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BOP Dance Company
Rémy Martyn - BOP Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain Rémy was born in France, where he initially trained and began his
performing career with Figaro & Co. Theatre Company, France. In
1999 he moved to London and gained a full Scholarship to train at
London Studio Centre. In 2001, whilst in training he joined BOP and
now after 10 years is an integral part of the company as lead dancer
and assistant to Dollie Henry. He has been involved in many BOP
productions including; The BOP Jazz DanceXercise DVD-Vol. 1. Original
cast of A Journey of Jazz (Sadler's Wells), Duke's Place, Touches of
Miles, Dizzy Heights (UK Tours), White Folks - The Musical (London).
Other Theatre credits include: Original Cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
(London Palladium), Title role in The Snowman (UK/South Korea), UK Premiere of Salvator
Rosa. Moving Mannequins (World Expo-Shanghai, China), Clash with Swing Xtreme Co.
Original Cast of Maria de Buenos Aires (UK Tour/ Festivals). In France, Les Miserables, West
Side Story, Les dessous du Cabaret, La Dame de chez Maxim, Dance or Die.
Film credits include: Phantom of the Opera (directed by Joel Schumacher),The Snowman
DVD (2010), and docu-film The Making of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Remy's has performed for Channel 4 and BBC Wales including Showtime at the Stadium
(Cardiff Millennium Stadium). Recordings for Cast Albums include, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
Salvator Rosa. Music videos, for recording artists Sir Paul McCartney, Matinee Club, Atomic
Kitten, Laam and The Modern. For four years Rémy toured internationally with the Indie Band
The Modern, staging their shows and creating his unique role of Master of Ceremony. Rémy
continues to inspire as a teacher of jazz and theatre dance and continues to expand his
choreographic flair and share his artistry within the BOP family.
Matevž Česen - was born in Slovenia and started dancing aged
four. His professional training started at the Contemporary Dance
Department in Ljubljana, and he continued his training of classical
ballet, jazz, contemporary, commercial dance and pas de deux at the
University of Ljubljana. He then moved to London to complete his
professional training at London Studio Centre successfully graduating
with a theatre dance degree in 2008.
His credits include many TV and commercial shows, concerts and gala
performances both in his homeland of Slovenia and internationally and
include; BH Eurovision (Bosnia), Dance Overture 07/08, Royal Variety
performance with singer Duffy and Pussycat Dolls (London, UK), Jazz
Dance Company 2009 Tour, Children's CBBC Dic an Dom and the Slovenian Ballet Company.
In Slovenia he has performed with Kekec Theatre, Ivana Theatre Dance, Alamut Theatre
Dance and many more dance & TV projects. For the last 10 years Matevž has been awarded
Slovenian National Dance Champion and is four-time winner of the European & World Dance
Championship leading to being awarded Best Dancer at North American Dance
Championships in New York. Matevž is Dance Director and Jazz Teacher/Choreographer at
Plesna šola Bolero Theatre Performance School in Slovenia and delighted to be a member of
the BOP Company.
Patrice Moniz - is originally from the Cape Verde and grew up in
France. He received a Fulbright Scholarship for his professional dance
training in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance and attended the
Academie Internationale De La Danse and Institut de Formation Rick
Odums in Paris and then continued his professional training at the
prestigious Alvin Ailey Dance School, New York. Patrice began his early
career in Cabaret as a company performer with The Music Hall Viva
Brasil in France. Over the past 8 years, Patrice has performed with
many dance companies and choreographers including Finest Ballet
Brasil (Zurich), Modern Dance Ensemble Company (Paris) and was
apprentice with BEJART Ballet Lausanne performing Bolero amongst
other roles. Since residing in London, Patrice has worked as a freelance
artist with the choreographer Richard Marcel in various projects including the Brit Awards
2011. Patrice joined the BOP Company at the beginning of 2011 and is excited and delighted
to be a member of a company as unique as BOP.
