Jazz Arts ReWIRED: Day of Practice and Participation
part of Jazz Arts ReWIRED Convention 2025
About Jazz Arts ReWIRED: Day of Practice and Participation
Join us for a jazz-packed day devoted to dancers, practitioners, teachers and jazz dance enthusiasts, with an array of exciting masterclasses led by a stellar line up of international jazz dance artists and choreographers!
Each masterclass reflects and references the lineage of dance styles rooted in the jazz dance canon. Explore the rhythms of African dance, the pulse of musical theatre, the creative vision of jazz theatre repertoire and the energy of Lindy Hop dance, and take part in a discussion with renowned industry experts on the evolution, evaluation and ecology of the UK's Jazz Arts scene.
If you're also interested in watching jazz dance theatre you can get tickets to the Jazz Arts ReWIRED Convention 2025, taking place in the theatre at 7.30pm on Saturday 20 September! The evening will include commissioned works from BOP Jazz Theatre UK, Griot Dance Collective, Lukas Hunt Creations, The Ovonlen-Jones Ensemble and Footnotes Dance, alongside five emerging Jazz choreographers selected for the JAR25 Emerging Jazz Artist platform.
Pricing
Tickets for individual masterclasses are £15 each
Book 4 masterclasses | Booking discount offer £50
Book 3 masterclasses | Booking Discount offer £40
Book 2 masterclasses | Booking Discount offer £28
Book Let’s Talk Jazz Discussion Forum | £8
*Let’s Talk Jazz Discussion Forum discounted | £5 - available when booking 2+ Masterclasses.
Schedule
9.30am – 11.00am | Afro Jazz Grooves with (Griot Dance Collective) with Bafana Matea
Bafana Matea is a contemporary jazz dance artist, choreographer and recognised dance teacher. An alumni of Alvin Ailey School and with a stellar international performing career, Bafana brings his ultra cool style, specialising in a fusion of Afro-centric movements, jazz dance and true embodiment that is the vibrancy of traditional African dance moves, grooves and music. https://www.instagram.com/griots_dance_collective_/
11.15am – 12.45pm | Creative Jazz Repertoire (BOP Jazz Theatre) with Dollie Henry MBE
Artistic Director of BOP Jazz Theatre Company UK and acclaimed international jazz artist and choreographer, Dollie will be taking the artistry of jazz dance to another level. Be part of her unique expression, creativity and original narrative of jazz dance expression as she shares the essence of BOP Company repertoire. https://www.bop.org.uk | https://www.jazztheatreartsuk.org
1pm | Let’s Talk Jazz Discussion Forum
Let’s Talk Jazz offers a conversational space for deeper discussions, discovery and delivery. Lifting the veil on the position and progress of jazz arts within our national performance and educational sectors. The forum brings together a revered panel of jazz artists, creatives, educationalists and arts leaders as guest speakers, to deliberate and disseminate the vision and viability of Jazz Theatre Arts in the UK.
Hosted by:
Paul Jenkins - Co-Artistic Director of BOP Jazz Theatre & Jazz Theatre Arts UK, Jazz Composer & Musician, Music Lecturer, EDI & Creative Arts Consultant and Author
Dollie Henry MBE - Founder Co-Artistic Director of BOP Jazz Theatre & Jazz Theatre Arts UK, International Jazz Artist, Choreographer, Educator, EDI & Creative Consultant, Patron of IDTA, The Hammond and Author
Elaine Grant - Director of Elaine Grant Creative Consulting, Arts and Community Engagement, Participation & Outreach Consultant
Yassmin Foster - Black Dance Research Company, Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts - University of East London
George Kirkham – Principal of Creative Dance Academy - Slough, Arts and Educational Leader
Omar F. Okai FRSA – Co-Director of Black British Theatre Awards, International Theatre Director
Ray Oudkerk – Vice Principal of BRIT School, Trustee of Rambert Dance School, Chair of Rambert Grades and GCSE Dance
2.45pm – 4.15pm | Musical Theatre Jazz (West End) with Tarik Firmpong
Recognised international musical theatre performer, Tarik has worked in numerous West End musicals and tours, films and theatre dance projects both nationally and internationally. He will bring his authenticity as a leading West End artist, choreographer and dance theatre mentor to the studio sharing his passion and energy of musical theatre jazz. https://www.tarikfrimpong.com
4.30pm – 6.00pm | Authentic Jazz (Lindy Hop) with Lana Williams
One of the UK’s leading voices keeping the history of authentic Jazz and Lindy-Hop techniques and styles alive and kicking. Lana has choreographed for film, TV and theatre and continues to share her jazz passion globally. Share in this authentic jazz style and learn from the best. https://www.swing-intensive.com
About BOP Jazz Theatre
The work produced by BOP Jazz Theatre strives, to provide a platform that heightens the profile of jazz creatives, jazz dancers and jazz theatre here in the UK. At BOP, we believe in the boundless transformative power of jazz, and Jazz Arts ReWIRED invites everyone to experience the creative synergy of movement and music through a carefully curated programme of workshops, discussions and performances.
We look forward to welcoming audiences to ThePlace once again, to celebrate this unique artform together. Our vision is to enlighten, educate and entertain through the pure essence and expression of the Jazz Art Form.
https://www.bop.org.uk/ | www.jazztheatreartsuk.org
Credits
Jazz Arts ReWIRED Convention, created by BOP Jazz Theatre UK in association with Jazz Theatre Arts UK, The Place and One Dance UK and supported by Arts Council England.
