NATIONAL Dance Awards 2025 nominee Kennedy Junior Muntanga is performing a “raw, shape-shifting solo, exploring migration, memory and resistance” at Chepstow’s Drill Hall next week.

Akropolis I, presented by Rigour Arts, “dives deep into fractured identities, power, and survival through the lens of the African diaspora”.

It introduces four bold characters – the Hare, the Lion, Eva, and the Commander – each embodying a different legacy of migration, memory and resistance.

“Charged, physical, and cinematic”, this is the first chapter of an ambitious trilogy exploring the realities of diasporic life across generations.

A striking new voice in contemporary dance and storytelling, Muntanga invites you to witness, question, and feel.

The UK-based Zambian-born choreographer, artistic director, and rehearsal director’s work is driven by a deep commitment to storytelling, movement research, and the transformative power of dance.

Nominated for Best Emerging Artist in the prestigious National Dance Awards 2025, his journey began with Musical Theatre at 16 before joining Phoenix Dance Theatre Youth Company and the National Youth Dance Company at 17.

In 2016, he was accepted into the Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance, setting the stage for a career that has seen him perform for world-renowned artists, including Akram Khan, Humanhood, Sir Robert Cohan CBE, Alesandra Seutin, and Michael Keegan-Dolan.

His choreography blends “dynamic physicality with emotional depth”, challenging both performers and audiences to engage in new ways.

In addition to his choreographic work, Kennedy has held leadership roles as Artistic Director of Trinity Laban’s Youth Dance Company and Rehearsal Director for ACE Dance & Music, guiding dancers and shaping creative processes at a high level.

Rigour Arts is an arts and producing organisation run by Ruth Holdsworth from Chepstow, who is a producer and arts organisation director who works nationally and internationally.

Recent projects have included shows at the Southbank Centre, London.

Tickets for Akropolis I at the Drill Hall on Saturday, February 21 (7pm) are available from https://drillhallchepstow.co.uk