Joseph Toonga
Joseph Toonga was born in Cameroon and grew up in London. He creates and dances works that are topical and relevant, for which he takes inspiration from true life stories. He combines different dance styles in his choreography and endeavours to change the audience’s perception of racial stigmas and social stereotypes.
In 2007, Toonga founded the collective Just Us Dance Theatre, which comprises both an Artistic Development Programme in Brazil and the first development programme for hip hop in the United Kingdom. Toonga is also co-founder of Artists4Artists, an artist-led hip hop initiative. Toonga is an Associate Artist with the British dance company DanceEast, and in 2021 he was appointed the first ‘Emerging Choreographer’ with The Royal Ballet, where he receives guidance from resident choreographer Wayne McGregor.
Toonga has choreographed works for the Boston Conservatory of Dance, Middlesex University in London, the Bundesjugendballett in Hamburg, the Richard Alston Dance Company, the Junior Ballet Madrid and Codarts Rotterdam. Last year, he also choreographed new works for the Royal Ballet’s Draft Works programme and created In Motion We Feel for English National Ballet School.
- Season 2023-2024
In 2024, Toonga is making his debut with the Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company, creating a work for their festive touring programme Ten, which is a celebration of the Junior Company’s tenth anniversary.