Based in the U.K, Marso is the founder of Company Decalage, GalleryMarso and “KRE8!”. He produces eclectic and inter-disciplinary works rooted in Hip Hop culture. His track record as a performer, producer, workshop leader, mentor, award winning choreographer and photographer is rich with amazing collaborations and achievements.
Marso trained in dance and drama at The Rosella Hightower Int. Dance School in France and at London Circus Space (National Centre For Circus Arts) in aerial skills, circus arts and theatre practice. Alongside his academic training, his dedication to Street Dance styles and Capoeira have been the essence of his movement vocabulary and teaching methodology.
In the last 20 years he has established himself as a major force in both the contemporary dance, and Breakin’ (Breakdance) worlds. He has created numerous touring works for Company Decalage and independently been commissioned by Carlos Acosta for Acosta Danza, Sharleen Spiteri (Texas), The Royal Academy of Dance, Birmingham Hippodrome, People Dancing, Dancexchange, Birmingham International Dance Festival, The Place Prize, Breakin Convention, The Cultural Olympiad, The Aurora Orchestra, King’s Cross NC1, Danza Contemporanea De Cuba and The British Council.
Marso was Artist in Residence at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts in 2020/2021 and created “Coven+” , 3 bodies of work comprising a large scale live performance, a film and photography exhibition. Regularly awarded Arts Council England grants for his own productions, Marso was shortlisted (as choreographer) for the Kevin Spacey’s ‘Artist of Choice’ award in 2016 with Phantom Limbs, a project which gained momentum in 2019 when Marso was invited to “Fabrique” at the prestigious venue Chaillot-Theatre National De La Dance in Paris.
The award winning project gained support from the Wellcome Collection, The Place and Birmingham Hippodrome for a new piece of research based on and inspired by the Phantom Limbs Syndrome, it received the 2020 One Dance UK award for Research In Dance.
His solo “Eteins Pas” won ‘Best Solo’ award at Hop Festival in Spain and 3rd prize at the Int. Masdanza Choreography competition. It subsequently toured in the UK and abroad including Sadlers Wells and Danza Urbana Bologna.
As a performer, Marso has collaborated with numerous artists from small to large scale international productions for screen and stage; such as Jonzi D, Navala Chaudhari, Robert Hylton,Hugh Turvey, Damien Jalet, Supple Nam, Guy Nader, and Danny Boyle.
With Birmingham Hippodrome he co-founded B-Side Hip Hop Festival and has produced the international experimental dance concept event KRE8! (2016-2020).
Other involvements with the dance sector include: member of the grant committee for Dancers’ Career Development (2017/18) and member of the Equity Dance Committee for the UK (2019/23).
Recent commissions: Coven+ as AIR at Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Dovetail – Vanhulle Dance Theatre, KRE8! Battle BIDF UK, Phantom Within HK Arts Festival- No Limits, Cargo Mio – CDSH Hamburg, Level Up – Plesni Teater Ljubljana Slovenia.
Technique Class / Workshop
Marso made his choreographic debuts in 2005 and whilst drawing inspiration from his pioneers (Robert Hylton, Victor Quijada) in hybrid movement genres, he developed his own language and methodology blurring the lines between Capoeira, Breaking and Contemporary Dance. Based on an experimental and physiological approach to flow and travel, his signature style of work often evolves and is inspired from Martial arts, Breakin, Popping, Hip Hop Contemporary Release, Spirals, Yoga and various movement concepts.
The class focuses on how to flow between Breakin’ and other movement techniques, refining extensions and “released” versus “dynamic” movement execution.
What to expect:
- You will explore movement concepts through short improvisations, traveling sequences and technical drills.
- Developing power from the ground up and through levels, stacking inversions/freezes
- There will be short rep work sequences and we’ll also focus on style and form vs free flow.
- Exploration with movement tools to grow and develop your own style/improv/movement identity.
- Composition and musicality tools, repertoire from past creations will be shared and dissected.
