Becky Umeh
Encyclopedia
Becky Umeh is a Nigeria
n artistic director
, choreographer
, singer, actress, and dancer.
, Nigeria
but grew up from the age of five in Lagos
. In 1992 she gained national visibility as an actress in the Nigerian Television Authority
children's drama Tales of Moonlight. She was also cast in the independent films Jezebel, Twist of Fate, Living Ghost, Amazon, and others.
From 1994 to 1998 Umeh studied traditional and contemporary African dance
, on full scholarship, at Ivory Dance Academy, founded by National Troupe of Nigeria member Steve James. While studying she toured with the school's group Ivory Ambassadors, and conducted field research on traditional dance in Nigerian villages.
From 1998 to 2001, Umeh co-hosted a T.V show Dance Jam Competition. In 2002, following her production of the cultural fiesta Afrifest, where she brought the dance troupes of Africa together, Umeh served as assistant choreographer for the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant and the winner became Miss World 2002. Places where Becky Umeh performed include: the French Cultural Center, the Goethe-Institut
, the Nigeria Music Awards, and the federal capital Abuja. She was active in pressing the Nigerian Government to provide artists with forms of support which were not harnessed to the Government's own propaganda goals,
See for a fuller account of her acting, directing, and production work in this period.
(New York choreographer). She has performed for non-profit organizations such as the Red Cross, the Nigerian Embassy, and many cultural centers, universities, and churches.
In 2005 Becky Umeh went on tour with Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa to North and South Carolina, Massachusetts, and New York's Syracuse Festival.
In 2006 Umeh choreographed the Lion King production sponsored by Metropolitan Fine Arts in Virginia. In 2009 Umeh formed the Zomema Dance Ensemble, which performs traditional and contemporary African dance works under her direction.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
, choreographer
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
, singer, actress, and dancer.
Early life
Umeh was born in Anambra StateAnambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
but grew up from the age of five in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
. In 1992 she gained national visibility as an actress in the Nigerian Television Authority
Nigerian Television Authority
The Nigerian Television Authority - also known as NTA - was inaugurated in 1977 and is the government-owned body in charge of television broadcasting in the country. The NTA claims to run the biggest television network in Africa with stations in several parts of Nigeria...
children's drama Tales of Moonlight. She was also cast in the independent films Jezebel, Twist of Fate, Living Ghost, Amazon, and others.
From 1994 to 1998 Umeh studied traditional and contemporary African dance
African dance
African dance refers mainly to the dance of Sub-Saharan Africa, and more appropriately African dances because of the many cultural differences in musical and movement styles...
, on full scholarship, at Ivory Dance Academy, founded by National Troupe of Nigeria member Steve James. While studying she toured with the school's group Ivory Ambassadors, and conducted field research on traditional dance in Nigerian villages.
Nigeria, 1998 to 2002
Upon graduation, Umeh served as the Dance Director of Ivory Dance Troupe for five years, directing and producing shows for Guinness, Mobile, Chevron, Seven-Up Bottling Company, etc. After a brief tour to Ghana, she traveled to Paris during World Cup '98 with the soccer team of Nigeria. Becky Umeh launched her singing career and founded her band, and together they produced the album "Aiye".From 1998 to 2001, Umeh co-hosted a T.V show Dance Jam Competition. In 2002, following her production of the cultural fiesta Afrifest, where she brought the dance troupes of Africa together, Umeh served as assistant choreographer for the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant and the winner became Miss World 2002. Places where Becky Umeh performed include: the French Cultural Center, the Goethe-Institut
Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut is a non-profit German cultural institution operational worldwide, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and relations. The Goethe-Institut also fosters knowledge about Germany by providing information on German...
, the Nigeria Music Awards, and the federal capital Abuja. She was active in pressing the Nigerian Government to provide artists with forms of support which were not harnessed to the Government's own propaganda goals,
See for a fuller account of her acting, directing, and production work in this period.
U.S.A., 2002 to Present
Since moving to Washington DC in 2002, Umeh has worked with producers such as Hugh Medrano, Nancy Havlik (Stage Director) and George FaisonGeorge Faison
George Faison is an African-American dancer and choreographer.-Biography:Faison was born in Washington, D.C. where he studied dance with the Jones-Haywood Capitol Ballet and Carolyn Tate of Howard University while attending Dunbar High School, and appeared with The American Light Opera Company in...
(New York choreographer). She has performed for non-profit organizations such as the Red Cross, the Nigerian Embassy, and many cultural centers, universities, and churches.
In 2005 Becky Umeh went on tour with Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa to North and South Carolina, Massachusetts, and New York's Syracuse Festival.
In 2006 Umeh choreographed the Lion King production sponsored by Metropolitan Fine Arts in Virginia. In 2009 Umeh formed the Zomema Dance Ensemble, which performs traditional and contemporary African dance works under her direction.
Choreography
- 2002: Gladiator Cheerleaders, for MTN South African Television
- 2004: Dancer, for Hispanic Gala Theater in production "Candonbe"
- 2006: Lion King for Metropolitan Fine Arts in Virginia)
- 2008: You think you can dance! (Dance Drama)
- 2008: Contemporary Bata
- 2009: Benin
- 2010: Akoto
- 2010: "Sisi" (Soukous)
- 2011: (Actress, choreographer)"Things fall Apart at University of Richmond, Department of Theatre Arts
- 2011: Caribbean festival, Adams Morgan day festival and Hispanic Fiesta.
Stage
- 1995: Aruku Shanka by Felix Okolo (Nigeria)
- 1999: Trial of Oba Ovoramwen by Bayo Oduneye (Nigeria)
- 2000: Obaseki by Pedro Obaseki (Nigeria)
- 2004: Candombe! Tango Negro
- 2011: Things Fall Apart
Television
- 1992: Tales of Moonlight, Nigerian Television AuthorityNigerian Television AuthorityThe Nigerian Television Authority - also known as NTA - was inaugurated in 1977 and is the government-owned body in charge of television broadcasting in the country. The NTA claims to run the biggest television network in Africa with stations in several parts of Nigeria...
- 1998: Dance Jam Competition (co-host) Nigerian Television AuthorityNigerian Television AuthorityThe Nigerian Television Authority - also known as NTA - was inaugurated in 1977 and is the government-owned body in charge of television broadcasting in the country. The NTA claims to run the biggest television network in Africa with stations in several parts of Nigeria...
Music (as Alejo)
| Year | Title | Producer | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Aiye | Nelson Brown | |
| 2000 | Sisi | ||
| 2009 | My Creation | Jamix (Abuja Nigeria) | CDBaby |
| 2010 | Zomema | Jamix (Abuja Nigeria) | |
| 2010 | Mama | Nelson Brown | |
| 2010 | Ayaya | Nkeng | OneMicStudio |
| 2010 | Stand up | Alejo, Nkeng | OneMicStudio |
| 2010 | Toron | A.J. Alemanji, Nkeng | OneMicStudio |
| 2010 | Geleleno | Jamix (Abuja Nigeria) | |