Wanjiru Kamuyu

New York City Dance and Performance Bessies Award winner Wanjiru Kamuyu, born in Nairobi/Kenya, obtained a Master of Fine Arts at Temple University (Philadelphia, USA). Based in Paris since 2007, she started her career in New York with such notable dance companies as Urban Bush Women and Molissa Fenley and Company. As a dancer, she developed a rich and diverse background that fostered her choreographic development and teaching. 

Between New York and Paris, on international stages, she has worked with contemporary choreographers including Jawole Willa Jo Zollar/Urban Bush Women, Bill T. Jones, Irène Tassembedo, Robyn Orlin, Nathalie Pubellier, Stefanie Batten Bland, Bartabas, Dean Moss, Emmanul Eggermont, Anne Collod and more. Kamuyu collaborated with Jérôme Savary (À la recherche de Joséphine), Bill T. Jones (Broadway show FELA!) as well as the film director Christian Faure (Fais danser la poussière) and visual artist Jean-Paul Goude.  She was in the original cast of the Paris Production of Julie Taymor’s Broadway show, The Lion King.

Since 2017, Kamuyu has created four major works (two solos and two trios) plus adaptations for alternative spaces and young audiences. Additionally, in 2020 she created her first dance film, La visite, directed by Tommy Pascal. Her works have been internationally acclaimed in the USA, Europe, Africa and Asia. 

Kamuyu has also worked as a choreographer with directors Jérôme Savary (France), Hassane Kassi Kouyaté (Burkina Faso), Jean-François Auguste (France); several US based universities; dance company InkBoat (USA) and has developed projects for refugees with New World Theatre (USA) and Euroculture. Additionally, she has also served as artistic consultant for choreographer Bintou Dembele’s (France) work, Z.H.

Kamuyu teaches workshops in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.

Kamuyu’s company, WKcollective, is an associate company with the creative agency camin aktion (Montpellier). For seasons 2023-25, Wanjiru Kamuyu was associate artist at the National Choreographic Center, CCN Nantes. As a 2023 artist in residence with the Villa Albertine, Kamuyu continues to receive their support in the touring her work in the US.  She was also a Live Feed Artist with New York Live Arts for seasons 2023/24 and 2024/25. From 2020/21 through 2023/24, she was associate artist with L’Onde Théâtre Centre d’Art, Scène Conventionnée d’Intérêt National – Art et Création pour la Danse (Vélizy, France). 

Photo credit: Mathieu Waddell