Meet the Advocates

Ukachi Akalawu - African Dance Advocate

Ukachi Akalawu graduated with BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from the Laban Centre in 1994, after which she performed with the Jiving Lindy Hoppers, Ritual Theatre Arts, Step Afrika, Stomp, Badejo Arts, and Movement Angol. She also worked in the commercial dance sector. Ukachi has taught dance extensively in the UK, Europe and Africa. From 2002 - 2004, she worked at the Independent Theatre Council as Training and Membership administrator, and subsequently went on to be the national coordinator for ITC's Fast Track Training Scheme for Arts Administrators and Managers. She then set up ITC's The Next Level - a continuing professional development forum for Black and Asian Arts Managers and Administrators. Currently, Ukachi is Administrator for DanceAfrica. She has just completed a Masters in Arts Management, and is pleased to take on the role as African dance advocate for ADAD

Carolene Hinds - African-American/Jazz Advocate

Carolene Hinds replaced Warren Heyes as Artistic Director of the Jiving Lindy Hoppers (JLH) in 1991. A dancer of outstanding talent, Carolene met the company when they taught and performed at Laban in 1986 and joined the following year. The fact that she was specially invited to the 1994 "Can't Top The Lindy Hop" celebration of Frankie Manning's 80th birthday as the leading female role model in the world Lindy Hop scene is testimony alone to the progress she made since joining the JLH. Numerous stage and TV appearances with the JLH has expanded her talent in all directions. Her celebrated appearance on Michael Barrymore's "My Kind of People" was rebroadcast a further 4 times as it was so popular. She has danced in and/or presented in BBC's 'Playdays', S4C's 'Dressed To Thrill, Nickelodeon's 'Boogie Box', 'The Generation Game', choreographed for the rapper Ice-T's 'Baad Ass TV,' 'Talking Telephone Numbers' and featured in various TV and magazine fashion features. In 1991 she was Assistant Choreographer for the award-winning musical 'Carmen Jones', under the direction of Simon Callow, at the Old Vic, choreographing the show's highly- acclaimed number "Beat Out That Rhythm on the Drum". In 1993/4 she was Artistic Director & Choreographer for the JLH Dance Theatre's production 'Jungle of the Cities'. More recently she has been an active steering committee member of ADAD.

Sheba Montserrat - Caribbean Dance Advocate

Sheba Montserrat is a multi-faceted entertainer. As a dancer, teacher and choreographer her specialism and passion lies with Caribbean dance. She trained under Jackie Guy, one of Jamaica's foremost dance specialist, when, in 1999, she was amongst the first graduates to complete Europe's first ever accredited course in Caribbean and African dance, pioneered and run by the acclaimed Irie! Dance Theatre. She is presently a lecturer in dance at a North London community college, as well as teaching in primary schools and selected workshops throughout the country.

In combining her talents as a comedienne and poet she also works as a stand-up Poet, where from her unique standpoint, she juggles humour, rhymes and social commentary with dexterity and style. Sheba performs with dynamic energy and flair. Her performance in any genre is as much an experience as it is a piece of creative art.

Maria Ryan - Contemporary Dance Advocate

Maria Ryan trained at Lewisham College (formerly SELTEC) and the London School of Contemporary Dance and went on to perform with their post-graduate performance group, 4D. She has performed with Bunty Matthias, Yael Flexer, Henri Oguike, Jonzi D and Phoenix Dance Company.
In 2001 she choreographed Raw Material for Nubian Steps, at the South Bank Centre in London, and It's the Way for Wild Roots Collective in The Mission tour 2001. She has taught and choreographed for many youth groups, the most recent project being a site-specific Midsummer Nights Dream for young people in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Maria has a Diploma in Arts Management from Roehampton University, London and spent two years as Dance Education & Access Officer at Swindon Dance, Wiltshire until May 2003. She is founder of Reflexions, a platform for Black dance artists to debate, network, support and inspire each other and nurture the art and our professional development. This is funded and hosted by Swindon Dance. She is currently a freelance dance artist, project manager and is Co-Director of the dance theatre company, Wild Roots Collective, for whom she co-choreographed Locks, Crops & Two Smoking Hot Combs along side Joanne Moven, as part of The Mission Tour 2003.