Beverley Glean has been immersed in the world of African Peoples Dance for over 30 years. Trained at the Laban Centre London (Trinity Laban), The Jamaica School of Dance and The Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, her dance vocabulary flourished working alongside artists from West Africa, Europe, America, and the Caribbean. Glean is the founder, artistic director and CEO of IRIE! dance theatre which she established in 1985. The company pioneered the move towards representing and promoting reggae music and its movement nuances on stage. Described as an African and Caribbean dance company, IRIE! mounted 17 productions between 1985 and 2004 which toured nationally and internationally. Over the years, IRIE! has developed a much sought-after education and community outreach programme. Along with Rosie Lehan, Glean has delivered a foundation degree course with a focus on choreographic fusion, has been associated with City and Islington College, Connectingvibes* Dance Company and the Dance and Diversity project, funded by NESTA and ACE to investigate the place of African and Caribbean dance within performance and education She has worked to develop the new BA(Hons) Diverse Dance Styles, launched in 2018 at Goldsmiths. She has received numerous accolades including a Lifetime Achievement Award from ADAD.
