BORN TO EXIST: the woman I know

Joseph Toonga | GB

Choreographer Joseph Toonga works at the international forefront of hip-hop. Born To Exist is the final piece of a triptych about ingrained prejudice towards ethnic minorities. Inspired by the stories of female immigrants in the UK and experiences of the three female dancers. Toonga’s style is clear, touching and activistic.

Location Verkadefabriek/Grote Zaal

Running time 60 min.

Choreographer Joseph Toonga works at the forefront of hip-hop, both in the UK and internationally. His strongest asset: authenticity. He draws on real stories. Moreover, he does not sugarcoat social issues. His sharp, activist style against inequality and exclusion is noticed worldwide. From The Royal Ballet to Hofesh Schechter Company, leading companies work with Toonga.

In Born To Exist, which features three female dancers, he analyses the lives of women of colour. The individual stories of immigrants in the UK and the experiences of his female cast form the basis. He also weaves his own memories of the resilient women of his youth into his hip-hop choreography. With Born To Exist, Toonga completes his triptych about ingrained [prejudices] that ethnic minorities encounter. The earlier parts were Born To Manifest and Born To Protest. Both pieces, a loving duet in the theatre and a group piece on a city square, were on Boulevard 2021.