Kew Riverside,
Michael Dillon, Headteacher
Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE and her team design bespoke projects to suit any school or organisation. Jeanefer’s In-Service Training programme provides teachers with the confidence and resources to deliver dance and build capacity internally. Through co-teaching and mentoring, Jeanefer equips teachers with the skills to deliver a scheme of work, using creative dance to teach a topic on the National Curriculum. Teachers do not need to have any prior dance experience to take part in the training. The beauty of the project is that teachers can work with their full class while training and get the children dancing immediately.
WLTA Teaching School Manager,
Beth Gregory
Through creative expression and exercises in trust and confidence building, the proven Tomorrow’s Men method diverts young men from antisocial behaviour, inspiring and empowering them alongside their peers.
Tomorrow’s Men was developed following Jeanefer’s Rayne Fellowship, which saw her research and develop ideas alongside the Metropolitan Police, key members of the Criminal Justice System (Diamond Initiative) and other social welfare and arts organisations.
Each bespoke Tomorrow’s Men project culminates in a unique performance opportunity celebrating participants' achievements to their peers and the wider community.
Today’s Tomorrow’s Men method is the result of years of targeted development through a series of pilot programmes with industry leaders, East London Dance and WAC Performing Arts College.
The projects have been delivered in primary and secondary schools and pupil referral units helping boys from the age of five to young men in their twenties.
Previous performance highlights have included Ignition Festival at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith in 2018 and Tomorrow’s Men 2012 which was produced by East London Dance and funded by the East London Business Alliance’s Transformers Grant Programme through the Olympic Lottery Distributor and Big Dance 2012.
Explore Further:
Lads & Dads is an extension of the Tomorrow’s Men programme, creating opportunities for boys to enjoy interacting and working creatively alongside their fathers/father figures in order to produce meaningful work.
The sessions give participants the skills to enhance, build on or develop long-lasting relationships and through task-based movement exercises encourage verbal and non-verbal dialogue between boys and their role models. The Dads enjoy it too!
Kew Riverside,
Michael Dillon, Headteacher
Harnessing over 20 years’ experience, Jeanefer is a globally respected Creative Director and Producer who has worked in over 21 countries, and whose accomplishments appear in the Guinness Book of World Records. Her company, Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates, are industry leaders in developing, directing and delivering creative responses for large-scale events and offer ambitious, innovative and empowering responses to client needs.
Jeanefer has designed and delivered artistic solutions for some of the world’s most iconic organisations. Her extensive portfolio includes opening ceremonies, global sporting events, festivals, carnivals and parades. A skilled communicator, Jeanefer is an expert in collaborative working and in delivering a cohesive vision to inspire, entertain and empower.
Her unique creative process and approach to large-scale multiple artform events draw together and bring to life, talents, strengths and shared stories of individuals, organisations and cultures, in inspiring and unforgettable ways.
Find out more about Jeanefer.
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was commissioned to produce a spectacular outdoor finale at Coalhouse Fort for Thurrock 100, a unique cultural project produced by Kinetika in 2016.
The Thurrock 100 project aims to strengthen Thurrock’s shared identity, foster pride in its heritage, and create healthier and happier residents, with participants creating their own artworks, and exploring the borough on foot.
Portfolio Holder for Communities,
Cllr Deb Stewart
As the choreographer for Indepen-dance, Jeanefer Jean-Charles created an immersive piece with the full cast of the Indepen-dance Performance Company. This piece opened 'Gathered Together 2016', Scotland's inclusive dance festival at the Tramway, Glasgow in 2016.
This high-energy piece was set in a nightclub in Harlem, New York, during the 1930-40’s and was accompanied by live vocals from the Swingcats and Karen MacIver on piano. Working with Dramaturge Julie Brown was a key highlight for Jeanefer.
Review:
Lorna Irvine
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was appointed Mass Movement Director for the award-winning Roald Dahl's City of the Unexpected, a landmark celebration of Wales’ foremost storyteller.
Over the weekend of 17-18 September 2016, Cardiff celebrated the centenary of Roald Dahl with a weekend-long event showcasing both his distinctive voice and the jewels of the city’s buildings, Bute park, and its people.
