Continuously longing for movement…

Rose Aïda Sall Sao is a Dutch-Senegalese performer, independent choreographer and dance educator based in the UK whose work is rooted in storytelling, cultural expression and collaboration.

Her dance journey began at 18, when she joined the 5 O’Clock Class, a foundation course at Amsterdam University of the Arts. She went on to study at Fontys Dance Academy (Tilburg, NL) and Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Leeds, UK), graduating from both places with a BA(Hons) in 2017. Soon after, she was awarded a scholarship to continue studying with Jasmin Vardimon’s junior company JV2, where she performed works by Jasmin Vardimon, Andre Rebelo, and Yunkyung Song.

Since then, Rose has performed widely, working with companies and independent choreographers such as C12 Dance Theatre, Tom Dale Company, Tribe //, Heather Walrond Company, Isabella Soupart, Northern Rascals, Gecko Dance Theatre, Fubunation, Alesandra Seutin / Vocab Dance and Seke Chimutengwende. She is currently working with Botis Seva / Far From The Norm as a performer in Until We Sleep. Her performance career also includes music videos for a variety of artists such as Joy Crookes and David Guetta/John Newman, as well as appearances in screendance films (L.O.V.E., Scapelands), the Kenzo Paris Fashion Week 2019, and the opening of Richard Malone’s exhibition at NOW Gallery.

As a choreographer, Rose brings emotional depth and personal storytelling into her work. Her solo NOIR, commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage and partnered by Fabric, showcased at Leicester’s Black History Month in 2022 and officially premiered at the Black British Dance Platform in 2023. She is currently a Choreodrome Artist through the Place, creating her second work, Not Really Dead Not Really Dreaming, with previous support from Cripa Center for Research in the Performing Arts (Auroville, India) and Rose Lipman (London).

Rose is also a co-founder of Nomad Dance Collective, a collective with collaborative creation and exploration as ethos. They created a variety of works. Their duet D(US)T has toured festivals across Europe, and their full-length work Nomades premiered in Ecuador in 2022, with a follow-up tour in autumn 2024.

Alongside her performing and creative work, Rose is a passionate educator, sharing her love for dance through workshops and classes across the UK and internationally. She has taught for a variety of organisations and contexts such as South East Dance, London Contemporary Dance School, Roehampton University, CAT Laban, Youth Artistry Dance, Freefall Summer Intensive, Play Practice Artists Residency India, TripSpace Dance and New Creation Studios Auroville.

Welcoming, curious, and committed to the power of movement, Rose continues to explore dance as a way to connect, empower, and inspire.

  • Rose Aïda Sall Sao, 1993, Dutch
    +447305096513 / rosesallsao@live.nl

    Professional Dance Work

    2023/24/25: Far From The Norm - Dancer for Until We Sleep (creation and national/international tour) and BLKDOG (international tour)
    2025: Performance at exhibition ‘Earth, Memory and the Spaces We Inhabit’ by Black Females in Architecture at Now Gallery London (May 2025)
    2025: Stand Of The Sun - Performer in site specific performance choreographed by Antoine Marc, directed by Bryony Ella at Orleans House Gallery, London
    2025: Alesandra Seutin / Vocab Dance - Dancer for Mimi’s Shebeen (tour in the UK, Belgium and The Netherlands)
    2020/22/25: Seke Chimutengwende - Dancer for It Begins In Darkness (creation and tour) + upcoming new work (R&D)
    2023: The Lost Estate - Dancer for immersive performance The Greatest Night Of The Jazz Age, choreography by Eleesha Drennan
    2022: Alethia Antonia / Mandy Elsayegh - Dancer for site specific work ‘En Masse’ (creation and performances at Move Festival, Centre Pompidou, Paris) 
    2021/22: Fubunation - Dancer for Black is... (creation and performances)
    2021/24: Alesandra Seutin / Vocab Dance - Dancer for Boy Breaking Glass (creation and tour) and Mimi’s Shebeen (performances)
    2021: Gecko Dance Theatre - Dancer for new work about migration (R&D)
    2021: Northern Rascals - Dancer for ‘Revive Her’ (R&D)
    2019: Tom Dale Company - Dancer for Urban Explorers and Step Sonics (creation and tour)
    2019: Isabella Soupart - Dancer for 6 hour durational performance STRETCH (creation and performances at MAD, Brussels)
    2019: Tribe Dance Company / Victoria Fox Markiewicz - Dancer for Still I Rise and No Sudden Moves (creation and tour in various UK theatres)
    2021: Heather Walrond Company - Dancer for The Rising (performance at Swindon Spring Festival) and new work looking at folklore/traditional dances (R&D)
    2018: Chhaya Collective / Kay Crook - Dancer for Khaos (creation and performances at Dartington Hall and Exeter Phoenix)
    2017: C-12 Dance Theatre - Dancer for Secret Encounters, choreographed by Tony Adigun and Sally Marie (creation and tour in the UK and Netherlands for various festivals)

