Featured artists
VICTORIA TAIWO
AARON AUGUSTUS
KLOE DEAN
ALLAN OKELLO
TAMSIN KAYEMBE
LEEMORE MARRAT
More
Wave artists...
Creston Hamilton
17 year old VOLUNTEER Creston says "I joined Saturday Youth Theatre
first and later the project working with local police. Before I would never have
been able to do it, but now I've been involved in all sorts of public events.
We're able to go to those in authority and explain why young people aren't engaging
and how they could change that. And because of how we present ourselves, they
listen."
Logic
20 year old Trainee Tutor and lyricist, Logic, said, "As a lyricist
I want to reach everyone. Anything that is worth achieving is worth fighting
for through time and effort. There are not enough organisations like Second Wave.
Many young people do not have the right resources for them to have a chance."
Ade Ogundare-Ali
24 year old TRUSTEE Ade said, "I joined Saturday Youth Theatre at 16
and went on to volunteer. Most recently I was a visual artist in What
Does It Take. Performing arts are about
creating experiences... anything is achievable. Second Wave is a leader in its
field and as a Trustee I hope to be an initiator of change."
McKie
Jackson
18 yr old APPRENTICE and actor McKie Jackson supports
workshops on Saturdays. "When I first came to Saturday
Fusion I was 15, by myself and nervous. By the middle of
the Taster Workshop I felt comfortable. It was professional,
but not too serious or restricted. It was like a new opportunity,
a chance to socialise and express emotions in an energetic,
positive way. Like if you felt sad or happy it comes out.
The stories we create are something you see Ð on road,
in the chip shop, in the market... anywhere. At 2Wave you
are the template. You can move things about, change things.
Other places they tell you what they think, and what you
should do. And a show is a rush! Anything can happen! You
become more confident as you progress."
Shakira Davis
16 year old VOLUNTEER Shakira said, "I started with the youth theatre
because I wanted to dance. Now I'm on the Event Crew helping to support the next
event and other young people. Second Wave is youth-friendly and helps young people
improve their skills without any pressure."
Rachel Osbourne
21 year old YOUTH ARTS APPRENTICE, Rachel said, "Volunteering
really picked me up. I feel I've given so little but received a lot. I joined
the Event Crew supporting the summer production What Does It Take? Now I am an
apprentice, learning skills in event and centre management."
Denise Dickenson
24 year old TRUSTEE, Denise, says "I've been a member since Harmony
In Harlem in 2002 and volunteering since has helped me to grow. As a Trustee
I want to support in various ways."
Michaela Davis
19 year old Michaela joined
2Wave with an interest in performance, and joined the Event
Crew, working with professional photographer Sarah
Ainslie. "Since then, I've taken a huge interest
in photography. I started a Foundation Course in Art & Design
at Central Saint Martins and now do my own work as a photographer." Last
summer she supported Swagga on costume and visuals.
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Read below about the experiences of Second Wave young artists
who have done our Apprenticeship Programme...
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VICTORIA
TAIWO 22 years
Designer/Maker
and Choreographer and Writer
Victoria
joined 2Wave at the age of 13 and went on to train as an Apprentice,
facilitating drama & dance programmes for young people.
She set up her own dance group Ecology in
2006, and started entering competitions, as well as designing
costumes and footwear for her dancers. "Designing
things is about identity and the freedom to express who you
are".
In 2009, Victoria
was one of 10 young artists selected to take part in the
UK’s unique creative business incubator for designer-makers
set up by Head for Business and Cockpit
Arts, funded by the
Arts Council, described as ‘a unique entry route for
raw creative talent to work alongside established professional
designers’. Victoria believes that "skating,
dance and design can all work together. I’d also like
to make new partnerships internationally". KBD
Designs
is now working in partnership with Supreme
Skaters Elite (SSE)
and Flavour Magazine
will be producing a two page feature on her work.
Victoria is also setting up an all female branch of the company
called 4fourAll. Roll and Bounce Skating
Launch Event at London Bridge (Tunnel 47) on 6 February 2010
will feature her and other young designers work (See Facebook).
