PERFORMANCE
OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Creative Dance Expressions
Our African-diasporic dance expressions encompass a range of innovative endeavors, including research-creation, curated projects, and commissioned works, blending artistry and purpose to produce impactful, culturally resonant experiences.
Coco Moko Jumbie
A resilient stilt dance tradition, available to book for your next event or performance
Calabash
A Choreographic dance live and percussion work that is available for presentation
CURATED & CHOREOGRAPHED WORKS OVER THE YEARS
Coco Moko Jumbie
A traditional masquerade figure that serves as a spirit and protector of the village in Western/Central African regions. A resilient stilt dance tradition.
This performance symbolizes emancipation as a traditional Carnival character and celebrates contemporary Caribbean culture. Inquire about hosting, animating, and performing at festivals, events, and more.
Performance include Luminato’s ‘Walk with Amal’, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Toronto Fashion Week, African Toronto Fashion Week, Lulu (SoulPepper Theatre), Toronto Argonauts, and Kes the Band concert at the Budweiser Stage.
Follow: Instagram
CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKS
Calabash
Presented at Gardiner Museum (2024), Co-presented by dance Immersion at Dance Ontario’s DanceWeekend (2025)
Research, dance choreography and performer: Collette 'Coco' Murray
Visual/Videography: Collette Murray and SQuire Media
Elder/Griot (storyteller): Kwanza Msingwana
Musical Composition: Sherwin Charles, Kimberley Charles, Whitney Charles, Kobèna Acquaa-Harrison, Nicole Powlette, Christian Powlette
A choreographed dance and live percussion journey exploring how African-diasporic communities cultivate everyday social bonds through a symbolic vessel: the calabash. Drawing inspiration from its transatlantic legacy, the calabash embodies the power to gather, hold, nourish, transport, and uplift the cultural and communal needs of African and Caribbean peoples. This light-hearted narrative follows a woman’s labour of love in local food sovereignty and nurturing community connections. (15 minutes)
Calabash is available for dance presenters
Coco Collective
The Coco Collective is a multidisciplinary, intergenerational arts ensemble with a decade-long history of delivering culturally relevant and community-driven projects rooted in African and Caribbean artistry. Their captivating performances blend African-indigenous percussion, West African and Caribbean folk dance, and storytelling.
Led by dance artist-scholar Collette 'Coco' Murray, the ensemble features seasoned professionals with up to three decades of experience alongside emerging artists who bring neotraditional music-dance systems to diverse venues, including universities, museums, and local arts service organizations. The team includes visual artists, percussionists, and storytellers of African and Caribbean descent.
Dedicated to fostering cultural literacy, Coco Collective engages in art-based projects that serve priority groups, addressing gaps in culturally relevant programming in various neighborhoods and regions.
Toronto District School Board recognizes Coco Collective as an educational vendor
Follow: Instagram
