Company Profile
Culture and Arts is a body of artists and facilitators represented from across the world and our aim is to make high quality arts accessible to every one.
We produce educational artistic and cultural activities as well as provide training and information to organizations and individuals world-wide.
Staff
Tomorr Kokona is the founder and artistic director of Culture & Arts. Tomorr is a professional dancer and choreographer trained at the Academy of Dancing and at the University of Fine Arts in Tirana, Albania, and the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, London. His style is a fusion of contemporary, folk and classical dancing. Tomorr has worked with ... more 
renowned companies including English National Opera, Classical Ballet of Madrid, in Spain and Albanian National Ballet. Tomorr is passionate about teaching contemporary and folk dance. He also has a vast experience of working with students and young people at risk of offending including new arrivals. Tomorr is currently working in several arts projects involving professional artists and young people in different London Boroughs. In 2005 Tomorr launched a new event called Dance Challenge, a dance competition for several primary, secondary schools and community groups. This event runs several times a year in London and other UK cities.
Annette Brandanger joined Culture and Arts in January 2006. She teaches contemporary, Street Jazz and creative workshops. Annette Brandanger graduated from Laban Centre London in 2000, she then joined Transitions Dance Company where she toured around the UK and Europe. She is mainly contemporary trained, but has also done RAD Ballet ... more
, Matt Mattox and Street Jazz/ Funk and touch other disciplines like Capoeira, Yoga and thai chi. Since her graduation she has worked as a freelance dancer/ teacher and been involved in projects with choreographers such as Lea Anderson, Hellen Blackburn, Jan de Shynkel, Charles Linehan, Athina Vahal, Gery Lambert, Joanne Willmot and Matthew Westerby and also musical/opera’s such as ‘A Cabaret’ and ‘The Fairy Queen’. Annette uses her mixed dance background to create and encourage creative thinking in dance whether it’s related to Hip Hop, Ballet or Contemporary. She will find ways of creating combinations and dances using both choreographed and improvised movements, all inspired from the children’s movements.
Francis Angol Francis Angol is a pioneering British dance artist and a previous fellowship artist of the Arts Council of England. Francis travels world wide promoting his unique language of expression. A language that utilises African dance forms as the basis for movement development and artistic expression offering an alternative approach to the ... more
production of African dance as a modern theatrical presentation. Francis' work takes him around the globe, holding the position of artist in residence in Jamaica at the Jamaican School of Dance, a faculty of the University of the West Indies, Nigeria at the National Dance Company and Singapore. Presently Artistic Director of "Movement Angol Productions", Francis’ former role was that of Assistant Artistic Director/Choreographer and performer for Badejo Arts, Britain’s leading Contemporary African Dance Company, under the directorship of Peter Badejo - OBE. As a creative artist and a devoted advocate of the arts as a tool to facilitate change, Francis continues to develop work that informs and educates with the view of changing attitudes and mindsets towards the arts as a creative tool of expression for the development of the individual.
Charlotte Spencer: Trained at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS), graduating with a 1st Class BA(Hons). Since then she has danced with a wide range of choreographers including Rick Nodine, Jan de Schynkel and Laurent Cavanna. She currently dances for Marguerite Caruana Galizia and Ajose-Cutting Dance Company who have just returned ... more
from performing at Mix Dance Festival in New York. Over the past year Charlotte has developed close links with Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) particularly through the International map-making project as part of Aldeburgh Festival in May 2006. She teaches movement studies and collaboration skills at GSMD and teaches dance in schools across North West London for Culture and Arts.
Marsha Carrington started dancing at the age of 4 and has been in the entertainment business for over 25yrs. At the age of 13 Marsha started studying at Sylvia Young Theatre School, where performed at cabaret shows appearing in the Musical such as: Porgy and Bess at Glyndebourne. Later, whilst studying at Brian Rogers Performing Arts College she ... more
was offered a teaching job in America where choreographed a televised fashion show. Back in the UK, Marsha worked as a professional dancer, actor an model. Some of her credits include backing dancing for pop acts, cheerleading for basketball & football teams, and performing at many road, trade and radio shows around the UK, Tommy Hilfiger fashion show in Istanbul, and also had the pleasure of working with one of Michael Jackson's choreographers. Other work experience include: London Leopards basketball team, choreographing for recording artists, live shows, a weekender with Trevor Nelson, Top of the Pops, Big Dance 2006 and BBC1 Watchdog, Re-creating the Talk-Talk Commercial etc. Marsha would like to pass on her experiences to benefit children and young adults. Her classes are enjoyed and students are inspired to become successful professionals.