Jeanefer was delighted to be working alongside one of the world’s leading theatre and large-scale event directors Nigel Jamieson, in creating a spectacular performance with a cast of over 6000. The event was produced by Wales Millennium Centre and National Theatre Wales. National Theatre Wales were winners of the Stage Managers Team of the Year 2016 award for the production.
See below for highlights from the event - a film produced by Rondo Media for BBC Wales.
Images: Dan Green and Farrows Creative
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was Mass Movement Director for the pre-match entertainment ahead of the FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in May 2016. The performance included 100 military personnel, the Welsh Military Band, and the NHS Choir along with over 100 young people and Colour Guard flag bearers who performed alongside Tinie Tempah.
Jeanefer Jean-Charles worked alongside Director Jevan Chowdhury of Moving Cities, to produce 'Engineering Happiness', a film for the Institution of Civil Engineers.
The civil engineers behind some of London's most iconic infrastructure projects put on their dancing shoes to showcase the diverse and exciting careers within engineering available to young people through choosing maths and science. The film features some of London’s world-class infrastructure projects and the teams behind them including Crossrail, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Thames Barrier, London Underground, Walton Bridge, Kings Cross Station, and the Hammersmith Flyover.
Movement Director – Jeanefer Jean-Charles
Director – Jevan Chowdhury, Wind & Foster
Producer – Miranda Housden, Director, ICE London
Director of Photography - Michael Osaer
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was Mass Movement Co-ordinator for all four of the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremonies.
Her work involved auditioning, casting, hosting rehearsals, and coordinating the thousands of volunteers involved in the ceremonies.
Jeanefer's favourite moment was when the torch was revealed, something she will never forget.
Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was Artistic Director for the Rugby League World Cup 2013 Opening Ceremony. She was commissioned by Grand Visionary Solutions to direct over 500 dancers from local communities in Wales and England as part of a £1 million project part-funded by Arts Council England and Arts Council Wales, and supported by the charity Wooden Spoon.
The dance performance Opening Ceremony featured presenter Gethin Jones and Martin Offiah doing the Jive with their original Strictly Come Dancing partners, Camilla Dallerup and Erin Boag.
The ceremony took place at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales on October 26, 2013.
Jeanefer-Jean Charles was the choreographer for the film Mass Bolero (2014), a tribute to Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean, which marked 30 years since their Olympic triumph in Sarajevo
Jeanefer worked with hundreds of local people from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to create a mass choreographed version of the Bolero.
Featuring cameo appearances from Chris and Jayne themselves, the Mass Bolero film was conceived and directed by Fiona Buffini, Associate Director of Nottingham Playhouse, in partnership with Dance4, Confetti Media Group, and Spool.
The film was premiered at Nottingham Playhouse and broadcast on the new Nottingham TV Channel.
Following the success of the film Mass Bolero, Jeanefer returned to Nottingham to create a Live Bolero performance in 2014.
Jeanefer worked with professional dancers and hundreds of people from all walks of life, including bus drivers, gym enthusiasts, and office workers, harnessing their communal passion for dance.
The live performance took place during the Big Dance weekend, transforming Nottingham's iconic Market Square into an unexpected stage for this spectacular tribute to Bolero.
To reach a wider demographic, the team also created an online tutorial film to engage a global audience, enabling viewers from across the world to learn the routine and take part.
Director of Playing On Theatre Company,
Jim Pope
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was invited to choreograph a piece with over 100 dancers as a part of the Coronation Concert in Buckingham Palace in 2013. This was a Big Dance commission produced by East London Dance.
The festival took place in the stunning setting of the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The Gala evening of entertainment was a spectacular celebration of music and dance from the past 60 years.
Big Dance Director,
Jacqueline Rose
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was delighted to work once again with writer Frank Cottrell Boyce. They previously worked together on the 2012 London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Jeanefer was Choreographer for the award-winning The Return of Colmcille, a large-scale public event produced by Walk The Plank as part of the Derry-Londonderry City of Culture 2013.
The Return of Colmcille celebrated both the iconic and fascinating figure of Saint Colmcille and also the City of Derry~Londonderry and its people.