Victoria is also building links with Artists
for Humanity,
a Boston based youth arts company linked to 2Wave, and she
will be part of the team of young artists involved in 2Wave’s
Cultural Exchange programme with Amsterdam. |
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AARON
AUGUSTUS 22 years
Dancer,
Choreographer and Producer
Aaron Augustus is an Associate
Artist at Second Wave. He choreographed the dance for Swagga in
2009. "I was 16 when I joined. I was
in What Does it Take (2007)
and it made me want to know how to produce a show like that.
When I was 18 I joined the Apprentice Programme. I learnt about
youth work, workshop skills, how to script, direct and manage
projects. I also learnt how to handle people and create a comfortable
working environment".
At 19 Aaron he was ready to
set up his own company Inspire Youth Dance and
Channel 4's Year Dot programme filmed
him in the first year of setting up. In December 2009 Aaron’s
company produced a dance event at the Albany. "It
was great but my next challenge is to use the writing skills
I have got from 2Wave in my choreography." Aaron’s
dance credits include: a T-mobile ad, IDO World Hip-Hop Dance
Champion, SDIi UK Street Dance Champion.
Aaron has been commissioned by Second Wave to produce a new dance
narrative, scheduled for May and called Reckless.
Below, Inspire Youth Dance at The Albany
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KLOE
DEAN 20 years
Performer,
Songwriter, and Choreographer
Associate Artist and Tutor at Second Wave,
Kloe is a songwriter/arranger and is involved in several
areas of collaboration with 2Wave’s Artistic team.
She is working on It’s
My Nite for International
Women’s Week and the Industry Speakeasy, So
You Wanna Dance?
Kloe joined Saturday Fusion when
she was 14 and performed in lots of plays at Second Wave
like Endz (2005).
"When I was 16 I set up Rhythm
and Harmony,
a singing group". In 2005 she joined Vortex dance
group, and got involved in Hip Hop dance, with companies
like Unity and Boy
Blue ENT. "I
got the lead role in Wave's What Does
It Take in
06 & 07 and then got offered a lead role in The
Next Big Thing by JB Rose, produced by Tell
Tarra at the Albany".
She went on to train
at WAC and South Thames College and travelled to New York
to record and write for a new music label. In 2008,
Kloe decided to set up her own female dance group, Myself,
who competed in events such as Dare2Dance, Big
Dance and
Set4Set (which they won). In 2009
the group performed at
BluePrint, and Breakin’ Convention.
In August 2009, Myself won first place in two categories
including Solo Freestyle in the Get
it on The Floor competition at Hackney
Empire. This year Myself and all-girl super crew
Masquerade are preparing for lots of dance competitions,
choreographing a new dance piece called Cleopatra
– the Queen of Egypt. |
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Alan
performing in Second Wave's Harmony in Harlem at the
George Wood Theatre in 2002
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ALLAN
OKELLO 26 years
Media & Events
Manager
Allan and his siblings arrived
from Uganda. He joined Second Wave when he was
fifteen. “A friend invited me to
a poetry workshop. At first I just sat out in the foyer – I
was too shy. I was writing poetry in secret and later came out
after joining a hip hop workshop. 2Wave was a safe space to try
things out. I discovered things…like I was afraid to dance,
but when I was performing in a production that 2Wave was doing
with GDA I had to do all these dance routines!
"At 17
I got into trouble with the police – peer pressure. Second
Wave was a big support, offered me training and a job as a Support
Tutor. I also started working as a DJ, promoting concerts, artists
and organising events. I got a job at Live Magazine
and got into journalism, photo design, and distribution, and
now I’ve set up my own magazine. I’m so different
now. Second Wave was the foundation of it all, increasing my
confidence and self-worth."
In 2009 Allan moved to Leeds and
has since launched NTZ entertainment
magazine, for 18-30 year-olds. http://ntzmagazine.com |
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Tamsin aka The Concise One
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TASMSIN
KAYEMBE aka The Concise One 23
years
MC,
Writer and Lyricist
A respected Poet/MC, Tamsin grew up
in Deptford. An Associate Artist and resident Lyricist
at 2Wave, Tamsin joined the project when she was 13. She
became an Apprentice in 2006 and wrote and performed in
What Does it Take at
the Albany in 2006 & 07, and Placebo in 2008.
