INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed Sakoba Dance Theatre will be at the Riverfront for a stunning two-week workshop.

Sakoba is the first post-modern African dance theatre in the UK and will be spending a fortnight in Newport to show some of their new work which will then tour in the autumn.

Sakoba Dance Theatre, with its sister company Sakoba Dance For All, lives and works in a multicultural society in which dance is a key expression of culture.

Formed in 1994 by the charismatic dancer and choreographer Bode Lawal, Sakoba strives to produce innovative and original choreography that combine the many dance styles and influences from around the world that its director has encountered, while remaining true to his rich African cultural traditions.

Sakoba Dance For All was formed to provide educational outreach workshop projects of the highest quality to a wide and diverse audience. The company's role as a key advocate in the UK for African Peoples Dance has been witnessed by an exhausting schedule of projects and residencies across the country.

Choreographer Bode Lawal is the son of a Yoruba chief. He has been hailed as one of the finest exponents of African creative dance now working in Britain.

He studied dance, choreography and drama before being invited to join the Nigerian national dance troupe with whom he toured internationally, winning the Ministry of Culture's Dancer of the Year award in 1985.

Despite his success in Africa, he moved to Britain to form Sakoba, which means "new dawn", to celebrate the rich traditions of African dance and music and to spread the profound messages encapsulated in his choreography across Europe.

In 1990 he was asked to choreograph Macbeth for the English Shakespeare Company, directed by Michael Bogdanov which also formed part of an exchange programme with the Santa Monica Playhouse. The Company will be performing in the Theatre from Sunday, June 19, at 3pm and entry is free. Call the box office for more information on 01633 656757.