    Training / Educational Background

    2017/18: Postgraduate JV2 - Junior Company of Jasmin Vardimon (including UK tour)
    2016/17: Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds, BA (Hons) Dance (Contemporary)
    2013/17: Fontys Dance Academy, Tilburg, the Netherlands, BA (Hons) Dance, Major Theatre Dance Performance, Profile Contemporary Urban

    Choreography and Works

    Not Really Dead, Not Really Dreaming: A new solo work in progress supported by The Place through Choreodrome, CRIPA Centre for Performing Arts Auroville and Bodies In Space, Brussels.
    NOIR: A solo commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage. Premiered at BHM Live Launchpad in Leicester 2022 and Black British Dance Platform in 2023
    Nomades: A piece created with Nomad Dance Collective. Premiered at Fragments of June Festival in Guayaquil (Ecuador) and La Trinchera (Manta, Ecuador) in 2022. Performed at Sommerwerft 2023 (Frankfurt) and had a tour in Barcelona at various civic centers (2024)
    D(US)T: Duet created with Juan Sanchez Plaza. Performed at festivals including Tantrotsav (India), Migrats En Breu (Valencia), SoloDuo Festival (Cologne), DelTebre Dansa (Spain) and East London Dance (the Talenthouse)

    Videos / Exhibitions / Other Projects

    2021: Dancer in music video for If You Really Love Me (How Will I know) by David Guetta, Mistajam and John Newman
    2021: Dancer in music video for Feet Don’t Fail Me Now by Joy Crookes
    2021: Dancer in R&D for screendance work The Spring by Madeline Shann
    2021: Protagonist in screendance film L.O.V.E. directed by Maria Kapela
    2019: Protagonist in dance film SCAPEland commissioned by the BBC. Directed by LeMoon Productions
    2019: Music Video Sh'maya x Ransi - Tallulah - Dancer in music video for a collaboration between an award winning poet and a music production duo 5011
    2019: KENZO, Paris Fashion Week - Presenting KENZO’s new collection Memento4 during the Paris Fashion Week. Choreography by Nquobile Danseur and Paul Sadot
    2019: Dancer in music video My Love by Dr Vades and Kamille
    2018/19: RINSE, REPEAT exhibition - Dancer for Richard Malone’s exhibition at NOW Gallery, London. Fashion meets dance
    2018: Kenza Brand Film: Dancer in the promo film of company Kenza - Berlin
    2018: Dancer in music video for Holly Walker - Ballerine

    Teaching

    Workshops: Play Practice Artist Residency India, Bohomoves (Kochi), Freefall Dance Summer Intensive, Irie Dance Theatre, Youth Artistry Dance, Irie Dance Theatre, Laban CAT, Roehampton University, various local dance schools in Ecuador
    Pro classes: The Place London (3rd years BA), Dance4, Syracusae Studio, Tripspace Dance, MillCo/Rose Lipman

    Rehearsal Directing

    2023: Rehearsal Director for Alethia Antonia, creation of graduation piece on the 3rd years BA