Impasse – Mufutau Yusuf

Note of Friday's performance: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Lukas Katangila is unable to perform in tonight’s presentation of Impasse. The piece has been adapted into a solo version by and with Mufutau Yusuf. Refunds will be made available should you decide not to attend. Thanks for your understanding.

Mufutau Yusuf's anticipated new show Impasse is an attempt to understand the politics of the Black body in a contemporary western society. Impasse interrogates notions of representation, misrepresentation, and the lack of representation.

Impasse is a powerful, driving, high-speed performance with a set and props that reference African immigration, and confronts the biased narratives etched onto Black bodies throughout history. These narratives, steeped in cultural imperialism, violence, exploitation, marginalisation, and powerlessness, are laid bare with raw physicality and emotional intensity.

By challenging the historical racial projections of blackness – its crudeness, threat, sexuality, rage and immorality – the performance unveils its power, grace, sensuality, tenderness, intelligence and love. Impasse goes beyond mere exploration and invites a reshaping of our sense of self and community. It reclaims our humanity and celebrates the autonomy and self-determination of Black bodies.

Please note: Contains loud music, strobe lighting, nudity

Choreographer: Mufutau Yusuf
Performers: Lucas Katangila, Mufutau Yusuf
Composition & Sound Design: Tom Lane, Mick Donohoe
Set Design: Mufutau Yusuf
Light Design: Matt Burke
Costume Design: Alison Brown
Text: Ikenna Anyabuike
Rehearsal Assistant: Rima Baransi
Production Manager: Lisa Mahony
Stage Manager / Set Consultant: Lisa Krugel

Funded by: The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Commissioned & Co-production by: Liz Roche Company
Supported by: Solstice Arts Centre, Dance Cork Firkin Crane, Irish Arts Centre, Ultima Vez, Dublin Dance Festival, Maison de la Danse, Lyon - Pôle européen de creation, Centre National de la Danse.
Tour produced by Luail – Ireland’s National Dance Company.

Mufutau Yusuf is a Nigeria-born Irish performer, choreographer, teacher, and curator. A graduate of Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, Mufutau is a dancer with Ultima Vez in Belgium and in Ireland with Liz Roche Company, John Scott’s IMDT, United Fall, Catherine Young Dance, to name a few. As a choreographer, Mufutau debuted his first full-length work Òwe in 2022, which premiered in New York and Dublin Fringe Festival.

Mufutau is an associate artist with Solstice Arts Centre and Liz Roche Company, a resident choreographer with Luail: Ireland's National Dance Company, and a recipient of the Irish Arts Council Dance Bursary award 2020 and Project Award 2022 and 2023. His passion for improvisation and sharing has bought him to share his teaching practice to various platforms, festivals, and institution. Mufutau is a co-curator of ‘TW1’ (Train With One), a bi-monthly workshop platform which aims to bridge the gap between the Irish contemporary dance scene with that of continental Europe.