Lailah is a renowned and a passionate African dance teacher/performer and choreographer of Kenyan descent with expertise in the dance forms of Africa, complemented by broad practice knowledge in; Afro- Caribbean, Contact Improvisation, Instant Composition and other contemporary dance techniques. In the past 12 years Lailah has been a resident performer with Kenya’s first contemporary dance company Gaara Projects, touring extensively in Europe (www.gaaraprojects.com). She is co-founder of Kenya’s first all-female dance company, Jokajok Dance.

She founded her own company Alama Dance in 2006, presenting works nationally and internationally including at; All African and Indian Ocean Choreographic Encounters in Paris ‘Danse l’Afrique. Danse’ (2006), the 4th World Dance Festival, San Christobal, Venezuela (2007), East African Choreographic Encounters (2006), the Nairobi Festivals of Solos and Duets (2007), and teaching at the Escuela National de la Danca, Caracus, Venezuela (2007). Lailah’s choreographies are informed by socio-geo-eco-political issues; underpinned by ‘elements’ that influence human dignity within societies. Whether in abstraction or via realistic approach, relationships to memories, identity, time and changing spaces may be seen as constants in her works. Lailah is involved in various projects between Kenya and Australia including Project Fursa and Dance Forum–Nairobi.

Since moving to Australia, Lailah has worked broadly as an independent dance practitioner and has been involved is a number of initiatives and collaborations including; Teke Dance Project with Wardaman Community supported by Arts NT, Katherine (2005), Precipice Improvisation Festival, ACT (2006-10), Facilitated African Dance at QL2 (2006), Canberra Dance Theatre (2006-2010), Labdihy ChoreoLab in Antananarive, Madagascar supported by Arts ACT (2007), Mirramu Dance Company ACT/NSW (2009), Merrepen Arts Festival cultural dance exchange for Ausdance NT (2011), Choreographer of African Dance Segment at Arafura Games (2011), Palmerston Festival, NT (2011) Solo presentations at Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival (2011&2012), Harmony Day Soiree, Darwin (2012), guest performer at NT Parliament House for Year of Africa People celebrations (2012), guest choreographer for the 2012 Rix Kix Arts Choreolab Series, supported by Arts NT.

Lailah performed for Tracks Dance Company’s 8-80 ‘The Architecture of Age’ in a specifically improvised piece over 10 performances. She was a guest presenter, workshop leader and forum host for Tracks’ Cultural Dance Mapping Project in 2013.  She ran Open Yoga/ Afro-Dance & Choreography workshops for young performers, Nairobi (2014), Dance Mentor/Facilitator for Afro Contemporary Youth Dance group, a STARTTS, NSW social and cultural engagement project for refugee youth (2014).

Lailah returned to Darwin in May 2015 to host Tracks Dance performance and forum - Hidden Meaning.

May 2015