Ella Mesma – Profile

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Ella Mesma

Described by Donald Hutera (The Times) as, ‘superb’, Ella Mesma is a highly skilled contemporary dancer, bgirl and Latin dancer.

Ella was professionally trained to dance Samba in Brazil, she was also professionally trained in Salsa in both New York (via Lisa Ullman Scholarship) and Cuba. Ella has been dancing Latin styles for over ten years and has performed and taught globally, working with artists such as Sami Rodrigues, Iris De Brito, Susana Montero, Alegria da Zona Sul.

Ella was selected as a Passista (1st soloist) in Rio Carnival in 2006 and as Rainha da Bateria at the London School of Samba in 2008.

Due to Ella’s love of Latin dance, she established a Latin dance company ‘Element Arts’ in 2007 who have gone on to perform right across the UK and internationally.

Ella was an apprentice with M and Em Dance Company in 2005 in Leeds before studying at Laban and London School of Contemporary Dance where she graduated in 2010.

Mesma began breaking in Birmingham and has since trained and danced in New York and in London. She featured in Adidas/Elle campaign ‘All In For My Girls’ in 2013.

Ella set up her Artistic Company ‘Ella Mesma Company’ in 2011, striving to use three very different forms (Latin, Contemporary and Breaking) to create a unique, powerful, feminine style and explore ethical, political, religious, cultural and social issues.

She has created works ‘Evol’ (2011) collaborating with Mickael Riviere (Compagnie Decalage) funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. ‘Ecdysis’ (2013) collaborating with Anthony Egea (Compagnie Revolution-France) funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Papillon (2014) and ‘Orixas’ (2014), ‘The Ugly Daughter’ (2014) collaborating with Warsan Shire (Poet Laureate).

Ella toured globally with Russell Maliphant’s ‘The Rodin Project’ from 2011-2013 and has since been performing with Southpaw Company in pieces Riots, Men on a Mission, and currently Carousel.

Ella is also a qualified Yoga Instructor training and being mentored by Abby Hoffman on the embodied dancer program 2012, for whom she is now a mentor.

Ella Mesma has also danced for Amp14 (2009), Upswing Circus (2011), Uchenna (2010), BricolageDM (2011), Breakin’ Convention (2011/2012), Olympics Opening Ceremony (2012), Xhao Liang (ArtsCross)(2013), Divya Kasturi (2013) and Dancelines (Royal Opera House)(2013).