ARTISTIC COLLABORATORS
BIANCA BRASWELL
Poet | Writer
Bianca is a Cuban-American poet and writer currently enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she is studying English and Film studies. She remains immersed in the literary community on campus and is active within the English Learning Community and English Honors Society. She currently works as a communication consultant, facilitating the writing of other students as a peer mentor. She has previously been published in Stark poetry journal and is currently working on her first poetry collection.
ZOE PARTINGTON
Director | Researcher | Evaluator | Auditor | Creative Trainer
Zoe is a strategic thinker who uses creative concepts to develop solutions to organisations barriers’ issues and gaps in knowledge. A consultant who works in partnership with Government agencies, international partners, built environment sector, disabled experts, cultural institutions, museums and heritage sites. Provides contemporary thinking to improve access to contemporary and heritage archives, collections and resources. An experienced Disability consultant and trainer specialising in formulating guidance, disability action plans and strategies, service development, project planning, audience development and evaluation.
Twitter @tightcontrol
SOOBIE WITFIELD
Performer | Researcher | Tour Booker
Soobie (Susan) Whitfield is a teacher and freelance theatre facilitator. She loves engaging with communities through creative activities focussing on history, the environment and place. Soobie graduated from Trinity/Laban in 1985 with a BA(Hons) Dance Theatre. After touring as a founder member of Insight Physical Theatre company, she went on to postgraduate training as a Performing Arts teacher, and has learnt much from those she taught. She loves choreographing and co-directing community performances. She recently graduated from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, with an MA( Dist) in Applied Theatre and met Signdance Collective whilst on a placement at Wycombe Arts Centre.
DAVID D. OMNI
Musician
David D Omni was raised in the Alamar district, east of Havana. David D Omni Zona’s recordings, including Protesto or Protest, has become a rallying call for a growing pro-democracy, human rights movement on the Communist island nation. His music – which pounds with rap lyrics, but where the cadence of reggae, the energy of rock or techno music, the magic of new age and eastern music can also be felt, with even a touch of African rhythm or even reggaetón suddenly emerging – is contagious and highly enjoyable at the same time that it invites reflection. Nonetheless it has provoked skepticism from the more orthodox who refuse to accept it as Hip Hop. Nonetheless, David defends his right to transcend all limits. He terms his innovation “Free Hop".
OZAN GÖKMEN
Director | Actor
Ozan Gökmen started his theater education in 1997 in Bornova Municipality City Theater. Netherlands as well as field studies in Turkey, improvisation, stage, body percussion, dance, clown and actor has worked on. In 2008, he started to work as a professional musician, actor, instructor and director within BBŞT. He has carried out several joint projects with SDC. He founded Kaf Theater in 2019.
MARGARITE KAPLAN
Actor | Singer | Director
Margarite Winer Kaplan hails from Dallas, Texas. She holds degrees from The University of Texas and California Institute of the Arts. Margarite has worked with many theatre companies as an actor, dancer, choreographer, director and dramaturge. She can often be found singing in Cabarets and nightclubs. Margarite has enjoyed success coaching and preparing young artists for BFA, MFA and conservatory programs. Margarite is thrilled to be an associate artist with SignDance Collective International and looks forward to years of continuing collaboration. SDC is a unique company offering unique performances all over the world.
JOKE MENSSINK
Theatre Scientist | Director | Film-Maker | Researcher | Web Site Developer | Archivist |Producer
Joke Menssink is from Holland. Joke was a part of the critically acclaimed Dutch theatre group, Werkteater focusing on production and background community based research. She founded several theatre organisations including her favourite, The World of Diagonaal. My work is like an artistic labyrinth, I have my own methodology of process and realisation. With 'Invitation', I have acted as an advisor and director for SDC since they started. I am also a co-owner of an old monastery that has 50 quest rooms and holds an ongoing Performance Art Forum. I studied Information and Media and recently reapproached my many websites to produce an archive of my work. I have just developed a community based movie house and monthly walk-in theatre in Groningen. I was previously based on a barge in Central Amsterdam for many years and now have relocated to Groningen where I have a studio. www.Ruebarree.com and www.unlimitedartscompany.org.
