Esie Mensah Creations
Committed to bringing the ‘human’
into the dance
Esie has produced several productions and films under the company Esie Mensah Creations which is a vibrant dance and theater company committed to creating work that reflects her community. Under the direction of Esie Mensah, this company has been operating for over 8 years and continues to tell the stories of the community to provoke conversations.
.Through her own unique style of dance, Afrofusion includes movements from Traditional and Contemporary African, Commercial, Urban and Contemporary styles. Esie is committed to bringing a new fresh genre of dance into the industry.
Her own original creations include Akoma, ZAYO, Dora-nominated Shades, and The Journey. A Revolution of Love, co-created with Weyni Mengesha in collaboration with Soulpepper Theatre and Toronto History Museums is a film inspired by the racial reckoning of 2020. TESSEL, is a national call of healing supported by 19 dance organizations from across Canada and co-commissioned by Fall For Dance North and Harbourfront Centre.
Continue scrolling for original works
SHADES
Dora-nominated original production
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… on the fairness, or darkness of their skin colour – and how it inflicts on the Black community, specifically undoing the stitches in Mensah’s and six other dancers’ personal lives. Set against choreography and text, SHADES breaks the code of silence, compelling the audience to face how such brutality, whether on a global scale with colonization, or an offhand remark from a loved one, permeates generations.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SHADES
This show is available for tour &/or to present.
For more information on how to book SHADES please contact: esie@esiemensah.com
ZAYO
Original production
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… movement and dance to showcase the obstacles and challenges Esie has faced throughout her artistic career.
ZAYO will be an immersive dance/theatre story that has a strong focus on my Afrofusion choreography, concepts surrounding Afrofuturism and transformation. This story was conceived by me, a Ghanaian-Togolese Canadian 5 years ago for SummerWorks Festival and was remounted in 2019 for Prismatic festival in Ottawa. My impetus was to create a production to honour my Ancestors and the guides who have helped me strengthen the path that I have been walking on for the last 10+ years. My spiritual journey has built the foundation of this show and has helped me guide the artists to understand new ways of storytelling through movement and deepening our spiritual practice. The story was gifted to me by my Ancestors through listening to my intuition when creating. Being attentive to the nuances of the story and trusting my instinct through the process has been crucial to its development. ZAYO continues to teach me so much and has been evolving as I have grown over the years. People hold different points of view when it comes to the Ancestors but I am grateful for how mine have strengthened who I am as an artist.
ZAYO’s newest story is underdevelopment and will debut 2024/2025.
TESSEL
Digital film
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… for Dance North and Harbourfront Centre, along with 19 national co-presenters. It features the stories of 14 pioneering Black artists from across Canada, exploring the complexities of diverse movement and voice as a form of resilience.
“What began as a 7-hour discussion between 14 Black dance artists from across the country, has been beautifully distilled down into a spiritual calling, a tessellated journey through the cycles of healing. This film has taught me to trust the voice that I have within. As a choreographer, the industry can place limitations on who you are even though the vision you have for yourself is so much greater. I’ve been spending many years doing the work to unveil myself as an artist whose creations can shift across disciplines. TESSEL is a reflection of my artistic work and my commitment to share the stories we need and not the stories we want. I am grateful to have done this with 13 artists that trusted me to bring this vision forward.
This film is currently only licensed in Canada
To showcase or have Tessel premiere in your country please send an email to: esie@esiemensah.com
THE JOURNEY
Original production
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… A Seat at the Table, a piece initially created in response to the complexities of the Black experience where it first premiered through Summerworks and The Canadian Stage Company after the racial reckoning of 2020. A direct relation to the tragedies on Black bodies and the global call to action towards accountability. This works’ evolution continued at Impact Festival 2021 which channeled a conversation of equity, diversity and inclusion and the baggage that that work reinforces. As the piece continues to evolve, its central point is focused on the weight we carry. Generational. Ancestral. Personal. How do we personify the baggage that we hold onto? What would happen if we could see the weight that people are holding? Would that make us more aware? Would we be more compassionate? Do we have the courage to release what is holding us back? Movement is more than just the dance. It can be a catalyst for transformation and healing. Give space for your body to emancipate. Be present for the experience of this creation that Esie Mensah will guide us through. Hold space for yourself, your community and the performer….and don’t forget to breathe.
