ABOUT US

Founder & CEO of Tuba Dance Theatre/ Artistic Director overlooking the creative programme and the performance show,  /Education and outreach officer to develop and maintain relationships with influencers in schools, colleges, and universities to support students outreach efforts/Teaching African contemporary dance and vocal techniques/ performer dancer and singer. Maimuna Faal was born into an artistic family of dancers and musicians from West Africa in Senegal and The Gambia. She was born in East London, UK, which has diversified her art form in performing arts. She trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Performing Arts; specialising in Dance. She had the privilege of being taught by many great and well-known choreographers and teachers such as Namron Dance from Rambert Ballet School, who worked at London School of Contemporary Dance and The Graham Company, Sharon Watson, the Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and former Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre and Darshan Singh Bhuller, former director of Richard Alston Dance Company. This has widened her knowledge, skills and experience within the dance sector. She worked with a number of dance companies such as IRIE, DV8, Candoco, and Shobhana Jayasingh and performed her repertoire at Theatre Royal in Newcastle and The Place in London. She has appeared on national TV shows as lead singer working along side, Jane McDonald, Barbara Windsor and Louis Walsh. Maimuna has toured the UK with her band and has experience in creating music videos and has recorded music at Abby Road studios and Jet star records. She is a professional and qualified teacher who has taught Performing Arts in further education and the national curriculum in Primary schools for over 20 years. She has a great passion and a natural gift in empowering children & young people.

Historian and cultural officer researching the history of West African countries relating to play and writing script for performance.

Salieu Dem is the historian and Cultural Officer for Tuba Dance Theatre, where he plays a vital role in preserving and sharing the richness of West African heritage. Drawing on extensive research and deep cultural knowledge, he contributes insights into the history of the Mali Empire, ensuring that the company’s creative work remains authentic and rooted in traditional storytelling practices.

Born in The Gambia, Salieu is of Fulani heritage and carries with him a profound understanding of his culture, passed down through generations. His connection to this legacy informs both his work and his passion for education through the arts.

For over 25 years, Salieu has successfully run his own tour guide company in The Gambia, welcoming visitors from across Europe and beyond. Through these experiences, he has dedicated himself to showcasing the country’s rich history, traditions, and cultural identity, helping others gain a deeper appreciation of West Africa.

Phoebe from East London, who is the Designated Safeguarding Lead for (DSL) for Tuba Dance Theatre, has a wealth of knowledge in the education sector and has a great reputation for providing support for young people and staff. Phoebe has been working in Further Education sector for over 5 years and is responsible for training staff for better performance. The DSL will overlook the Safety of our students who will be apart of the young peoples scholarship programme; participating in training, rehearsals, and performances with TDT. She will also be accountable for delivering Safeguarding training to our professional artists and teachers to enhance their knowledge and understanding whilst around young people. In addition, our DSL will be responsible for dealing with the organisation's risk assessments, writing policies, and staff DBS checks in order for TDT's ongoing practice. Phoebe is also a qualified drama teacher who has taught UAL level 2 & 3 performing Arts in FE settings. She has worked as a  professional artist in commercials, reality TV shows on BBC and ITV, Sky short films and music videos. She has a passion to inspire, share her knowledge, dramatical skills & creative industry experience with young people.