Dancer Biographies

Our Contemporary trained dancers are also highly skilled in Capoeira, Afro Brazilian, Afro Cuban, Salsa and Samba, making for a very exciting blend of dance styles. They have danced in Companies across the UK and Internationally.Please click here to read their bios to learn more about each individual.

Upcoming Performances


10th January- Resolutions- The Place- London


11th April- Roots- Richmix- London

 

16th May- EAC- Chelsea Theatre- London


Recent Performances


13th June- The first sharing of our newly commissioned work ‘Orixas’ and ‘Birds of Paradise’ London


12th August- The premiere of our new Commissioned work at Billingham International Folklore Festival. Middlesborough Theatre, Middlesborough


Quotes from Contemporary Latin  performances


“It was fantastic to work with you and the company. You wowed the crowds with your show and then followed up with a great workshop.”

Kate Scanlan, Sadler’s Wells London


“Really innovative, raw, and brave...I loved it! And you even moved like birds!"

Chris Bicourt, London School of Samba


"Ella Mesma and her dancers are fiercer in flesh than in the imagination. They are pushing the norm of their craft boldy with sassiness and a fiery but dignified confidence in their execution. The privilege was mine".

Sean Graham- Choreographer/Artistic Director


“(Ella Mesma) you are a very talented young choreographer”

Paul Young Salsa UK

                                                                                                                    

“I love what you are doing, very authentic and truthful”

Lee Knights Editor, London Salsa Scene

Company History & Accolades


Element Arts Company use Salsa and Afro-Cuban, and Samba and Afro-Brazilian, as well as Contemporary dance theatre to create an exciting blend of culture, music and dance. Element Arts are interested in Earth, Air, Fire, Water- as the dances of the Orixa, to explore character & as a technique to access the elements of a fantastic dancer, and in and looking at themes such as Orixas, Magic Surrealism, Latin Politics to create Theatrical work

 

We hold weekly rehearsals and CPD for our company members, and long term, the Company are interested in developing as a Company and in creating a market and niche for Contemporary Latin Dance for the theatre thus progressing the Latin dance scene in the UK.

 

Element Arts Company was established in 2007 by Ella Mesma

Described by Donald Hutera (The Times) as, ‘superb’, Ella is a highly skilled contemporary dancer, B Girl and Latin dancer, training at LSCD and working with Russell Maliphant, Southpaw, Anthony Egea (Compagnie Revolution).

Ella's three very different dance forms have inspired her to create a unique style combining Latin dance with contemporary and other forms to reach new artistic heights and share the Latin cultural heritage with new communities, as well as to progress the Latin dance scene in the UK.

 

The Company began to explore Contemporary Latin for the theatre in 2011 and their first Contemporary Dance commission was for Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance in 2014. http://www.billinghamfestival.co.uk/billinghamfestival/billfest/

 

Current Repertoire


Orixas:

Mesma has worked with an extraordinary group of performers to create a unique style combining Latin dance with contemporary inspired by the pathways and life stories of six women and six orixas (deities).

These deities are Elegua the protector of travellers who represents crossroads, pathways, chaos, trickery and temptation. Oxum who represents female sexuality, love, marriage, beauty and rivers. Oya the warrior spirit of the underworld, wind, hurricanes, change, transition and chaos.

Ogun the god of war, iron, hunting, politics and community, and

Oxossi the hunter, shaman and god of nature, earth and justice, and finally, Obatala the creator and god of wisdom.

Orixas is performed to a newly commissioned score by composer, Matthew Olden and made in collaboration with lighting designer Ciaran Cunningham.

Commissioned by Billingham International Folk Festival.

 

Birds of Paradise:

Birds of Paradise mixes the dynamism of contemporary dance with powerful samba. Taking the exuberance and energy of Brazil to new places, through Samba- the costume, the spectacle, the prowess, the display and the malandragem to explore birds. Their characteristics, personalities, relationships- looking in particular at bird mating calls and displays alongside a look at the female, the influence of the media on our identity and our journey in life.

Birds of Paradise original score is composed by Ball Zee, the reigning 3x UK Beatbox Champion, taking the infectious rhythms and unique instruments of Samba to create a track made entirely with voice. Made in collaboration with lighting designer Ciaran Cunningham.

AIR


EAC’s vision is to bring Contemporary Latin Dance Theatre onto the Main Stage.

Element Arts are interested in Earth, Air, Fire, Water- as the dances of the Orixa, to explore character & as a technique to access the elements of a fantastic dancer.