A Seat at the Table has been renamed The Journey.
A Revolution of Love
Digital short film
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… the histories of her ancestors and the present-day violence ravaging her community, and begins to imagine what her future looks like through dance. Conceived by an internationally recognized Black creative team and featuring the words of Assata Shakur, this piece spotlights 15 women of varying shades as they come together to re-frame revolution in the name of love. Filmed at Toronto’s Fort York National Historic Site in partnership with Soulpepper Theatre Company
This film is available to be presented.
For more information on how to book A Revolution of Love please contact: info@esiemensah.com
AKOMA
Original production
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Akoma is the journey of two Ghanaians - one born in Ghana and one born in Canada. Yao, the Ghanaian born, comes to Canada for his education but wavers with his decision to return home or stay in Canada. Delali, the first generation Canadian born Ghanaian, feels such a strong connection to her parents’ country but is ridiculed when she tries to claim Ghana as her own. The two struggle to find a way to belong and sit with the question...where do we go from here?
Akoma was self presented in 2015 at the Betty Oliphant Theatre. Was presented at Re:Generations in Birmingham UK in 2016 and for Arts Midwest in Columbus, Ohio in 2017
WITH SUPPORT FROM
Present a Show with
Esie Mensah Creations
A number of Esie Mensah Creations work is available for tour and/or to present. See below for more information on each piece of work:
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The spirit of ZAYO (means future in Zulu) is homage to honour her ancestors. It’s to honour her guides from across the globe. A channel of strength, love and dedication for the people that need to hear it
ZAYO’s newest story is underdevelopment and will debut 2024/2025.
To present or tour Zayo, please email info@esiemensah.com.
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1) PRESENT THE SHOW
SHADES breaks the code of silence, compelling the audience to face how such brutality, whether on a global scale with colonization, or an offhand remark from a loved one, permeates generations.This show is available for tour &/or to present. To book SHADES please contact: esie@esiemensah.com
2) BOOK A TALK ON SHADES
- Talk with Esie Mensah + Q&A
- Screen an excerpt from SHADES (optional)*Please note that the length is determined by both parties. Please email info@esiemensah.com for a quote.
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1) To showcase or have Tessel premiere in your country please send an email to: esie@esiemensah.com
This film is currently only licensed in Canada
2) Book a Talk on Tessel
- Talk with Esie Mensah + Q&A
- Screen TESSEL (optional)*Please note that the length is determined by both parties. Please email info@esiemensah.com for a quote.
*Please note that the length is determined by both parties. Please email info@esiemensah.com for a quote.
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PRESENT THE SHOW
This show is available for tour &/or to present. To book THE JOURNEY please contact: esie@esiemensah.com
In the Media
Continue the Conversation
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CBC INTERVIEW: Tessel brings Black dancers together to explore global discourse on race
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Interview on Q with Tom Power: Tessel a Dance Film
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CTV Your Morning: Shadeism in Canada
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Breakfast Televsion: A Space for Black Artists To Tell Their Stories
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TORONTO STAR INTERVIEW
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CBC Listen: Daybreak South with Chris Walker
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Chatter that Matters: Movement Matters to Esie Mensah
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CAHOOTS Blackstage Pass: Powered by Purpose
Spiritual Hub
Spiritual hub is a space to gain knowledge about resources to inspire people to do their self work.
Episode: Maya Angelou & Dave Chappelle
Podcast: Oprah Winfrey - A Vision for Success
People of the Community: Who impacted me
Interview: Finding Black Joy through Movement