An Immigrant’s Story Wanjiru Kamuyu

Presented by the Regional Dance Network: Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, Dance Limerick, Tipperary Dance and Dance Cork Firkin Crane.

Wanjiru Kamuyu is engaged in questioning the notions of place, belonging and otherness. A cosmopolitan on three continents - Africa, North America and Europe – wherever she decides to set up home, is she considered an immigrant?

Her solo interrogates the gaze upon the “foreigner” in a new space, new society. The work, through satire, offers a critical eye on the notions of place and placement that are prevalent in today’s political discourse. An Immigrant’s Story is a Bessie Award winner in the category Outstanding Choreographer.

WKcollective creates immersive, visceral experiences through the medium of contemporary dance. Project-based works weave stories and express universal experiences. Collaboration across artistic disciplines opens discourse and intrigue through the power of poetic expression in vocal and physical movement. Founded by Kenyan-American choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu in 2009, WKcollective attracts multidisciplinary artists of diverse cultural backgrounds to the creative canvas. Drawing upon these art forms to stimulate fresh, innovative, vulnerable, raw, graphic art to generate personal and social reflection through a transformative celebration with dance.

Wanjiru Kamuyu holds an MFA from Temple University and began her career in New York with Urban Bush Women and Molissa Fenley. She has collaborated with artists including Bill T. Jones, Robyn Orlin, Bartabas, Irène Tassembedo, and Anne Collod amongst others. Since 2017, Kamuyu has created several works presented across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the US, as well as a dance film, La Visite (2020).