Born to Protest

Born to Protest dismantles presumptions about the black male and female figure based on intimidation, danger and isolation, revealing instead character traits around fragility, vulnerability and a constant battle to prove oneself.

Born to Protest dismantles presumptions about the black male and female figure based on intimidation, danger and isolation, revealing instead character traits around fragility, vulnerability and a constant battle to prove oneself. 

Born to Protest is Joseph’s first outdoor work for his company Just Us Dance Theatre. It is the second part of a Hip Hop dance theatre trilogy he is creating to highlight black excellence and challenge racial stigma.

Just Us Dance Theatre (JUDT) is a forefronting Hip Hop organisation connecting dance communities internationally.  It actively supports early career artists and up-skills young dancers who are generally underrepresented in the mainstream.  Committed to removing the geographic, economic and social barriers that prevent people from taking part in publicly funded activities, JUDT uniquely brings together dancers and creatives from a broad variety of backgrounds including Hip Hop, Contemporary dance and the African diaspora, aiming to Inspire, Nurture & Support.

Joseph Toonga works at the forefront of Hip Hop in the UK and internationally. He describes himself as being in a continual search for an authentic reason to choreograph, and frequently draws on real life stories which make his work resonate with people under-represented in audiences for mainstream arts.