WAVE - Back To Basics wants the Irish creative scene to rediscover their love for dance
On 7 December 2024, The dance company UMAKOKO will return to The Complex with the third year of WAVE, a one-of-a-kind dance show that will take place on a 360 stage at The Depot. In this edition, WAVE: Back to Basics aims to bring audiences back to their purpose, touching on the themes of rediscovery and passion for dance, culture, and belonging.
This year, WAVE wants to embrace the essence of dance by focusing on the roots and the joy that unites dancers and creatives from different backgrounds. From traditional to modern and street dance styles, WAVE invites dance groups and leaders who honour the cultural diversity of dance in Ireland. Some of the local dance groups invited to perform at WAVE this year are Southside Moves (Afro Dance), led by Lapree Ncube, Ethereal Danza (Commercial), led by Eloy Quezada, Quilombo Terra (Afro-Brazilian), led by Yves Lohrran, Johely Guilarte & The Queens Project (Salsa).
“To us, WAVE - Back to Basics is a return to the core of why we fell in love with dance in the first place. Sometimes amid the fast and intense pace of life, it’s easy to lose sight of that passion. This show is a call to reconnect with our belonging, our ‘why,’ our foundations, and what truly matters.” - Vithoria Escobar and Favour Odusola, Founders of UMAKOKO and Creative Directors of WAVE.
Following two successful editions, WAVE gathered excellent reviews and testimonials and reunited an audience of over 400 people. UMAKOKO, the driving force behind WAVE, is dedicated to creating a unique space for the dance community that brings people together and celebrates diversity through movement, music, lighting and storytelling. With WAVE, they aim to continue to make dance accessible, inspiring, and inclusive.
About UMAKOKO:
UMAKOKO Dance Company delivers dance-oriented services, including performances, creative direction, content creation, and artist performance management.
With dance as their primary tool, UMAKOKO's mission is to create a unique vision through high-quality, innovative performances that captivate and engage audiences. Their vision is to leave a lasting legacy through a disruptive and unique approach to dance and performance.
Check out photos from previous editions of Wave down below. (Photo credits: Wave, 2023)
