BLACK ARTISTS IN DANCE
Our Mission
" TRUE REPRESENTATION COMES WITH INCLUSION;
THE DANCE SECTOR CANNOT CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE NOTION OF BEING UNATTAINABLE,
ELUSIVE AND EXCLUSIVE IF IT WISHES TO DEVELOP FUTURE GENERATIONS
OF ARTISTS, WHICH REPRESENT THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY"
Founded in 2014 by Joyce Gyimah-Distefano and Gerrard Martin, collectively BAiD represents 25 years of experience in dance management, producing, mentoring, educating, choreographing and performing. The BAiD vision is to build a sustainable and inclusive global dance environment where Black artists create, develop and thrive.
Through lived experience BAiD is passionate about documenting journeys of Black dance artists in the UK as a means to drive strategic and radical change within the sector.
For BAiD, ‘Black dance artists’ represents those who are from an African Diasporic heritage who work within the dance sector. This includes, dancers, choreographers, teachers, dramaturges, costume designers, researchers and many more.
Our mission is to create a physical and digital platform that responds to the educational and professional needs of those working within the dance industry. We aim to showcase the contribution that black dancers, artists and academics make to the development of dance, specifically within the UK as a means to enrich the dance sector.
Our work is driven by our passion to ensure that future change makers are representative of our ethnically diverse global society. B.A.i.D is committed to equality, representation, and diversity within the arts sector.
CO-FOUNDERS & DIRECTORS
Joyce Gyimah-Distefano
Dance educator, Manager, Consultant, Producer, and Event manager
Her training began at Lewisham college followed by degree level study at Trinity Laban, (formally known as The Laban Centre for Movement and Dance.)
Since graduating in 2002, Joyce has worked as a freelance dance artist, educator, choreographer, manager and consultant. She has undertaken work for a range of dance institutions and organisations including Laban, Greenwich Dance Agency, Greenwich Musical Theatre, Union Dance, UK Foundation for Dance, Tavaziva Dance and more.
Gerrard Martin
Dance Artist, Choreographer, Movement director, Dance educator and Yoga teacher.
Gerrard Trained at De Montfort University, gaining a BA Hons in Eng Lit and Performing Arts and then furthered his studies at the NSCD.
Gerrard has performed in companies, such as Phoenix Dance, Ballet Black, Union dance and for the West Ends’ Lion king. Gerrard is a guest teacher at the Place, RADA and Guest Associate lecture at the University of Northampton.