Freddie Opoku-Addaie is one of the most sought-after choreographers of the new generation of UK dance artists. His work has been presented at Royal Opera House, The Place, Southbank Centre, Goldsmiths University, Richmix, as well as on a national tour of Spain. As a dancer and choreographer he has been involved in a range of projects in Ireland, Italy and the USA.
Born and based in London, Freddie trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance and has been working as a freelance artist since 2002. As a dancer he has performed and toured with Candoco Dance Company, Saju Hari, Clod Ensemble, Rashpal Singh Bansal, Wayne McGregor/Random Dance, and Jonzi D. He was also a participant in the Jerwood Bank Project with Siobhan Davies Dance Company (2008). In October 2009 Freddie performed in the international production Shift…centre by Kenyan choreographer Opiyo Okach as part of Dance Umbrella 2009.
Freddie’s choreographic breakthrough was the quintet Silence Speaks Volumes (2006), which became a finalist and frequent ‘audience favourite’ at The Place Prize 2006. It went on to win first prize at the VI Certamen Internacional de Coreografia, Burgos (2007). Silence Speaks Volumes was revived for Spring Loaded at The Place (May 2009) and will go on national tour in 2010 as part of the National Dance Network tour of young choreographers’ work.
In 2008 Freddie collaborated with acclaimed dancer Jorge Crecis to create Bf, a personal exploration of the male psyche. Bf has been presented at The Place, Southbank Centre, Richmix, Stratford Circus, Swindon Dance and Richmond Adult Education College. In summer 2009 Freddie and Jorge created a female version of the work Bf-f, which has been presented at the ROH2 Summer Collection and at Latitude Festival.
In 2009 Freddie received the much coveted Robin Howard Commission, with which he created the trio Mis-thread. The work premiered in May as part of a full-evening repertoire at Spring Loaded. Mis-thread has since been included in the Bloom festival by ADAD (Association of Dance of the African Diaspora) and decibel Performing Arts Showcase in Manchester. Freddie received a Trailblazer award from ADAD in 2008 and participated in the international choreographic research programme Choreoroam.
Freddie Opoku-Addaie creates works for his own company as well as for commissions. He is currently Associate Artist at the Royal Opera House (2009-2011). In autumn and winter 2009/10 he will create a new work for The Ballet Boyz 2010 national tour, as well as choreograph the solo of The Chosen in The Rite of Spring, commissioned by the BBC from the Ballet Boyz.