"The Trailblazers Award was an opportunity for me to enhance my repertoire in Afro street fusion and further develop Dance-Africa, an organisation I founded that works to provide creative opportunities for disadvantaged young people in Africa.

In terms of my dance development, I am exploring how basic street dance forms can be fused with tribal Sub-Saharan movement. The Trailblazers Award enabled me to travel to Zambia and America to further develop my repertoire in street-fusion. During my time in Zambia, I worked with the Nomakanjanie dance company where I learnt various tribal dances from the region. In America, I had the opportunity to volunteer and work at the Step-Afrika summer camp where I learnt more about the Step-dance form that is traditionally practised in African-American fraternities and sororities across America

The Trailblazers fellowship grant also gave me an opportunity to develop Dance-Africa through the delivery of a dance project for street children in Lusaka, Zambia. I have also spent the year developing Dance-Africa’s aims and objectives with the support of a mentor and coach, provided through the Trailblazers Award." Roni Cheesman, Trailblazer 2008-09

Lola's training and experience includes contemporary, traditional African and Jazz dance. She applied for Trailblazers to further diversify her skills. Here's what she has to say about the experience:

"The interest in Acrobatics, Gymnastics and wanting to create work across a variant skill stirred up the need to acquire a new skill that would elevate my existing skills. So it is with great excitement that I say the Trailblazer Award could not have come at a better time!

The Award has enabled me to experience Circus Arts skills. Starting from January I undertook a 10 weeks preparatory course, gaining some basics knowledge on equipment such as Static & Swinging Trapeze, Flying Trapeze, Acrobatics (Head & Hand Stand, Tumbling) Tight wire walking, Rope, Juggling and Acro - balance. Subsequently, I enrolled on the skills specific course for a further 12 weeks all at the Circus Space, London. On this course I focused more on Static Trapeze and Acrobatics.

There has always been that yearning to continually push and promote the boundaries of my unique style, in keeping with this I further applied on a two weeks intensive Circus Arts Course at Circus Maniacs in Bristol. The Circus Space had helped me to develop a strong foundation of skills, core fitness and strength however attending classes five hours everyday for two weeks at the Circus Maniac was very rewarding although a lot of aches and bruises to show for the hard work. It enabled me to further expand on my knowledge in some of the skills that I learnt at the Circus Space as well as learning new ones (Chinese pole, Silks, Rope, Hoop) we also looked at the performance aspect of creating work using these skills.

The Trailblazer Award also brought about the support from the directors of the London International Mime Festival. I was offered free tickets for the whole month of January to see as much circus based work as I want in this year’s festival, with the offer for next year already confirmed. I am preparing to go away for a few month on an internship with a company that uses both dance and circus skills in their work but presently I am creating a new solo using some of the new skills (ground based) that I have gained." Lola Adodo, Trailblazer 2008-09