I am a Bermuda-born, Wales-based dancer, choreographer, writer, and director performing and creating dance theatre works for stage, public space, and film that explore themes of intersectional identity, mental health and wellbeing, and empowerment to challenge myself and audiences toward introspection and social change. I’m passionate about integrating access and exploring multilingual work with a specific focus on British Sign Language, Welsh, and English.
I have had an extensive career performing and touring with Ballet Cymru throughout the United Kingdom, China and Bermuda; with Citrus Arts circus company, Ransack Dance, Theatr Iolo, The Successors of the Mandingue, and Laku Neg. As a freelance, self-producing artist I have performed for the National Gallery for 'HOME zero' created by: Love Ssega, commissioned by Nesta and National Gallery X and Music Theatre Wales Opera for Screen ‘Somehow’.
Throughout my career, I have been supported, through funding and commissions, by Arts Council Wales, Bermuda Arts Council, Ballet Cymru, Theatr Iolo, Ffilm Cymru, Clwstwr, Music Theatre Wales, National Theatre Wales, National Dance Company Wales, National Dance Foundation of Bermuda, and Wales Arts International.
My first film, Daughters of the Sea premiered on BBC4 before being showcased at festivals including Aesthetica Film Festival 2022. I have continued to write and direct shorts including commissions for BBC’s Culture in Quarantine; Ffilm Cymru, BFI Network, BBC Cymru Wales, and BBC Arts; Music Theatre Wales; and National Dance Company Wales for Welsh Government’s Wales in Germany 2021.
Alongside creating and performing, I also set aside time to support the development of future generations of artists as a dance practitioner for the Arts Council Wales’ Lead Creative Schools and Cynefin programmes and writing practitioner for Literature Wales; as well as mentoring early career artists. In 2021 I founded the Our Voice Network, a network which exists to empower, platform, and develop artists of the Global Majority.
Currently, I am Associate Artist for Ballet Cymru, Trustee for National Dance Company Wales, and a member of Theatre for Young Audiences Cymru.
There’s Room for Me Too - Jorge Lizalde
Recent credits include:
‘Here Lies’ Yorkshire Dance residency with Tala Lee-Turton Productions, Choreographer, 2022
The Making of a Monster, by Connor Allen, produced by the Wales Millenium Centre, Movement Director, 2022
Seven commissioned by Ffilm Cymru ‘Beacons’, supported by BFI Network Wales, Ffilm Cymru, and National Lottery 2022
Dance to the Bone by Neon Candle, Cerian Williams, and Sherman Theatre, Choreographer, 2022
‘Somehow’, commissioned by Music Theatre Wales and presented by Opera Philadelphia 2021 and the Creative Coalition Festival 2022
‘Good Things to Come’ commissioned by National Dance Company Wales and Literature Wales for the Welsh Government’s Wales in Germany 2021 and the Opening of the Sixth Senedd
“That’s not how we do things here”
A Welsh Ballerina’s Story of Race, Gender, and Disability
An interview with IPICS Associate Editor Gifty Andoh Appiah for academic journal Intersectional Perspectives: Identity, Culture and Society (IPICS)
The Unlimited Podcast: Making Art Accessible – Episode 1: Access on a budget
This is the first of three episodes, it explores how access provision can grow with access to resources and with the partners an artist works with. This episode features conversations with dancer and writer Krystal Lowe, writer and performer Byron Vincent and artist JoAnne Haines as well as insight from Laura Waller, Disability Inclusion Manager at Coventry City of Culture.