Valentina Dolci - was born in Verona, Italy where from the age
of 7 she began her dance and theatre training at Laboratorio Danza,
Verona studying Ballet (RAD), Jazz and Contemporary Dance. In Italy
she performed works choreographed by Tiziana Di Nardo, Sandra
Mazullo, Elena Vitali Giorgi Gobbi and has performed in productions at
Teatro Romano and Teatro Nuovo in Italy. She went on to further her
professional training at London Studio Centre, London graduating in
2010. Valentina was a member of the LSC Jazz Company touring the
UK and performing works choreographed by Gary Lloyd, David
Leighton, Sean Parkins, Katie Prince and Paul Roberts.
As a young performer Valentina has worked on dance projects with
Inko Dance Company, Got to Dance (Sky1) and dance projects
choreographed by Ashley Wallen, Matteo Valbusa, Michelle Queen. In 2009 Valentina joined
the BOP company as an apprentice performer and now is truly excited to share her artistry as
a 'grown up' Company member.
Gede Foster - started her dance journey at the age of 11 at
Stonelands School of Ballet and Theatre Arts, Sussex and went on to
further her professional training at London Studio Centre graduating in
2009 with a First Class Foundation Degree in theatre and jazz dance.
She was a member of the LSC Jazz Company touring Nationwide and
performing works by Dollie Henry, Gail Davis, David Leighton, Paul
Roberts, Mavin Koo, Lee Alexander, Lizzie Gee and Phil Bateman.
Since graduating she has worked on various projects both artistic and
commercial these include; Lead dancer with Costa Cruises, The
Children Baftas, Grease -The School Musical (Sky TV), featured dancer
on music video for the hip-hop group N-Dubz. Other performance
works as featured dancer include; BOP Jazz DanceXercise Fitness DVD,
"Let's Go" Short Film, "The Light" (London Film Festival and Argos TV commercial. Gede has
performed on numerous projects with the, Henri Oguike Dance Company. Sol Dans
Contemporary Company and has been a company member of BOP since 2008.
Sara Dos Santos - is originally from Portugal, but grew up in
London. Sara commenced her dance training at an early age in all
aspects of dance and was a professional student of Bird College, Kent
graduating in 2007. As a performer Sara continued her career as
freelance dance artist and has continued creating her own works as a
Choreographer. Sara has worked alongside companies such as: Rebirth
Dance Company, Vocab Dance Company and TYDC Dance Company.
Early 2010 Sara travelled to New York to train at prestigious The Alvin
Ailey School. This enabled her to refine her Horton, Graham, Ballet and
Jazz techniques, but also offered the opportunity to work alongside
some inspiring artists and creators. Sara continued exploring her own
movement vocabulary, which lead to establishing her own company E.I.C Dance Theatre. The
company's aim is to Challenge, Encourage and Inspire Artists. Sara is honoured and delighted
to be working along side BOP and eagerly looks forward to the future and what it holds.
Leila Jelassi - is originally from France of Tunisian/French
parentage. She began her dance career with Anne Besson in Lyon,
France, training in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. Furthering her
professional training she became a student on the Professional Dance
Program with Mrs M.C. Favre, continuing a professional dance training
with Thierry Allard in "Scène Formations" in Lyon, and the Institut de
Formation under Rick Odums in Paris. In 2008 Leila trained at the
prestigious Alvin Ailey Dance School (New York) in the Professional
Division. Leila has performed works created by choreographers
Chrystel Maisonneuve (Lyon), Rick Odums (Paris) and was a member
of the Modern Dance Ensemble Company (Paris). On arriving in
London Leïla joined the BOP Theatre Company and is happy to have the opportunity to grow
as a dance artist and perform with a jazz company such as BOP.
Leading UK Jazz Musicians who perform with BOP
Julian Siegel - Tenor/Alto Sax
Nathaniel Facey - Alto Sax
Martin Shaw - Trumpet
Graham Harvey - Piano/Keyboard
Neil Charles - Double Bass
Shane Forbes - Drums
Jo Caleb - Guitar
BOP Performers & Artists whom have and continue to perform with the company [pdf]