Didá - Artistic Direction

Didá is lead by two choreographers/ artistic directors.  In addition to their, artistic work being nurtured in Didá we collaborate with other choreographers and artist for our different productions, giving these the opportunity to benefit from the production and administration that Didá can offer as well as mentorship from our artistic directors. Our artistic directors are:

Leonard R. Jackson

Is an experienced choreographer, teacher and dancer who graduated from Northern Contemporary Dance School. His was one of few to be elected for the British Arts Councils artistic support program Black Choreographic Initiative and has since then worked continuously with professional choreographies for a wide variety of projects.

He has also 12 years experience as a dance developer and dance teacher from Derby Dance Centre in England and is especially known for his work with boys and dance, youths with behaviour problems and minority groups.  Before moving to Norway in 2004 Leonard’s résumé includes leading youth companies like «Storm Boys» a dance company just for boys, «Chaos» a semi professional dance company and a professional dance company. Leonard also started England’s first street dance course for Special Educational Needs.  In addition Leonard is a sought after choreographer for TV, schools, in education programmes for teachers and in dance schools.

As a performing artist Leonard has danced in a wide variety of companies with choreographers from different backgrounds and has performed in contemporary, classical ballet, jazz, musical theatre, theatre, African dance, hip hop and street dance pieces.

Leonards has his background from England and Jamaica. His choreographic style is influenced by a career and training in contemporary dance, his Caribbean roots, his mentor Jackie Guy and a close collaboration with the Indian Kathak choreographer Balbir Singh. His choreographic work has elements of Hip Hop, contemporary dance and afro-Caribbean dance styles influenced by lines, flowing movements and partner work.

Zeze Kolstad

Graduated from The Norwegian Arts Academy in Oslo with an MA in choreography and has her previous education from London Studio Centre in London. She works as a freelance choreographer and dancer taking commissions by external companies as well as creating for Didá. Before starting her MA Zezé had her dance experience form England where she worked as a dancer for companies such as ACE Dance and Music, RJC Dance Theatre, State of Emergency, Ruff/Cut Dance Theatre, Foot in Hand and Momentum Dance. She has also danced in Opera and Musical Theatre productions and has taught and choreographed for several youth companies.

Zezé has roots form Norway and Brazil and uses the inspiration from the two different cultures in her work. Her movement vocabulary spreads from the technical classical ballet style to the contrast of African Dance movements. She works with fusing different styles and creating movements that are intricate, rhythmical, technical and often off balance. She also works a lot with creating different spaces in one space through movement and lighting but also scenography that is movable and that can be part of the space as well as the dance.

Other artists that have been associated with Didá are:

Choreographers Belinda Braza, Maria Karlsen and Jimu Makurumbandi, poet Numkumbulwane , actress Hannah Kvam, and musicians Sheldon Blackman, Pops Mohammed and the trio Mandingo.