Referencing Derry~Londonderry’s rich heritage and past but very much rooted in the present, The Return of Colmcille was a story told by the people and involved a cast of hundreds.
The production proved to be a major highlight of the City of Culture 2013 programme and a unique opportunity to present an alternative and inspiring view of the city.
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was invited by Swindon Dance to create a mass choreographic piece involving dancers from local youth groups. The performance piece was on the Dance Village stage as part of the Bristol Habour Festival.
Jeanefer has delivered a number of youth dance commissions for Dance East in Ipswich. Her choreography Sacred Gestures in 2011, was performed as part of the students end of year production.
Presented in association with East London Dance and Greenwich & Docklands International Festival, Ravel’s “Bolero”, one of the most famous pieces of classical music ever written, provided the inspiration for this contemporary fusion of DJ remixed with live orchestral music and mass choreography presented at Canary Wharf.
Part of Big Dance 2010, sponsored by Docklands Light Railway and hosted by Canary Wharf Arts and Events.
With artistic direction and choreographed from Jeanefer Jean-Charles, the piece involved 100 local dancers from Eastlea Community School, Star Primary School, New Vic, University of East London and C-12 Dance Theatre. This project also featured the New London Orchestra conducted by Ronald Corp and DJ Excalibah.
Sponsored by:
Docklands Light Railway
East London Dance
Newham Welcome the World
Supported by Newham Council, Lend Lease, Tube Lines, Eurostar, National Express.
East London Dance,
Dance To Work
Jeanefer Jean-Charles created a brand new piece of dance theatre for State of Emergency, which put male relationships under the microscope, studying classic role models, exploring the male perspective. From the emotional bond between father and son, to the solidarity and relaxed approach to friendship, five spectacular male dancers presented snapshots of young men in the 21st Century.
It's A Boy was created in response to the many reports of gun and knife crimes. While the piece did not involve guns or knives, it looked at how a simple moment or accident can escalate into a violent reaction.
Working creatively with contemporary dance and flavours of House Dance, Jeanefer choreographed a punchy, non-narrative, symbolic piece, inspired by the uncertainty surrounding a moment when two men accidentally bump into each other.
Choreography: Jeanefer Jean-Charles
Street Dance Material: Vicky Igbokwe
Dancers: The Company - State of Emergency
Music edited and mixed: DJ Walde
Thanks to: June Gamble, Pearl Jordan, Ann Mitchell, Katie Pearson and Martha Stylianou
Produced by State of Emergency, Rosa Moments was a fluid, energetic piece of dance theatre created on six contemporary dancers. Working creatively across dance genres particularly street dance and the musicality of jazz dance, Jeanefer Jean-Charles delivered a punchy, non-narrative, symbolic piece, taking as inspiration, the seminal moment on December 1st, 1955 when a lone woman refused to give up her seat on the bus - the moment that started the American Civil Rights Movement.
By investigating five key moments in Rosa Parks' life on the lead-up to that historic day, Jeanefer generated a powerful and emotional depiction of standing up for one’s rights, albeit in this case, around the innocuous scenario of forfeiting a seat on a bus.
Music arranged by: Danilo (DJ) Walde
Music: An interview with Rosa Parks, Neville Brothers, Aja Addy, Sam Bell & Dan Brown, Ayub Ogada.
Street Dance Material by: Vicki Igbokwe
Company Dancers: Graham Adey, Darrell Aldridge, Marcia Edwards, Amanda Lewis, Kate Mason, Kate Mummery
The Guardian
Jeanefer Jean-Charles was the choreographer for this work at the Young Vic Theatre Company.
A Raisin in the Sun, tells the story of Walter Lee Younger, who dreams of making his own way in life and owning a liquor store. All seems possible when his mother receives a $10,000 insurance payment. But she has other plans. Is this the end of his dream - or the start of a new one?
The Young Vic's production of Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 groundbreaking, classic play was an unmissable take on the twists and turns of the black American dream.
TimeOut
Jeanefer was Choreographer for the 2001 production of Jack and The Beanstalk at Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, featuring large chorus pieces and all the elements of traditional family pantomime.
