Powerful dance duet confronts biased Black narrative

Nigerian-born choreographer challenges historical racism

Following two sold out shows at Dublin Dance Festival and an acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Mufutau Yusuf, Associate Artist with Solstice Arts Centre in Navan, brings 'Impasse' to local audiences on Thursday 17th October

This is the first Irish date of an international tour that will travel from Meath and Cork, to Lyon in France and as far as Lagos in Nigeria – Yusuf’s place of birth.

'Impasse' is a compelling exploration of ethnicity, identity and the experience of the Black diaspora. In this powerful duet, choreographer Yusuf – along with co-performer Lukah Katangila –confronts the biased narratives etched onto Black bodies throughout history. These narratives, steeped in cultural imperialism, violence, exploitation, marginalisation, and powerlessness, are laid bare with raw physicality and emotional intensity.

By challenging the historical racial projections of blackness – its crudeness, threat, sexuality, rage, and immorality – the performance unveils its power, grace, sensuality, tenderness, intelligence, and love.

Mufutau Yusuf is a Nigeria-born Irish performer, choreographer, teacher, and curator. A graduate of Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, Mufutau is a dancer with Ultima Vez in Belgium and in Ireland with Liz Roche Company, John Scott’s IMDT, United Fall, Catherine Young Dance, to name a few.

As a choreographer, Mufutau debuted his first full-length work Òwe in 2022, which premiered in New York and Dublin Fringe Festival. Mufutau is an associate artist with Solstice Arts Centre and Liz Roche Company and a recipient of the Irish Arts Council Dance Bursary award 2020 and Project Award 2022 and 2023. His passion for improvisation and sharing has bought him to share his teaching practice to various platforms, festivals, and institutions. Mufutau is a co-curator of ‘TW1’ (Train With One), a bi-monthly workshop platform which aims to bridge the gap between the Irish contemporary dance scene with that of continental Europe.

“I’m very happy to begin the Irish-element of this tour at Solstice Arts Centre," Yusuf says. "I have been fortunate to work in the space here in my home town. I feel it’s important that people across Ireland are exposed to dance works of this nature – a work that frames the experience of the black diaspora through striking visuals and movement”

Impasse goes beyond mere exploration and invites a reshaping of our sense of self and community. It reclaims our humanity and celebrates the autonomy and self-determination of Black bodies.

Reviewing the Edinburgh performance with five stars, the Observer stated: "There’s nothing quite as exciting as seeing a terrific new work for the first time. At the end of Edinburgh Festival I was knocked out by Impasse, a thoughtful duet by choreographer Mufutau Yusuf for and himself (in this performance) Kennedy Junior Muntanga.”

Àwarding four stars, The Scotsman said: “Impasse has a theatricality that leaps off the stage.”

The Irish Times also awarded four stars, saying: “Walls are more challenging to break down when you seem powerless, and memories too painful. The emerging choreographer dancer Mufutau Yusuf, in Impasse, his compelling, impressive premiere, was looking at the representation of black body, as slave, migrant, subject discrimination.”

Commissioned by Liz Roche Company and supported by Solstice Arts Centre, Dance Cork Firkin Crane, Irish Arts Centre New York, Ultima Vez, Dublin Dance Festival, Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, Maison de la Danse, Lyon, Le Pôle Européen de Création, Centre National de la Danse, tickets are available on www.solsticeartscentre.ie.