Bringing a dynamic blend of creativity and technical precision, Mayowa is set to enrich Phoenix Dance Theatre’s vibrant repertoire as their new associate artist.
Mayowa Ogunnaike graduated from Trinity Laban in 2017 with First Class Honours and received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreological Studies. Currently based in Leeds, Mayowa initially joined Phoenix Dance Theatre as an apprentice dancer and has since performed works by a diverse range of choreographers. She is currently engaged in new productions with Gary Clarke Company and Léa Tirabasso. Alongside performing, Mayowa delivers creative and technique classes across the UK, using the practice as an opportunity for sharing a wide-ranging movement vocabulary, experimenting, collaborating with artists and facilitating cultural exchange.
In 2024, Mayowa was appointed as a Phoenix Fridays artist where she developed her teaching practice alongside regularly joining the company as a guest artist for open company classes. She’s passionate about using dance as a tool for creative expression and guides company dancers during the programme to exploring the power of rhythm, musicality, and the unique ways our bodies move through space. Phoenix Dance Theatre looks forward to the valuable contribution her distinctive styles and techniques will continue bringing to the company.