David John is a dancer and choreographer with many years of experience in the professional stage. He was born in Wales where he studied dance and drama before gaining a BA in Contemporary Dance and Choreography at London Contemporary Dance School leading to further training with 4D, LCDS’ post graduate performing and touring ... more
company. Since graduating in 1995 he has worked with, among others, Fluid State Dancers, Scottish Dance Theatre, H2 Dance, Kokona Dance and The Flying Gorillas. In 1998 David was one of the core group dancers in Babel Index, a site-specific dance project held at the British Library. In 2000 he played the part of The Soldier in Sravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale and has recreated the role twice since then. Opera credits include: English National Opera, The Royal Opera, Covent Garden Festival and Mid Wales Opera. TV/Commercial credits include: Shakespeare in Love, Wives and Daughters, Keen Eddie and The Massive Heads on tour. David also teaches on a freelance basis.
Francoise Awad is originally from Australia, and in 2007 was relocated to London for a lifestyle change. For the last three years Francoise was been employed as dance captain of Disney’s The Lion King, Australia. Other employment include dance trainer of Cirque de Soleil Alegria Asia / Pacific Tour and associate producer of Entertainment Alliance ... more
Productions and Events Australia. Francoise has a special interest in teaching students of all ages projecting his strong energetic approach focusing mainly in teaching fast dynamic jazz, technical contemporary, fosse musical theatre and classical ballet with a vibrant neo-classical style. Other working experiences include The McDonald College of Performing Arts High School, Tanya Pearson Classical Academy Full-time Certificate IV Course and evening classes at The Sydney Dance Company Studios. Between 200-2004 Francoise founded and managed Dance Intensity, a touring performing arts training program employing a faculty of twelve choreographers.
Dorna Casteallo is a dance teacher. She has been dancing from the age of 3 at Butler School of Dance where she took exams in Modern, Tap and Ballet. After school she went on to full time training at Lewisham Collage where she obtained a Foundation in Dance. Parallel to her training at Lewisham she took extra classes at Weekend Arts Collage in ... more
Kentish Town (which have know moved to Hampstead) and became a member of their youth group Fusion Dance and Drama Company. After training at the Laban Centre for 3 years where she obtained her Diploma. Dorna returned to Weekend Art College to work as a Teacher. She became a member of the Jiving Lindy Hoppers as a performer, dancing and touring. She then went on to Choreograph for recording Artists. At present she teaches and choreographs at Sylvia Young Theatre School and Colin Performing Art. Her Dance Disciplines are as followed Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lindy Hop, Choreograph, Dance Teaching, Pilates, Street Dance Dorna does not only have a passion for Dance but she has gained child care experience as an After School Club and Holiday Scheme Co-Ordinator for the Y.M.C.A. She is also a qualified Pilates Instructor teaching children and adults and is working for Newham as a Youth Worker.
renowned companies including English National Opera, Classical Ballet of Madrid, in Spain and Albanian National Ballet. Tomorr is passionate about teaching contemporary and folk dance. He also has a vast experience of working with students and young people at risk of offending including new arrivals. Tomorr is currently working in several arts projects involving professional artists and young people in different London Boroughs. In 2005 Tomorr launched a new event called Dance Challenge, a dance competition for several primary, secondary schools and community groups. This event runs several times a year in London and other UK cities.
Annette Brandanger joined Culture and Arts in January 2006. She teaches contemporary, Street Jazz and creative workshops. Annette Brandanger graduated from Laban Centre London in 2000, she then joined Transitions Dance Company where she toured around the UK and Europe. She is mainly contemporary trained, but has also done RAD Ballet ... more
, Matt Mattox and Street Jazz/ Funk and touch other disciplines like Capoeira, Yoga and thai chi. Since her graduation she has worked as a freelance dancer/ teacher and been involved in projects with choreographers such as Lea Anderson, Hellen Blackburn, Jan de Shynkel, Charles Linehan, Athina Vahal, Gery Lambert, Joanne Willmot and Matthew Westerby and also musical/opera’s such as ‘A Cabaret’ and ‘The Fairy Queen’. Annette uses her mixed dance background to create and encourage creative thinking in dance whether it’s related to Hip Hop, Ballet or Contemporary. She will find ways of creating combinations and dances using both choreographed and improvised movements, all inspired from the children’s movements.
Francis Angol Francis Angol is a pioneering British dance artist and a previous fellowship artist of the Arts Council of England. Francis travels world wide promoting his unique language of expression. A language that utilises African dance forms as the basis for movement development and artistic expression offering an alternative approach to the ... more
production of African dance as a modern theatrical presentation. Francis' work takes him around the globe, holding the position of artist in residence in Jamaica at the Jamaican School of Dance, a faculty of the University of the West Indies, Nigeria at the National Dance Company and Singapore. Presently Artistic Director of "Movement Angol Productions", Francis’ former role was that of Assistant Artistic Director/Choreographer and performer for Badejo Arts, Britain’s leading Contemporary African Dance Company, under the directorship of Peter Badejo - OBE. As a creative artist and a devoted advocate of the arts as a tool to facilitate change, Francis continues to develop work that informs and educates with the view of changing attitudes and mindsets towards the arts as a creative tool of expression for the development of the individual.
