Dorine Mugisha

Residency: Play On

Play On is a dance-theatre work for young audiences that centres joy as a lived, embodied, and collective experience. The primary movement influences are Whacking and street dance styles, combined with games and play, and merged with a classical violinist. Developed through Imaginate Launchpad and shared at Horizons Innovation Dance Platform and Dancebase Scratch night, the work has a strong dramaturgical and playful foundation, but this research period will focus on deepening its choreographic language, testing it in front of young audiences, as well getting to work with local artists. 

Rooted in conversations around Black hair, sisterhood, barbershop culture, memory, and care, the piece moves between unison, solos, relational duets and trios. This residency will strengthen the quantity, clarity, and impact of dance, ensuring the body leads the storytelling, whilst also investigating the appropriate target age. 

About Dorine Mugisha

Dorine Mugisha is a multidisciplinary artist working across movement, theatre and community practice between the UK and Tanzania (primarily based in Scotland). From law student to youth work to artist, she is interested in themes of belonging, culture and body image. Her practice centres joy, boldness, collaboration and exchange through strong performance & storytelling. She grew up in street dance crew and now the founder of Whacking Scotland and a key figure in developing the form in Tanzania. Dorine has toured her solo work Akanana; Sweet Banana internationally, alongside performing and battling worldwide, as well as working with various artists and communities from different backgrounds. 

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Image by Adam Fempe