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Yemi A.D.

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Yemi A.D.
Yemi A.D., 2015
Born
Yemi Akinyemi Dele

(1981-11-04) 4 November 1981 (age 43)
Liberec, Czechoslovakia (now Czechia)
Occupation(s)Choreographer, art director, performer, correspondent, artist
Years active1999–present
Websiteyemiad.com

Yemi Akinyemi Dele (born 4 November 1981) is a Czech choreographer, art director, performer, correspondent and artist.

Life and career

Yemi was born to a Nigerian father and a Czech mother; this multicultural background has supported him in terms of exploring different cultures and regions in his own artistic way. Yemi's constant exploration of diverse cultures from around the world has been the core of his own art, philosophy and creations.

Career

Yemi's works and performances have been well received in many cities around the world including Tokyo, London, Barcelona, Bombay, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Paris and New York. Yemi’s devotion to dance was inspired during a trip to Los Angeles where he attended a MGFT street dance summer school by MaDonna Grimes. Yemi got his first taste of modern street dance while exploring a variety of other dance styles. He continued to attend MGFT and obtained a license to teach street dance. In 1999 Yemi returned to Prague, Czech Republic where he has founded JAD Dance Company (JAD DC),[1][2] compromising of Czech & international team of dancers & choreographers. He maintained his production and creative facilities and actively worked with an international collection of artists and creative talents.[3][4]

With his interest in art, Yemi completed a degree at the Central European Advertising Art Institute, focusing on Art Directing & Copy-writing. According to Yemi, his vision or driving force was "to showcase modern dance choreography throughout the world that reflects current global feelings, emotions and consciousness". He strives to use dance expression to represent the human connection with a fusion of cultures and societies. Yemi's never ending desire is to motivate young people to develop their talents and to be unafraid of searching for their individual authenticity and explore their roots.

JAD Dance Company

Through JAD Dance Company(JAD DC), he was able to share the unique dance styles, which were previously unavailable and unknown, in the post-communist Czech Republic and to its dancers. Since its inception, it has attracted accomplished dancers from all over the Czech Republic & Slovakia with its reputation for representing a truly unique and high caliber of dance techniques. He focused at his original dance style called Street FUSION. One notable work of JAD Dance Company is their collaboration with Kanye West as his principal (main) dancers in his 'Runaway (2010 film).[5] Later on, Yemi eventually also set up a Dance Academy Prague (DAP); in which people from diverse age groups and ability/experience in dance can come and learn various dance styles such as Hip-Hop, Modern Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, MTV style, Dance Hall etc. from choreographers with diverse nationalities (up to date, Yemi teaches Street FUSHION in DAP). After various training/practice session, some students at DAP are given the opportunity to perform live in the streets of Prague, in stages for various corporations and occasions as well as in local and international competitions.

Work With Kanye West

In 2010, hip-hop rapper Kanye West hired Yemi to choreograph ballet inspired sequence in the Runaway of the “Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” album.[6][7] The piece was well received and Kanye West commissioned Yemi to create choreography for West's Runaway performance in Los Angeles for VMA's 2010 and for Saturday Night Life performance of "Power" and "Runaway".[8] The collaboration continued with Yemi creating choreography for other songs of the "Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album for Kanye West's global tour. West tweeted about Yemi.[9] Yemi was also quoted in GQ Magazine regarding Kanye West [10]

Work with Charlie Straight

The following year 2011, Charlie Straight, a Czech indie-rock band, asked Yemi to direct their music video, “School Beauty Queen”[11] which was later awarded the Music Video of the Year in 2011 by MTV Czech.[12][13]

Other works

As a performer, Yemi has acted in several different productions: Chronicles of Narnia II - Prince Caspian,[14] Red Tails, “Unfaithful Klara” (Italy, 2009)[15] and the Czech series, “Ordinace V Růžové Zahradě“. Yemi was also the first Czech correspondent for MTV Europe and became the host of a popular Czech TV show, ESO. As a dancer, he performed in a principal role in the original Czech musical, Monte Cristo for two years.

Choreography

Direction and production

Awards

  • Best Media Campaign Best usage of social networks & viral marketing in the country by PIAF - campaign “Doublers”
  • Best Music Video MTV Czech Charlie Straight – “School Beauty Queen” (2011)
  • 24 Most Influential People in Czech Republic voted by MF Dnes, most respected Czech Daily Press (2010)[18]
  • Choreography for Saturday Night Live Kanye West performance of Power and Runaway - the act was named as best live act in history of the SNL TV show – claimed by SNL senior producer

References

  1. ^ RGM - Productions. "Dancer of the Year 2007". Rgmz.cz. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  2. ^ A.D., Yemi. "Bio". Yemi AD. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  3. ^ JAD. "Home - JAD Company". jadcompany.cz. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  4. ^ Culturenet. "Directory - Art Institute". Culturenet.cz. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  5. ^ Edwards, Chris. "The "Yemi Akinyemi's JAD Prague Dance Company and its Principal Dancer in Kanye West's "Runaway"" Appreciation Post". Musicnerdery.com. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  6. ^ Montgomery, James. "Kanye West's 'Runaway' Film: A High-Culture Cheat Sheet". MTV.com. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  7. ^ Day, Elizabeth (10 October 2010). "Kanye West: Mister Perfection is stylishly reinventing the rules of rap". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  8. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn. "Kanye West Tweets 'Saturday Night Live' Shout-Outs". MTV.com. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  9. ^ West, Kanye. "Kanye West". Poptweets.net. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  10. ^ Morris, Andy. "100 things Kanye taught GQ". GQ-Magazine.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  11. ^ Jaz, Hudba. "Charlie Straight mají v klipu drsný Brooklyn i něžnou baletku". iDNES.cz. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  12. ^ Lukáš. "Megarozhovor s kapelou CHARLIE STRAIGHT!". Bravo.cz. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  13. ^ Nahoru. "Kapela Charlie Straight". Tyden.cz. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Movies & Tv: Yemi AD - About This Person". movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  15. ^ Mubi. "The Case of Unfaithful Klara". Mubi.com. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  16. ^ IMDB. "Runaway (2010)". IMDB.com. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  17. ^ Fain, Thom. "ACL in review: King Kanye takes the throne". Austin.culturemap.com. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  18. ^ Růžička, Michal. "Češi roku 2010" (PDF). MF Dnes. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
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