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Hakeem Onibudo

CEO, Artistic Director and Founder

Since 1995, Hakeem has been widely recognised for his significant work as a choreographer, performer, mentor and British Council Cultural Leadership International Ambassador. With reputation preceding him, Hakeem has established himself as a renowned, professional host and MC, working on red carpet movie premieres and other prestigious national and international events.  

Hakeem’s extensive body of dance work also includes notable assignments for prominent corporations and organisations such as:

· Premier PR 

· AD Events 

· Paramount Pictures 

· Sony Pictures 

· Disney

· Warner Brothers 

· The Royal Ballet School 

· The Royal Opera House

· Sadler’s Wells 

· British Council

· BBC

· Nickelodeon

· C4

· Endemol

· ITV

·  The Duke of Edinburgh Awards

In 2006, Hakeem was called upon to choreograph The Pet Shop Boys World Tour “Cubism”, working alongside award-winning designer Es Devlin.

Known as ‘Mr Impact’ since 2010, Hakeem’s charisma, influence and professionalism have also carved him out a niche role as the UK’s most sought after Red Carpet Warm-Up Host, regularly working alongside talent such as Alex Zane, Edith Bowman, Lorraine Kelly, Clara Amfo and Radzi Chinyanganya.

In 2008, Hakeem launched and began hosting LIVEVIBE, a popular performance platform, with previous residency at Sadler’s Wells, The Peacock Theatre and Rich Mix. The dynamic concept, which offers rare professional opportunities and experience to undiscovered youth talent, soon took off internationally and in partnership with the British Council, was taken to Hong Kong in December 2010 and again in 2013 as well as being recreated in Zimbabwe in February 2012. In April 2017, an edition of LIVEVIBE took place in Caracas, Venezuela and on 2 December 2017 it was staged in London at The Place (The Contemporary Dance Trust).

Having established a flourishing and multifaceted career, a large part of Hakeem’s time is now also devoted to his impactful work within the charity sector. Within this realm, Hakeem recently received the CHANGEMAKERS award from Arts Council England, empowering him to lead on a number of projects at The Place (Contemporary Dance Trust), successfully increasing the number of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority people who engage with the organisation. As the Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Impact Dance, Hakeem “motivates, leads and inspires” ordinary young people to achieve extraordinary things through the medium of Hip-Hop dance.

In 2022, Hakeem’s work within the dance sector was acknowledged with him receiving a Best Teacher Award at the 4th Annual Black British Theatre Awards.

hakeem@impactdance.co.uk

Other Impact Dance Team members