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ZooNation appoints Dannielle 'Rhimes' Lecointe as Associate Artistic Director

ZooNation is excited and proud to announce the appointment of Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe as our first Associate Artistic Director.

In this role Rhimes will support the company to create relevant and impactful work, programmes and opportunities for artists and audiences.

We can’t wait to dream up and realise ideas with Rhimes, watch this space!

Statement from our chair, Estelle McCartney

“As part of ZooNation’s mission to support the next generation of theatre makers, we are proud to announce the appointment of Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe as the company’s first Associate Artistic Director.

As well as being a respected performer and choreographer in her own right, Rhimes has been a key contributor to the success of ZooNation for a number of years.

In this new role, we know that she will continue to inspire dancers and audience members alike. We are grateful to the Arts Council England and all of our donors for enabling the company to make this appointment and to take this next exciting step in our story.”

Statement from our Founder & Artistic Director, Kate Prince 

“How brilliant that in our 20th year we are able to appoint an Associate Artistic Director – and I couldn’t be happier that Dannielle (aka Rhimes) is taking the role.

It’s been truly excellent to have worked with Dannielle over the past 17 years and to watch her grow in leadership roles both creatively and as a mentor to so many.

This is an exciting new chapter for ZooNation to be able to present new work created by Rhimes and to provide a platform for her creative ideas to blossom.”

In conversation with 'Rhimes'

What are you most excited about doing in your new role with the company?

I’m really hoping to bring a fresh creative perspective to the wonderful work we do. To find that beautiful balance between outstanding artistic work and being part of an effective team. To be in a position to create what that can look like is an honour. 

Where did you first start training?

I would say unofficially at three years old when I told my dad I would be a dancer. But officially, it’s hard to say… I feel like I glided into training but yet still worked my butt off to grow. I guess in all seriousness it was late teens when I really started looking at what kind of dancer/performer I wanted to be.

What was your first performance with ZooNation?

I believe it was a Breakin’ Convention back in 2005! 

What’s your favourite ZooNation show to date and why?

That’s a hard choice, I love them all for different reasons. My heart will forever be in Into The Hoods. Over that period of time I was becoming a woman. It really shaped me in so many ways. I really think it helped me believe in me. ZooNation was different from what I grew up in, which might be considered a little more Hoods! So naturally the journey of the show resonated, but allowed me to accept a commercial calling and ability that I could do and be more.

Tell us something about you that people may not know…

Before dance I considered being a footballer and a kick-boxer.

How would you describe your places of inspiration?

Sometimes the most random things inspire me, but I feel most inspired when I have space. This can be physically outside, in nature. Or space in my mind to think, imagine and dream. I use music, conversations, art… 

Can you give us any clues as to what you are going to be working on?

Well, mostly it’s serving the team here at ZooNation. Artistically, we have a new production on the horizon. Something I’m proud to be writing and creating with ZooNation.