Our Team

Beverley Glean - MBE

Founder, Artistic Director and CEO of IRIE! dance theatre

Lecturer in Caribbean Dance

Founder, Artistic Director and CEO of IRIE! dance theatre Beverley has been working in the field of dance, in particular African Peoples Dance for over 20 years. Trained at the Laban Centre London (Trinity Laban), The Jamaica School of Dance and The Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba; she has continued her training and development in dance & culture by working alongside artists from West Africa, Europe, America, and the Caribbean. Beverley founded IRIE! dance theatre in 1985. The company pioneered the move towards representing and promoting reggae music and its movement nuances on stage. Over the years, IRIE! has grown in stature. As well as its touring dance theatre company, it has developed a much sought after education & community outreach programme.

Since 1992 Beverley has developed the relationship between IRIE! dance theatre and City and Islington College, delivering workshops, lectures and performance projects. Since 2000 she has co- directed a number of performance/research projects in partnership with the College and IRIE! dance theatre including; Connecting vibes Dance Company and the Dance and Diversity project, funded by NESTA and ACE to investigate the place of African and Caribbean dance within performance and education She has worked to develop the new BA(Hons) Diverse Dance Styles, launched in 2018. In 2016 Beverley received a Lifetime Achievement Award from ADAD and in 2017 was awarded an MBE for services to the promotion of African and Caribbean Dance.

Rosie Lehan

Director of Accredited Training

Lecturer in Choreography

Trained at Laban Centre (Trinity Laban) BA (Hons) Dance and Middlesex University MA Performing Arts. Working with Beverley Glean since 2000 Rosie has worked on a diverse range of projects, including Connectingvibes Dance Company for young dancers and the Dance and Diversity project, an action-based research project originally funded by NESTA and ACE to investigate the place of African and Caribbean dance. The Project ongoing since 2004, included a research trip to the USA, Jamaica, Cuba and Ghana.

Rosie worked as a Dance Lecturer at City and Islington College working on partnership projects with organisations such as Creative Partnerships, conducting research projects and establishing links in the USA and China.

Together with Beverley they created and subsequently led The Foundation Degree in Dance and in 2018 successfully launched the BA(Hons) Diverse Dance Styles validated by University of Roehampton.

Eszter Ivan

Student Counsellor

Eszter is a qualified embodied and dance movement psychotherapist.

In the therapeutic space, Eszter supports adults and students to explore and express their emotional difficulties, find a way to reconnect with their authentic selves, with their capacity for self-understanding and remind them that their body is a potential resource for wisdom. She

encourages them to find proactive solutions by applying an empathetic approach to listening, understand, and meet their emotional, mental, and social needs to help them to create stability for their wellbeing.

Eszter worked as a psychologist with visually impaired people in Hungary before she moved to London in 2012. She is interested in creative approaches and research. Currently doing a part-time PhD in psychology and in dance at Roehampton University.

For more information: eszterivan.co.uk

Nii Kwartey Owoo

Lecturer in African Dance

Nii Kwartey Owoo is a dynamic force in African dance and music, deeply rooted in his Ghanaian heritage. A percussionist, dancer, choreographer, and educator, he fuses traditional West African rhythms with contemporary expressions, creating powerful performances that celebrate African culture. His work often incorporates intricate movements, footwork, and gestures that tell stories of spirituality, history, and identity.

As the lead artist of the Asasaa Ensemble, Nii blends highlife music with global influences, bridging generations and inviting audiences to connect with African traditions. Beyond performance, he’s a dedicated educator, teaching at institutions like IRIE! dance theatre, SOAS, University of London, and Goldsmiths. Through these roles, Nii fosters an appreciation for African dance’s cultural significance.

His community engagement, including collaborations with Spitalfields Music and Orchestras Live, further emphasizes his commitment to sharing African culture through workshops and educational programs. Nii Kwartey Owoo’s impact on the African diaspora is profound, preserving and evolving traditional arts while pushing the boundaries of contemporary African dance.

