Team Members

Akosua Boakye BEM is the visionary founder of AkomaAsa Arts, a pioneering multi-disciplinary arts education and cultural empowerment organisation. Established in 2012, AkomaAsa Arts fosters open-mindedness and cultural appreciation among young individuals through diverse contemporary dance forms and a deep understanding of dance traditions and heritage.
Passionate about nurturing children and young people, particularly those of African and Caribbean heritage, Akosua empowers them to embrace their rich cultural backgrounds and develop essential life skills. Her mentorship inspires future cultural leaders to recognize how their heritage shapes their past, present, and future.
Akosua's expertise extends to her role as the Cub Academy Coordinator and Children's Casting Director for Disney's West End musical, The Lion King in London and its UK tour. She is a seasoned leader, teacher, speaker, and host.
In recognition of her contributions to dance, Akosua was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2018. She also co-founded and serves as an executive leader of The Thea Barnes Legacy Fund, established in 2019 to provide bursaries for dancers, researchers, and choreographers. Additionally, Akosua has served on the board of Urdang and holds positions on several other boards.

Kirsty is an actress and singer and completed her training at the London School of Musical Theatre. Prior to this she completed a BA Hons in Contemporary Dance at Middlesex University.
Kirsty is an experienced teacher and has taught performing arts in many different settings, including formal education, performing arts academy’s and within social inclusion projects.

Ukachi Akalawu -BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from Laban. Director of Akaraaka, (www.akaraaka.com)Ukachi has taught dance extensively in the UK, Europe and Africa.MA Arts Management from the University of the Arts, and PGCE Secondary Dance from the University of BedfordshireB Ukachi currently teaches full time in a primary school. She has worked with the National Theatre, Independent Theatre Council, Badejo Arts, and Collectives Artistes Theatre Company.Her performance credits include the Jiving Lindy Hoppers, Ritual Theatre Arts, Ariya Opera, Step Afrika, Stomp, Badejo Arts, and Movement Angol. In 2005 she was awarded a Trailblazer fellowship from ADAD for her research into dances from Africa, and in 2008 a travel grant from the Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Fund.She has taught Afro Xplo in a range of educational capacities including INSET at the University of Bedfordshire, Move It! Teachers’ Convention on behalf of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), and in secondary schools on behalf of Step Into Dance.

Alphonso Brown is an actor, writer, facilitator, director and model, born and raised in Croydon, South London. Alphonso draws from his own life experience and understanding of complex situations and people to build compelling characters with an exciting intensity, a quality that is unequivocal in his performances as well as his writing. His goals are two-fold: to advance his acting and writing career while nurturing emerging talent. He strongly believes in the power of mentorship and the potential for artistic and personal growth it offers, his journey in this industry and life is a testament to that.

Sarah began dancing at the age of four and went on to train at London Contemporary Dance School graduating with a First Class Honours Degree. She has worked on projects with Russell Maliphant, Jan de Schynkel and Martin Lawrance. Sarah has eighteen years of teaching experience throughout various dance institutions and regularly teaches dance in primary schools across London. She also regularly delivers Contemporary dance classes at The Place and is a long standing member of the teaching team for the Centre for Advanced Training programme (CAT).

After graduating from Oxford University with a BA in Music, Ben completed a PGCE, and began sharing his love for the performing arts in schools and theatre academies across London. His love of singing, dance, and composing/songwriting is something he wears on his sleeve to inspire others to express themselves in as many ways as possible. Ben is Musical Director for the Christmas shows at Theatre Peckham each year, and can be seen performing with his a Capella group on Sky1’s “Sing! Ultimate A Cappella”, where he competed through to the final.

Jescinta James aka JahSenta is a singing and 1-2-1 vocal coach, singer, songwriter producer. Born in the UK she has over 30 years of industry experience. Trained in Musical Theatre at the Holborn Centre of Performing Arts and Brook House community College. Vocals training at Soul Experience vocal Academy.
She made her debut performance at the 21st Annual show of Western Consciousness in Jamaica with the likes of Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Queen Ifrica and Etana. Whilst in Jamaica she recorded her Extended Play (EP) mini album. Productions include various street theatre and community plays, the musical Little Shop of Horrors -the voice of the plant. Performed playing Steel Pans with Pantonic Steel Band at Panarama in Notting Hill Carnival, and also tour the UK and Europe. Jescinta has also toured as a backing vocalist for various artist. In 2022 she launched “I Can Sing Vocal Academy”, a children’s vocal group to train and support children and young people in the community.