BACKGROUND

Kenya Performing Arts Group (K-PAG) was founded by Odak Onyango and Saskia Ottenhoff in September 2003. It is registered with the department of Culture in the ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social services. Dance in Kenya, as an academic and theatrical category, has a very short history. K-PAG started from the idea that Kenyan artists deserve better in terms of competition, quality work, professionalism and exposure which can be achieved through training. Educational aspects become part and parcel of our programs in enhancing the understanding of “our state of arts”. In this case we speak about the Performing Arts, theatre in which it is about family and society. We would like theatre to be in this country where it was born for- to reaffirm where we are as human beings in our environment.

K-PAG ARTISTS

Odak Onyango - Theatre Maker, Actor, Movement Artist

Odak was born on 18th Sept. 1977 in Kenya. During his High School in Rapogi (Western Kenya) he developed a passion for theatre. He was involved in several community awareness programs and other rural development activities whereby he did use theatre as a tool. After his graduation he moved to Nairobi and in 1996 he created a solo debut about Aids Awareness during the World’s Aids Day. He realized that through his expression he could touch people and mean something to them. From there he decided to pursue arts as his professional career. He studied Theatre & Politics in Hildesheim Germany, where he presented his theatre work (Babylon) together with other European students in the Expo 2000 in Hanover (Germany). His professional solo carrier as a stage actor started in Amsterdam with his performance called ‘Blankets’. Later he played the main character in the movie ‘Mutoto’ directed by Didier Chabi, which won the film award in Berlin (Africa in Picture).

In 2002 Odak graduated from the Arts School in Utrecht, The Netherlands with BA Honors in Intercultural Theatre & Education. Having his successful thesis written about theatre with street children in Nairobi, called ‘Rapping Pain Out’, he saw the urgency of going back to Kenya. He strongly believes that theatre is a possible tool to educate and empower the people. He gives classes in Physical Theatre, Movement, Acting, Arts Management, Theatre Light Technique and Theatre Make- up.

Saskia Ottenhoff - Dancer, Dance Maker

In 2002, she received her Bachelor’s degree from the Amsterdam School of Arts in Performing Jazz Theatre and Show Musical Dance. She studied modern/contemporary dance at the Rotterdam Dance Academy and joined the African Arts Ensemble in Nairobi. She received a scholarship from Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds and Fonds voor de Podiumkunsten for further studies in Kenya.

Her creations are based on a personal research on the traditional and contemporary African dances and the dances and techniques she studied in Europe. Through a combination of all these elements she creates a personal and contemporary language. “Dance is universal”, she says, “you can express yourself with it no matter where you are”.

After many years of training she affirms the importance of training which is requested for professional dancing. “It gives you the basic principles and the freedom to express yourself.” It’s her passion to dance, make dance but above all to use her dance to create.