Dr. 'H' Patten

Lecturer in Caribbean Dance

Dr ‘H’ Patten is an experienced performer, choreographer, filmmaker, and university lecturer. A former principle artist in Adzido Pan-African Dance Ensemble and Artistic Director of Koromanti Arts and ‘H’ Patten Dance Theatre Co. His international reputation in African and Caribbean arts spans 36 years. Patten’s publications include ‘Feel De Riddim, Feel De Vibes’ in Adair, C. and Burt, R. (2016) ‘British Dance: Black Routes’ (Routledge), and ‘Dancehall: A Continuity of Spiritual, Corporeal Practice in Jamaican Dance’ in Akinleye, A. (2018) Narratives in Black British Dance: Embodied practices’ (Palgrave McMillan).

Dr. Patten recently completed his PhD at Canterbury Christ Church University (UK) entitled The Spirituality of Reggae Dancehall Dance Vocabulary: a Spiritual, Corporeal Practice in Jamaican Dance. Patten’s awards include the Jamaican High Commission 50th Anniversary Award for Arts, Culture and Entertainment (2012).

Dr. Patten is a tutor in Dance of the African Diaspora. Co-developing and delivering classes relating specifically to African and Caribbean contemporary and traditional dance practices, critically grounded in DAD theory, cultural and dance analysis and also an associate Lecturer in Dance of the African Diaspora (Kingston University).

Leroy 'FX' Dias Dos Santos

Lecturer in Contemporary and Urban Dance Technique

Leroy 'FX' Dias Dos Santos is a passionate dance artist who continues to perfect his craft as a hybrid performer and choreographer. Born in Angola and raised in North London, Leroy was inspired by Michael Jackson and his cousins to pursue dance from a young age.

In 2007, he graduated from Middlesex University studying Dance Performance, where he developed his ballet, contemporary and jazz technique. Throughout his career Leroy has worked with HM The Queen, Prince Charles, Jermaine Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Jason Statham, Will.I.AM, Jessie J, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Sugababes, Aston Merrygold and choreographers such as Jermaine Brown, Rafael Bonachela, Shobana Jesaysingh, Mavin Khoo as well as The English National Ballet.

Leroy performed in theatre productions 'Carmen Jones' (2007) at The Royal Festival Hall, 'La Travaita' (2007) and 'Aida' (2008) conducted under The Welsh National Opera. He is also a member of the street dance sensation Flawless, who were finalists on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. They featured in movies such as ‘Street Dance 3D’ 1 and 2 by Vertigo films (2009) and have currently been touring their new theatre production ‘Chase the Dream 2’ (2018-2019) across the UK and internationally.

As well as performing, he has also had the opportunity to choreograph and collaborate with Susie Mckenna on ‘Mandem On The Wall’ Live Show at Hackney Empire (2015) and ‘Macbeth’ with Twist Theatre Company (2015-2016), ‘Hosea’s Girl’ (2015) a Hip Hop spoken word play written by Anastasia Osei- Kuffour.

Leroy currently teaches dance technique and choreography across different sectors and has had the opportunity to work with different dance institutions such as Urdang Academy, Middlesex University, IRIE! Dance Theatre, Frantic Assembly, Dance College London, Wac Arts, Springs Dance Company and Hertford Regional College, which has all played a significant role to his teaching. Nurturing the younger generation and mentoring them through dance is a key part of Leroy’s teaching and philosophy

Beatrice Ghezzi

Lecturer in Ballet

Beatrice is a London-based Italian teacher and dancer. In 2016 she completed her MA in Contemporary Dance at the LCDS. She has been teaching ballet and contemporary dance classes for the past 8 years in several vocational and community settings. In particular, she has been working for Balle4life® and the Charity Move Into Wellbeing®, teaching adult ballet and contemporary classes at all levels and movement classes for people living with Parkinson’s.

Her teaching emphasises coordination, timing, use of space and dynamics. The main aim is fluidity and flavour, with a research and care for movements transitions as opposed to aesthetic forms.

Alongside her teaching, Beatrice continues to perform for choreographers in projects and independent work. In 2018 she created, alongside her colleague Orley Quick, BOTH Dance Classes, a teaching initiative that offers dance classes to adult learners in South East London.

More information here: www.bothdanceclasses.com

Orley Quick

Lecturer in Ballet and Contemporary Dance

Orley is a London-based dance artist and teacher. She is a key promoter of life-long learning, revelling in teaching those who think it is too late to start dancing.

