Choreodrome: next steps

Coiled Up and Akanana, Sweet Banana

The image is divided into two sections. The left side shows a person with curly hair wearing a white shirt, seen from the waist up in low light, covering their mouth with their hands as if distressed. On the right, against a black background, a person with short, curly white hair, wearing large red earrings, a black long-sleeve top, and a colourful patterned skirt, are shown from the hips up, stretching their arms to the sides and opening their mouth in a scream or alarmed expression.
Photos by Elly Welford and Amy Sinead

About Choreodrome: next steps

LIMITED EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE*

A double-bill of new work developed through Choreodrome, The Place’s annual residency and commission programme which provides dance makers with a nurturing space, time, and resources to develop new ideas.

*The Early Bird discount will be applied at checkout.

Coiled Up by Sababa Co.

What does it mean to live with a womb?

Coiled Up unpacks the complexities, from pain and beauty to rage and power, through visceral movement and bold storytelling.

A daring, collaborative performance choreographed and directed by Bar Groisman inviting audiences to feel, witness and transform together.

This striking piece confronts silence, embraces vulnerability, and reclaims embodied experience.

No more hiding, just full-bodied truth.

Three people wearing white shirts with dark dresses or sets over them, resembling school uniforms, hold up the leg of one person dressed in a cobalt blue stocking. The leg points to the left of the composition, while the group, clustered on the right, look in the same direction as if scheming or plotting something together.

Akanana, Sweet Banana by Dorine Mugisha

An autobiographical piece by Dorine Mugisha, exploring her multi-cultural upbringing between Tanzania, France and the UK, navigating different people, places and institutions.

On her journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Mugisha blends spoken word in French, English, Swahili, and Kihaya with music and movement, weaving together whacking, traditional Tanzanian dance, krump, hip-hop, and improvisation.

Against a black background, a person with short, curly white hair, wearing large red earrings, a black long-sleeve top, and a colourful patterned skirt, are shown from the hips up, stretching their arms to the sides and opening their mouth in a scream or alarmed expression.
5 Stars

With its bold observational/confessional script and urgent stage navigation, it is a thriving nugget of succinct abundance

Morning Star

4 Stars

You see her embrace her heritage and alternate dance traditions to find freer expression with mind-blowing choreography that finds flow, feminine power and defiance. It’s a truly breathtaking work

Broadway Baby

About Sababa Co.

Sababa Co. is the creative platform of choreographer and movement director Bar Groisman. Founded in 2019, the company creates bold, physical, and theatrical contemporary dance works that share personal insights into everyday struggles—highlighting stories and experiences often overlooked.

Bar is a Cambridge-based artist, trained at DanceEast CAT, the National Youth Dance Company, and graduated with first-class honours from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Her choreographic and movement direction spans acclaimed works across the UK and internationally. Bar is also a trustee at Sadler’s Wells and an Associate Artist with GymJam Theatre.

Coiled Up: Cast & Creatives

Choreographer and director: Bar Groisman

Performers: Polly Constance, Jenna Unwinand Aeron Preston.

Dramaturgical Advice: Lou Cope

Lighting designer: Zoe Ritchie

Music: Milo McKinnon

Costume and Rehearsal Director: Jacob Elliot-Roberts

Producer: Treacle Holasz

Outreach Coordination: Steph Townsend ​

Trailer by Gen Reeves (filmed at DanceEast and Jerwood DanceHouse)

Photos by Elly Welford ​

Previously produced by Alison Thomas and Jasmine Norton

R&D performers include Rose Lewis, Corrie McKenzie, Thea Kallhed Moller and Fay Reilly

Coiled Up: Credits

Funded by Arts Council England, National Lottery Project Grant, Three Monkies Trust and Paul Mulholland.

Commissioned by DanceEast, The Place, Cambridge Junction and Back to the Bones Festival.

Partnered with Yorkshire Dance, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, London Contemporary Dance School, Cambridge Junction, Playground Rambert, Wellbeing of Women.

Special thanks to Ola Rabinovich, Boris Groisman, William Townsend, Jenna Unwin, Brendan Keaney, Lucy Bayliss, Matt Burman, Wellbeing of Women Charity, Emma Boswood, Alison Thomas, Jasmine Norton, Lea Tirabasso, Clay Arts, The Playground Rambert, Catherine Wilmore, Hamble Wallace, Protein Dance, Playground Rambert, Sigal Spigel, AWA Dance Charity.

About Dorine Mugisha

Dorine Mugisha is a multi-disciplinary artist, events organiser, project manager interested in themes around identity, belonging, culture and body image. Born and raised in France, of Tanzanian heritage, working across the UK, she is based in Scotland and works on projects between Scotland and Tanzania. She is inspired by an array of cultures having travelled over 30 countries, and speaks 4 languages; this informs a lot of her work.

She has a degree in Law and Sociology, experience working in the youth charity sector for over 10 years and has a IAFPD Primary Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Coaching. Dorine is the founder of Whacking Scotland and Body Movement where she runs events, workshops, retreats, and more. Her diverse background reflects a combination of creativity, leadership and drive. A neuro-spicy artist who strongly believes there is no one way to be a 'dancer'.

Akanana, Sweet Banana: Credits

The Work Room, The PlaceChoreodrome, Dance Base, Open Art Surgery, Transmission Gallery, Imaginate.

Akanana, Sweet Banana: Cast & Creatives

Director, Choreographer, Performer: Dorine Mugisha

Mentors/ Dramaturgical support: Jonzi D, Jane Sekonya

Lighting and Tech design: Robbie Thomson

Trailer: Dav Bernard