Ngoma Brings Hope To Kenyan Dancer
Image: Joel Kioko jumping in rehearsal with Dissonance Dance Theatre
Oct 9th, 2024 – Washington, DC
Ngoma Brings Hope To Kenyan Dancer
Contact:
Shawn Short, Director
202-540-8338
sshort@ngcfddt.org
Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT) secures visa status for its first hire from Africa. Ngoma Center for Dance (Ngoma), DDT’s parent organization, invested more than $22,000 in administrative and legal fees to make this visa approval a reality. Joel Kioko arrived in Washington, DC, on October 8th, 2024. He is a company artist within DDT’s 17th-season ranks.
Kioko is an alumnus of the Academy of Dance & Arts in Nairobi, Kenya, and is a graduate of London’s prestigious English National Ballet School. Born and reared in the slums of Nairobi, dance was Joel’s savior from the streets. While in England, Kioko performed the dance works of Petipa, Castilla, and Valcárcel. Kioko performed classic works such as Concerto and Giselle. Additionally, Joel participated in the English National Ballet School’s UK Tour of Sleeping Beauty – graduating in 2020.
“Joel once told me that if he didn’t get a dancer contract, he would have to enroll in the military. I couldn’t have a wonderful talent and possibly lose his life to gun violence. DDT is about giving a platform to talented artists to start and launch their careers. We are happy we accomplished that for Joel.” – Shawn Short, DDT’s Founding Director
“We are truly excited to have Joel with us in Washington, DC,” states Ngoma/DDT’s Founding Director, Shawn Short. “ Joel has had the wonderful opportunity to study and student perform with many internationally recognized dance organizations in the United States and Europe. Yet, I found it bizarre that none had offered him a professional dancer contract.” Dissonance Dance Theatre is Joel’s first company artist contract.
According to the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC), Kenya sent more than 600 troops to Haiti in September 2024. These troops are deployed to help Haiti fight gangs controlling much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and nearby surrounding areas. “Joel once told me that if he didn’t get a dancer contract, he would have to enroll in the military. I couldn’t have a wonderful talent and possibly lose his life to gun violence. DDT is about giving a platform to talented artists to start and launch their careers. We are happy we accomplished that for Joel.”
Joel Kioko performs in Dissonance Dance Theatre’s 17th theatrical season. DDT is a Resident Arts Partner with Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street NE (1333 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002).
Image: Joel Kioko in the studio at Joy of Motion Dance Center
################################################################################################################################################### Ngoma Center for Dance is the home of Dissonance Dance Theatre (founded in 2007) and its award-winning programs based in the Washington, DC area. DDT is named “one of the 11 small-but-mighty dance companies outside of LA and NYC” by Dance Spirit Magazine. Evoking emotional experiences in the audiences we touch, is the only East Coast, nationally recognized, Black-managed contemporary ballet company between NYC and ATL. For more information, visit www.ngcfddt.org