) Mayuri Boonham | ATMA Dance, One Dance UK, Rambert, Greenwich Dance, East London Dance, The Body Narratives (multi-disciplinary arts) and more.
As well as supporting Alesandra Seutin Vocab Dance, Grace is focused on her work with touring companies, Vicki Igbokwe | Uchenna Dance and Alleyne Dance.
Grace holds a BA in Dance and a MA in Arts Policy and Management and sits on the board of Directors for Dancing Strong, who focus on cross cultural activities, particularly between the USA and UK, and regularly mentors emerging artists and producers both formally and informally.