In 2009 she joined the writing team for Swagga and
is working on a new play for Lyrisistaz,
the young women’s performance group at 2Wave, due to
be premiered in July 2010.
"Second
Wave’s writing process challenges convention. You are
into a rehearsal room with young people, and other young
artists. You work with the experiences they bring to shape
the story. You write for characters, for their stories, and
there’s a lot of re-writing. It's a craft and I'm learning
new things all the time."
A regular
host for the Breakout Club at Midi
Music Company, Tamsin has contributed to research
for Risin’ from the Dust – a
new film about the history of Grime and Garage Music by OOR
Productions in association with young people from
the Midi Music Company and the Albany.
She is also working on a project with the Half
Moon Theatre, introducing very young children to
lyrics.
Some of Tamsin’s tracks can be heard on
www.myspace.com/co1-muzakdarealuv.
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LEEMORE
MARRETT JUNIOR 24 years
Actor
and Facilitator
Leemore joined 2Wave when he was 15. He completed his BA
Acting course at Central School of Speech & Drama in
2009, having gained a first. He won the Diana
Wade Bursary 2007 and Olivier
Award Bursary in 2008. He performed
in Shakespeare’s Globe for the Sam
Wanamaker Festival 2009 and was recently signed by Feast
Management. He has just finished working with Ian
McKellan on a pilot television series called The
Academy.
"I auditioned at 2Wave and got a role
in Harmony in Harlem (2002). That production
really cemented my interest in theatre. I love American theatre
and it had that feel to it, and I was only 16 and working
with a cast of young adults, which I really enjoyed. When
I was 17, I did a course in Musical Theatre at Greenwich
Theatre. I performed in other 2Wave shows like Urban
Tales (George
Wood Theatre), and What Does It Take".
Leemore will also
be involved in 2Wave’s Industry Speakeasy, So
you wanna be in show business? in February 2010. |
More young artists...
Wai
Yin Kwok
24 year old Wai Yin volunteered at Wave in 2006, supporting on costume for What
Does it Take (2007). In 2008, she was Costume Designer for the
new production at the Albany. Wai Yin designed the set and costume for Swagga.
Graduating from Rose Bruford College, her designs include Dark Tales (The
Lion & Unicorn), Midsummer Night's Dream (Southwark
Playhouse), Pangu & Nuwa (Outdoor Trafalgar Square), Monkey! (Polka
Theatre), Into the Woods / Big Top (Bridewell Theatre).
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Aaron MacKinson
17 yr old Aaron
joined at 15. He supports FUSION and VOCABILITY. "I
worked with 2Wave's Undergound Performance Group (15-17 years) to create a play
called Unprovoked. We went to see Random by
Debbie Tucker Green at the Royal Court Theatre where a youth dies in a random
act of violence. It felt current. We took that trigger into Saturday workshops
and began devising.
A lot happened. Young people embraced it. Everyone was motivated.
My role was to facilitate the process, travelling
with it, seeing
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where
they were taking it. I wrote a song, The Daily Routine which
was a cycle for a particular day, where a boy loses his life.
Next day everything's normal, but it's not. We performed the
play with 2Wave's dance group Urban Reality at Lewisham Town
Hall. I met with the Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock and
spoke to him about young people's experiences. Audiences said
they were moved and I think it brought a deeper reality of
youth violence to everyone." |
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Some of Victoria Taiwo's designs
Inspire Youth Dance
Above, Kloe Dean working with Second Wave members
Kloe's dance company Myself
performing in Swagga
Allan Okello's digital magazine NTZ
Allan 'DJ Knowledge' Okello with soul singer Terri Walker "...and before
you ask, no, she's not my girlfriend! This just happens to be my best
pic!"
Artwork by Tamsin
The Academy, a new TV show about a crumbling drama school, starring Ian
McKellan with Leemore Marratt
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