Charlotte Spencer: Trained at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS), graduating with a 1st Class BA(Hons). Since then she has danced with a wide range of choreographers including Rick Nodine, Jan de Schynkel and Laurent Cavanna. She currently dances for Marguerite Caruana Galizia and Ajose-Cutting Dance Company who have just returned ... more
from performing at Mix Dance Festival in New York. Over the past year Charlotte has developed close links with Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) particularly through the International map-making project as part of Aldeburgh Festival in May 2006. She teaches movement studies and collaboration skills at GSMD and teaches dance in schools across North West London for Culture and Arts.
Marsha Carrington started dancing at the age of 4 and has been in the entertainment business for over 25yrs. At the age of 13 Marsha started studying at Sylvia Young Theatre School, where performed at cabaret shows appearing in the Musical such as: Porgy and Bess at Glyndebourne. Later, whilst studying at Brian Rogers Performing Arts College she ... more
was offered a teaching job in America where choreographed a televised fashion show. Back in the UK, Marsha worked as a professional dancer, actor an model. Some of her credits include backing dancing for pop acts, cheerleading for basketball & football teams, and performing at many road, trade and radio shows around the UK, Tommy Hilfiger fashion show in Istanbul, and also had the pleasure of working with one of Michael Jackson's choreographers. Other work experience include: London Leopards basketball team, choreographing for recording artists, live shows, a weekender with Trevor Nelson, Top of the Pops, Big Dance 2006 and BBC1 Watchdog, Re-creating the Talk-Talk Commercial etc. Marsha would like to pass on her experiences to benefit children and young adults. Her classes are enjoyed and students are inspired to become successful professionals.
David John is a dancer and choreographer with many years of experience in the professional stage. He was born in Wales where he studied dance and drama before gaining a BA in Contemporary Dance and Choreography at London Contemporary Dance School leading to further training with 4D, LCDS’ post graduate performing and touring ... more
company. Since graduating in 1995 he has worked with, among others, Fluid State Dancers, Scottish Dance Theatre, H2 Dance, Kokona Dance and The Flying Gorillas. In 1998 David was one of the core group dancers in Babel Index, a site-specific dance project held at the British Library. In 2000 he played the part of The Soldier in Sravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale and has recreated the role twice since then. Opera credits include: English National Opera, The Royal Opera, Covent Garden Festival and Mid Wales Opera. TV/Commercial credits include: Shakespeare in Love, Wives and Daughters, Keen Eddie and The Massive Heads on tour. David also teaches on a freelance basis.
Francoise Awad is originally from Australia, and in 2007 was relocated to London for a lifestyle change. For the last three years Francoise was been employed as dance captain of Disney’s The Lion King, Australia. Other employment include dance trainer of Cirque de Soleil Alegria Asia / Pacific Tour and associate producer of Entertainment Alliance ... more
Productions and Events Australia. Francoise has a special interest in teaching students of all ages projecting his strong energetic approach focusing mainly in teaching fast dynamic jazz, technical contemporary, fosse musical theatre and classical ballet with a vibrant neo-classical style. Other working experiences include The McDonald College of Performing Arts High School, Tanya Pearson Classical Academy Full-time Certificate IV Course and evening classes at The Sydney Dance Company Studios. Between 200-2004 Francoise founded and managed Dance Intensity, a touring performing arts training program employing a faculty of twelve choreographers.
Dorna Casteallo is a dance teacher. She has been dancing from the age of 3 at Butler School of Dance where she took exams in Modern, Tap and Ballet. After school she went on to full time training at Lewisham Collage where she obtained a Foundation in Dance. Parallel to her training at Lewisham she took extra classes at Weekend Arts Collage in ... more
Kentish Town (which have know moved to Hampstead) and became a member of their youth group Fusion Dance and Drama Company. After training at the Laban Centre for 3 years where she obtained her Diploma. Dorna returned to Weekend Art College to work as a Teacher. She became a member of the Jiving Lindy Hoppers as a performer, dancing and touring. She then went on to Choreograph for recording Artists. At present she teaches and choreographs at Sylvia Young Theatre School and Colin Performing Art. Her Dance Disciplines are as followed Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lindy Hop, Choreograph, Dance Teaching, Pilates, Street Dance Dorna does not only have a passion for Dance but she has gained child care experience as an After School Club and Holiday Scheme Co-Ordinator for the Y.M.C.A. She is also a qualified Pilates Instructor teaching children and adults and is working for Newham as a Youth Worker.