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The Artists Solo Edition 2022

Together with identity. ideas. industry (iii), ZooNation are thrilled to announce the return of The Artists. This programme, now in its second year, is a paid professional development programme offering personal, practical and creative support to three artists exploring solo works across two weeks.

Led by identity. ideas. industry. (iii) founder Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus, with visits and support by ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company creatives and industry experts.

Nominations were made by industry changemakers including Jade Hackett and Botis Seva and six artists were invited to apply.

Applications were considered by Tali, ZooNation Executive Director Sri Sarker and Producer Annie Taylor-Gooby, with three artists being selected to participate in the programme.

The programme will culminate in a sharing of ideas for a small, invited audience of peers and industry figures.

identity. ideas. industry

identity. ideas. industry. (iii) is a programme and method designed to encourage dance artists’ curiosity about their creativity and the industry at large, through movement, conversation and literature. iii provides holistic professional development for creators, across all styles, at any career stage, to take the next step in their creative evolution.

(iii) had its pilot early 2017 and has gone on to five full editions in London and two in Asia (China and Singapore) since, alongside numerous taster and ‘refresh’ versions. Between these and the recent ‘A Deep Dive’ workshops, iii has made space for over 200 students, from students to full time professionals, across various dance styles/creative disciplines.

A note from Shannelle 'Tali' Fergus

“It is a real source of pride for me, especially in the current financial climate, to be able to pay creatives to play without expectation.
It is a pleasure to collaborate with the company that gave me one of my first professional opportunities and I remain grateful to be so closely linked to ZooNation 15+ years later.

iii is in the business of building community through the provision and cultivation of personalized space, time and resources. It is experienced personally, yet felt collectively and it is my aim, as lead facilitator and programme director, to extend this ethos to the selected artists through The Artists”.

– identity. ideas. industry. (iii) founder Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus

Meet The Artists 2022

Angelica Brewster
South West London born and bred, Angelica has trained with several dance groups/companies throughout her dance career. She has delved into various hip hop styles and particularly in the last 3 years with specialist popping collective Aim Collective.

She is an emerging artist embarking on new ventures with her artwork at tripleseven.studios and now in her dance career she’s developing and diving into what her own artistic voice is coming back to herself.

David Bennie
David Bennie is a Jamaican artist who found a new home in the UK, learning to utilise his body as a language unto itself, being introduced to art in school and college, where he studied Musical Theatre and developed a drive to express his enthusiasm through dancing, acting, and composing music.

His current work in theatre and film includes dance and stunt work for BBC, Marvel, Disney and Netflix. His recent credits include working with Jade Hackett and Ryan Cameron on The Tide by Talawa Theatre Company and Steve McQueen’s series Small Axe. He assisted and performed in Lanre Malaolu’s short film commissioned by BFI The Circle, released by The Guardian in 2020. 

David works across genres and styles, incorporating freestyle, Latin Hustle, Popping, Locking and experimental styles and is keen to continue exploring how tech can further the experience of his art. In his own words, “to be able to feel the music and move in ways I never imagined possible while being free to experiment with what my body and environment are capable of. It’s a means for me to connect with others and share a similar experience, as well as a method for me to let go by pouring my inhibitions, tension, and melancholy into my work and loving the results. This was ignited by the struggles as a child, being left in this country to survive. So finding things to distract me was the key to my success and talent. The willingness to help others smile and be amazed made me happy.”

Jackie Kibuka
Jackie is an authentic, passionate and versatile movement artist, actress, choreographer, teacher and movement director with over 12 years experience specialising in Hip Hop and street dance styles. She’s loves story telling and always looks to inspire, uplift and encourage others through the performances and projects she participates in. She has diverse training background frequently training at Runway House and has previously trained with well-renowned Hip Hop companies Boadicea and Unity UK.

Performance credits include: Breaking Convention, London Fashion Week AW18, Diversity Live, ITV Loose Women, Resolution Festival, Clout! Fringe Festival (2019), The Tide – Talawa Theatre Company, Everyone’s Talking about Jamie (film), Some Like It Hip Hop (2019) a ZooNation production, English National Opera – Drive in Live. 

Choreographer and movement direction credits include: Assistant choreographer – National Theatre for Dick Whittington Panto, Movement director for British Book, Choreographer for Body Politic – THEM, Associate choreographer – Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, Jajja-15 Studio 3 Arts – Black Art Matters commissioned artist 2021-2022, Longing to Belong music video.