Vicki Igbokwe
Creative Director And Choreographer
Vicki began her formal training at Hammersmith & West London College, studying a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts. Whilst studying there, she qualified as a Professional Studio Instructor with a specialism in Exercise to Music. On completing this course she went on to Middlesex University where she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Dance Studies.
Her career as a dance professional started in 2001, when she successfully auditioned for Impact Dance for whom she worked as a Dancer, Choreographer and Youth Artistic Director for several years. In 2004 Vicki was appointed Youth Dance Practitioner for East London Dance. She was promoted to the position of Creative Projects Manager in 2007, in which she developed and managed East London Dance’s programme for the informal youth sector until April 2009.
Vicki was a sponsored Nike Dance Athlete, between 2005-2010. She was a Master Trainer for the Nike Rockstar Workout between 2005 and 2009. Her work with Nike has allowed her to travel nationally and internationally, developing and running training programmes, teaching at events, co management of D-Clash (Nike’s all female dance crew 2007-2009) and creating projects including Nike Rockstar Workout Tour and Dancers Anonymous.
In 2009 she set up Uchenna Dance, with a focus on choreography and a way to explore the new styles (House Dance, Waacking and Vogue) that were forming her movement vocabulary. This style along with elements of African and Contemporary Dance create Vicki's signature style 'Urban Contemporary'.
2009 also saw the beginning of the ADiaspora Collective a creative collaboration between herself and Alesandra Seutin, Artistic Director of Vocab Dance Company. Together Vicki and Alesandra create work that is rooted in the world of women using the seamless blend of their two distinct styles; Urban Contemporary and Afro-Eclectic Dance.
The Collective have been commissioned by the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD) and the South Bank Centre to collaborate with Nii Tagoe (Fritti Dance Company) on African Dance Encounter an exploration into both traditional and modern approaches to African Dance and London Metropolitan University working on their 3rd Year showcase 'Voices' performed at the Jackson Lane Theatre.
Vicki has been performing, choreographing, managing and teaching for a huge variety of organisations, companies, educational establishments and individuals: ADAD, Creative Engagement, Laban, Impact Dance, East London Dance, The Drum Theatre, LiveEd, Hampstead Theatre, The South Bank Centre, Dance East, Nike UK, EMI Records, Vocab Dance Company, WAC Performing Arts and Media College, Kensington and Chelsea College, London Metropolitan University, John Roan School, Jeanefer Jean-Charles, Akosua Boakye, Mohammed Dordoh and Nii Tagoe.
Her work has been staged at The Place Theatre, Stratford Circus, Rich Mix, Theatre Louis Aragon in Trembley En France, Sadler’s Wells (Main stage), Purcell Room (South Bank Centre) Lillian Baylis Theatre, The Drum Theatre (Birmingham), Indigo O2 (Greenwich) and Tanzhaus Nrw Dusseldorf, Germany.
Her producer credits include Blueprint (2006-2009), Blueprint Bursary (2008-2009), Stylefest (2008-2009), ADiaspora (2010), Cultural Explosion (2011-2012) and Juste Debout UK (2011-2012).
She currently lectures at Middlesex University, The University of East London and WAC Performing Arts and Media College.
Vicki is a member of the Independent Dance Management Network (IDMN), an ADAD Trailblazer Fellow 2007-2008 and a Lisa Ullman Travel Scholarship Fund recipient 2008-2009.
She is one of 15 choreographers selected to take part in the four year Sadler's Wells Summer University programme, lead by award-winner Choreographer & Author Jonathan Burrows and Artistic Programmer and Producer at Sadler's Wells Emma Gladstone.
Vicki has successfully completed a Master of Arts in Cultural Leadership at City University (2009-2011).
