Marie-Gabrielle Koumenda | I am not my hair | Company Sharing

We are delighted to be working with EPAD to host artist Marie-Gabrielle Koumenda for a week as part of EPAD’s Supported Residency Project!

The aim for this residency is to start exploring and developing a dance/movement piece aimed at young Black girls (8-12 years old) growing up in Scotland; and to more specifically do so through the lens of their relationship with their hair. The piece will reflect a journey through childhood and the conflicting feelings that can arise when searching for identity and belonging, while honouring our roots.

Marie-Gabrielle Koumenda is a French-Cameroonian musician, composer and singer-songwriter performing under the artist’s name Djana Gabrielle. She has been honing her craft on the Scottish music scene since 2015, releasing music and performing at various concerts and festivals. A 2019 Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Stage Winner, and one of the “most note-worthy performances” at the 2019 Kintyre Songwriters’ Festival, she has lately been combining her love for music and theatre and has worked with various companies including Lyra, Imaginate, National Theatre Scotland, Stellar Quines and Magnetic North.

Supported through EPAD’s Supported Residency Project with in-kind studio space from Dance Base

Host or Publisher Dance Base Scotland