She has taught dance in a range of vocational and community settings for many years including FE colleges, universities and adult colleges, teaching contemporary dance, improvisation, ballet, choreographic approaches and dance theory. Her teaching style is playful, sensory and energised. She loves to work with people from a range of backgrounds to explore the richness of varied approaches together in one space. Orley also performs and choreographs, with a particular interest in collaboration. Her choreographic work is rooted in social commentary and relationships.

As well as teaching ballet at IRIE, Orley teaches adult dance classes at City Lit in Covent Garden. In 2018, alongside her colleague Beatrice Ghezzi, she created BOTH Dance Classes, a teaching initiative that offers dance classes to adult learners in South East London.

More information here: www.bothdanceclasses.com

Charles James

Musician

Charles James is a professional African drummer, with extensive experience and knowledge in Afro Caribbean traditional music. Charles was a former member of Ekome Dance Company in Bristol and was a founder member of Adzido Dance Ensemble in 1984 - 2003.

In addition Charles has performed for a number of theatre productions such as Chesa, Chesa and Yaa Asantewaa to name but a few. He has toured internationally throughout his career in Europe, Africa, Canada and the Caribbean performing, delivering workshops

Charles has worked alongside some great artist & directors such as Dr H Patten, Jackie Guy, Lincoln Allerton, Judith Palmer MBE etc delivering African & Caribbean foundation degree programmes in Surrey University and schools etc.

Charles works with IRIE dance theatre on the BA(Hons) Diverse Dance Styles.

Cynthia Casimir

Hip Hop Dance Styles Lecturer

Cynthia trained in classical dance from a very young age and discovered Hip Hop culture at the age of 15. Trained by her uncle and dance teacher Franck VENERE, she found a passion for this culture and its values, building her experience through competitions, shows, creations and battles with her group, Black Mafia. Moving to London in 2013, Cynthia embarked on a new adventure joining the Royal Academy of Dance working with young people and passing on her knowledge and values of the Hip Hop culture.

In 2015 she joined Paradox-Sal group, travelling around the world as a performer-dancer for the creation "Fighting Spirit", "Bounce" and to date "Queen Blood" and “One Shot’ ,to transmit, and inspire all generations during the tour and through workshops with her group. She has been working with IRIE! dance theatre on the BA(Hons) Diverse Dance Styles since September 2019

Adriana Pino

Fitness/Conditioning & Choreographic Assistant

Adriana Pino is originally from Spain and based in London since 2013. She is passionate about Dance, Fitness and Mind-Body therapies; her goal is to excel and connect the three of them.

She is a versatile dancer influenced by diverse styles of dance. Starting with Ballet at the age of 4, furthermore Hip-Hop, Dancehall, Salsa, Afrobeats and House. She recently graduated from a BA (Hons) Diverse Dance Styles at IRIE! Dance Theatre where she trained in Contemporary Dance, Urban Dances and African and Caribbean Traditional Dances. From 2021 to 2022 Adriana was a member of Connectingvibes Dance company re-launched as part of the BA Diverse Dance styles degree course.

At the age of 16, she started her career in the fitness industry and became an exercise with music instructor. Once she moved to London, she had gained a personal trainer level 3 and Zumba instructor qualification and recently Animal Flow instructor

Shea Best

Lecturer in Caribbean Dance

Shea Best is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, and teacher with an extensive background in Afro-Caribbean traditional and popular dance, Modern/Contemporary, Commercial and Musical Theatre. With a Master’s in Choreography from Leeds Beckett University and ongoing studies in Creative Arts at the University of the West Indies, Shea's experience seamlessly blends academic research with performance artistry.

Currently the Company Rehearsal Director and dancer with IRIE! Dance Theatre Company, Shea has performed, choreographed and taught in various studios, institutions and venues, in Barbados and the UK including Sadler’s Wells, the Saatchi Gallery, and the Black-E in Liverpool.

Beyond performance, Shea is an experienced educator, teaching at institutions like Artistry Youth Dance and is now IRIE!'s newest lecturer in Caribbean dance. With a passion for cultural preservation and innovation, Shea’s work bridges traditional and contemporary movement, creating powerful narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

An award-winning artist, Shea has received accolades such as the Prime Minister’s Award for Artistic Excellence and multiple NIFCA Gold Awards. Whether on stage, in the studio, or directing rehearsals, Shea remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of dance and fostering the next generation of performers.