Dates:
Thu 02 Oct 2025 7:30pm
Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes - no interval
Age: 8+
Tickets: £12.50
About
AJAYU Transitorio (pronounced A-HI-U) means transient soul. It is a magical, multicultural live performance inspired by the traditional Day of the Dead celebrations in Bolivia, which honour the eternal by providing one day each year for the living to be reunited with the departed.
The performance weaves together contemporary multicultural dance styles — including Bolivian dance, Kuchipudi dance, and Afro-Diaspora styles — with atmospheric percussive world music and poetry. AJAYU Transitorio is a ritualistic exploration of traditions and relationships with food, death, and dying, expressed through the magic of cultural practices and traditional rituals.
Picture the warmth and intimacy of people gathered around beautifully adorned tables. Vibrant printed cloths, fresh flowers, glowing candles, and an array of carefully prepared food create an inviting and sacred space. The atmosphere hums with quiet anticipation as the performance unfolds — dancers moving with reverence and vitality, the musician setting the pulse with hypnotic rhythms, and the poet giving voice to the unspoken. As the performance draws to a close, the experience continues. The audience is invited to break bread together, engaging in open conversation about traditions, rituals, and cherished memories of loved ones. The act of sharing food and stories becomes a final gesture of connection — a reminder that even in the face of loss, community and remembrance endure.
Each show lasts up to an hour and a half. This includes the time for the audience to enter and settle, the full performance itself, and a communal sharing of food afterwards. The experience is designed to create a seamless flow from arrival to departure, encouraging connection and reflection through both artistic expression and shared conversation.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
We warmly welcome younger audience members and encourage parents and carers to use their discretion based on the length and emotional nature of the piece.
Please be aware that the performance includes sensitive content related to grief, loss, and death, which some audience members may find upsetting or triggering. These themes are approached with care, but we acknowledge they may have an emotional impact.
AJAYU Transitorio trailer:
https://youtu.be/pMdrCJrfEIA
Tickets are book on an unallocated basis - please contact Ticket Office directly if you require any information on accessibility and this can be arranged by calling 0191 261 0505.
Yuvel Soria
Yuvel Soria is a British-Bolivian diasporic dance artist-creator based in Newcastle upon Tyne. His work explores identity, belonging, and culture. Rooted in traditional Bolivian, Latin, and contemporary dance, his multidisciplinary practice emphasises collaboration, immersion, and audience interaction. He creates sensory-rich, participatory works that span performance and live art, fostering shared experiences. He is particularly interested in exploring traditions and cultural practices through rituals, and crafting interactive and immersive experiences that engage the senses.
As a dance practitioner, Yuvel delivers inclusive movement sessions for young people, adults, children with complex needs, and people in late adulthood. This work has reshaped his perception of dance, inspiring him to explore alternative ways of experiencing movement. Passionate about inclusivity, he blends Latin and contemporary dance with creativity and physical expression to encourage engagement, build strength and confidence, and challenge perceptions of age and ability in dance.
Artistic Director / Choreographer: Yuvel Soria
Performers: Payal Ramchandani, Brendan Murphy and Khadijah Ibrahiim.
Dance Artist development support: Patrick Ziza
Music: Brendan Murphy
Poetry: Khadijah Ibrahiim
Dramaturge: Khadijah Ibrahiim
Producer: Rosie Watt
The performance weaves together contemporary multicultural dance styles — including Bolivian dance, Kuchipudi dance, and Afro-Diaspora styles — with atmospheric percussive world music and poetry. AJAYU Transitorio is a ritualistic exploration of traditions and relationships with food, death, and dying, expressed through the magic of cultural practices and traditional rituals.
Picture the warmth and intimacy of people gathered around beautifully adorned tables. Vibrant printed cloths, fresh flowers, glowing candles, and an array of carefully prepared food create an inviting and sacred space. The atmosphere hums with quiet anticipation as the performance unfolds — dancers moving with reverence and vitality, the musician setting the pulse with hypnotic rhythms, and the poet giving voice to the unspoken. As the performance draws to a close, the experience continues. The audience is invited to break bread together, engaging in open conversation about traditions, rituals, and cherished memories of loved ones. The act of sharing food and stories becomes a final gesture of connection — a reminder that even in the face of loss, community and remembrance endure.
Each show lasts up to an hour and a half. This includes the time for the audience to enter and settle, the full performance itself, and a communal sharing of food afterwards. The experience is designed to create a seamless flow from arrival to departure, encouraging connection and reflection through both artistic expression and shared conversation.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
We warmly welcome younger audience members and encourage parents and carers to use their discretion based on the length and emotional nature of the piece.
Please be aware that the performance includes sensitive content related to grief, loss, and death, which some audience members may find upsetting or triggering. These themes are approached with care, but we acknowledge they may have an emotional impact.
AJAYU Transitorio trailer:
https://youtu.be/pMdrCJrfEIA
Tickets are book on an unallocated basis - please contact Ticket Office directly if you require any information on accessibility and this can be arranged by calling 0191 261 0505.
Yuvel Soria
Yuvel Soria is a British-Bolivian diasporic dance artist-creator based in Newcastle upon Tyne. His work explores identity, belonging, and culture. Rooted in traditional Bolivian, Latin, and contemporary dance, his multidisciplinary practice emphasises collaboration, immersion, and audience interaction. He creates sensory-rich, participatory works that span performance and live art, fostering shared experiences. He is particularly interested in exploring traditions and cultural practices through rituals, and crafting interactive and immersive experiences that engage the senses.
As a dance practitioner, Yuvel delivers inclusive movement sessions for young people, adults, children with complex needs, and people in late adulthood. This work has reshaped his perception of dance, inspiring him to explore alternative ways of experiencing movement. Passionate about inclusivity, he blends Latin and contemporary dance with creativity and physical expression to encourage engagement, build strength and confidence, and challenge perceptions of age and ability in dance.
Artistic Director / Choreographer: Yuvel Soria
Performers: Payal Ramchandani, Brendan Murphy and Khadijah Ibrahiim.
Dance Artist development support: Patrick Ziza
Music: Brendan Murphy
Poetry: Khadijah Ibrahiim
Dramaturge: Khadijah Ibrahiim
Producer: Rosie Watt
