Scarz is a Nigerian dancer, choreographer, and dance educator whose art integrates with political, spiritual, and inspirational themes.
He discovered his passion for dance at the age of 12, and despite facing opposition from his family when he decided to pursue a dance career, Scarz trained at The Dance Deal Training Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria. He graduated with the “Most Improved Male Student of the Year 2015” award, and further studied at Ecole Des Sables in Senegal, receiving the Diploma in Traditional and Contemporary African Dances, in 2021.
Scarz was selected out of a thousand candidates to attend DanceWEB Scholarship at the ImpulsTanz Vienna nternational Dance Festival in 2021.
He has collaborated with renowned choreographers and productions and he has worked with clients such as GTBank, Burna Boy, Leigh-Anne, Aya Nakamura, Ayra Starr, Lagos Photo Festival, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Lagos State Ministry of Education, MTN, and Calabar Carnival Festival. Scarz’s choreographic style is characterized by a combination of depicting everyday life and bringing imagination to reality.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Choreographer/Movement Directing, Bloody Civilian “HOMECOMING” Live Performance, 2024
• Movement Directing, Bloody Civilian “FEMME FEST” Live Performance, 2024
• Choreographer, Aya Nakamura ft. Ayra Starr “HYPÉ” Music Video, 2024
• Dancer, “L’Immortel Béhanzin, un Réve Inachevé” choreographed by Vincent Harisdo & Wesley Ruzibiza, West African Tour, 2023
• Choreographer & Movement Director, Ayra Starr North American Tour, 2023
• Choreographer, Leigh Ann ft. Ayra Starr’s “My Love” Music Video, 2023
• Choreographer, Atmos Project: “The Way of the Birds” &
“Everything Is Possible Under the Wonderful Moon”, Calabar & Lagos, Nigeria 2023
• Dancer, AFRIFF Globe Award Opening Performance, Lagos, Nigeria 2022
• Dancer, “Face” Dance Film, Lagos, Nigeria 2021
• Choreographer & Dancer, Ravish Momin “MUDRAS” Music Video, Tomi Owó “Beautiful Afropop Remix” Music Video, 2020
• Choreographer & Dancer, “Nightmare”, performed at What If I? Hub, Lagos, Nigeria 2020
• Choreographer, Burna Boy “Wonderful” Music Video, Tomi Owó “Beautiful” Music Video, 2020
• Choreographer, GTBank Lagos Fashion Weekend, 2019
• Dancer, “Path,” performed at Lagos Photo Festival & Lagos Fringe Festival, Lagos, Nigeria 2019
• Dancer, Breaking Down Borders African Youth Summit by Paul Modjadji, 2019
• Choreographer, Forward Dance Championship by Corporate Dance World /Lagos State Ministry of Tourism Art and Culture, 2016-2017
• Assistant Choreographer for Traditional Dance, Maltina Dance All (Season 9), 2016
• Dancer, Project Fame Nigeria by MTN, choreographed by Lovette Otegbola, 2016
• Dancer, Calabar Carnival (Masta Blasta Band) choreographed by Kaffy, 2015-2016
TEACHING
• Private Instructor, Freelance, 2020-Present
• Workshop Instructor, Artistic Uprising, fundraising event for BRIDGE Program, Antioch University Los Angeles, 2020
• Dance Instructor, DanceNaija 2020, 2020
• Dance Instructor, Vantage Heights Nursery and Primary School, 2016 to 2020
• Dance Instructor, Contemporary Workshop at MOVE YOUR SUNDAY, Fidjrosse, Benin Republic, 2019
• Dance Instructor, Surelere Senior Secondary School, 2015 to 2019
• Dance Instructor, Afro Dance Workshop at 123DANS’ Art, Dakar, Senegal, 2018
• Dance Instructor in Contemporary, The Dance Deal Foundation, 2018
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
• Featured artist at New Haven Holiday Party, Sculptor Barber, Taipei, 2022
• danceWEB Scholarship Programme at ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival, 2021
• Featured work in Movement Beyond Borders Africa Documentary Series, South Africa, 2020
• Featured work in Alternative LDIF20: “30 Seconds of Freedom” & “30 Seconds to Treasure”, Serendipity UK, 2020
• Featured work at Masculinity & Spirituality Video Screening, Center for Diversity and Social Justice, Antioch University New England, 2020
• Featured work at ON Public Gallery, Noks Collective, Sopot, Poland, 2020
EDUCATION
MING CHUAN UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI, TAIWAN – 2022
BRIDGE EDUCATION GROUP, USA 120-hour TEFL/TESOL Certificate – 2022
ECOLE DES SABLES, TOUBAB DIALAW, SENEGAL
Diploma in Traditional and Contemporary Dances of Africa – 2021
THE DANCE DEAL TRAINING FOUNDATION, LAGOS, NIGERIA – 2015