Kingston University performing arts leader helps build opportunities for young dancers in Ethiopia

A Kingston University academic has returned from Ethiopia after helping support community dance projects and professional development opportunities for artists working in an area with limited arts infrastructure.

Head of Department of Performing Arts, Stephen Mason, spent two weeks in Ethiopia working alongside dance artist Mags Byrne and choreographer Meseret Yirga, who has spent more than two decades creating opportunities for young people and local communities in a sub-city of Addis Ababa. 

Invited to contribute his expertise in community dance, participation and arts leadership, Mason worked with dance artists and young performers, while also supporting the development of future projects and partnerships. The exchange was facilitated by Royston Maldoom and the Verein Internationales Jugendtanztheater. 

Reflecting on his involvement, Mason said the opportunity aligned closely with both his professional values and Kingston University's commitment to social impact and global engagement. "It felt really important to be able to provide professional development opportunities that are not always readily accessible,” he said. “It was also a chance to learn from artists and communities working in a very different context and to collaborate across cultures through dance."

Yirga is widely regarded as Ethiopia's first female contemporary dance choreographer and has established a dance studio that serves local communities, providing opportunities for young people to engage in creative activity and develop confidence through performance.

During the visit, Mason delivered training sessions for dance artists, worked with community groups and supported a boys' youth dance company aged between 12 and 15. He and Byrne also helped create new opportunities for the group to perform, including a showcase at the Italian International School in Addis Ababa, which marked the young performers' first appearance outside their local studio.

Mason said the experience highlighted the challenges faced by artists working in a country where formal support structures for dance are limited. "There is very little infrastructure for contemporary dance," he said. "What struck me most was the commitment of the young people and artists we worked with. Despite the challenges, there is an incredible appetite for creativity, learning and artistic development."

Alongside practical workshops, the visit focused on building longer-term connections that could continue beyond the project itself. Discussions included professional development, project planning and ways of expanding local networks and opportunities for artists.

For Mason, the experience demonstrated the power of dance as a universal form of communication. "Dance is a shared language – you can communicate through movement, creativity and collaboration. Seeing the impact that has on individuals and communities was incredibly powerful," he said.

The visit has also provided valuable insight that Mason will bring back to Kingston University, particularly in relation to community engagement, leadership and preparing students for careers in the creative industries.

He believes the experience reinforces the importance of giving students opportunities to work beyond traditional performance settings and understand the wider social role of the arts.

"It reaffirmed the importance of community engagement and the difference artists can make," Mason said. "For our students, developing leadership skills and understanding how creative practice can support communities is just as important as developing artistic expertise."

The project reflects Kingston University's commitment to global engagement, knowledge exchange and social impact, demonstrating how academic expertise can contribute to communities around the world while bringing new perspectives back into teaching and learning.

For Mason, however, the most important outcome remains the work of the artists and young people he met in Ethiopia. "The real story is the work Meseret has built in her community," he said. "We were there to support, share knowledge and help create opportunities that can continue to grow in the future."

• Find out more about Dance (BA Hons) at Kingston University.