Dickson Mbi is an award-winning Hip-Hop dance artist, world-renowned for popping which plays an integral part of his work. Born in Cameroon, Mbi grew up in London and trained at Lewisham College and London Contemporary Dance School where he obtained an MA in choreography.
He founded the Dickson Mbi Company with producer Farooq Chaudhry in 2017, focusing on developing a unique form of expression fuelled by the desire to unite and create through the human experience. Choreographic commissions for the Company include Sadler’s Wells, Dance East, The Barbican, The Bush Theatre, The Lowry, The Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Desert X Alula 2022. Mbi is also co-director of Fiya House; a collective of artists specialising in popping who are passionate about the growth and elevation the next generation of UK dancers.
Dickson received nominations for Best Achievement in Dance (UK Theatre Awards 2017), Outstanding Male Performer & Emerging Artist (National Dance Awards), The Times Breakthrough Artist and the South Bank Sky Arts Award 2018 for his work with Russell Maliphant Company and Boy Blue Entertainment. He was recently Nominated for an OFFIES 2022 award for his choreography and movement direction on the Red Pitch play at The Bush Theatre.
He choreographed the winning piece Unstrung for the BBC Young Dancer 2019, was Associate Choreographer for Riz Ahmed’s Manchester International Festival 2020 show The Long Good Bye. He was awarded the Jerwood Arts Live Work Fund in 2021 and recently movement directed Can I Live? a film performance by the world-renowned theatre company, Complicite.
Header image taken by Mthuthuzeli November.