esie mensah, choreographer

Esie Mensah is an award winning choreographer, director, dancer, movement director, educator, and TedX speaker. Her mastery of storytelling is as diverse as her experience.

From working with megastars like Rihanna, Drake, Janelle Monae, Nelly Furtado and Arcade Fire to historic brands like Holt Renfrew, Coca-Cola, TIFF, Art Gallery of Ontario, Shaw Festival, Toronto Raptors, and more. A member of the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers as well as a two-time Dora nominated artist, Esie’s immense
knowledge expands across theatre, dance and film allowing her to transform movement into a physical language that propels her as a storyteller and storykeeper.

She recently made her directorial debut with Marcia Johnson’s play Serving Elizabeth at Theatre Aquarius which critics said was a “triumph” and “a wonderfully clear production”. Her work has been present in Shaw Festival’s 1837: Farmers’ Revolt, Russian Play and Victory, Soulpepper’s MaRainey’s Black Bottom, Musical Stage Company’s production Caroline, or Change and Dixon Road and Canadian Stage/Luminato Festival's film New Monuments. Her own original creations include Akoma, ZAYO, Dora-nominated Shades, and The Journey.

Her recent films; A Revolution of Love, is a film inspired by the racial reckoning of 2020 and TESSEL, is a national call of healing supported by 19 dance organizations from across
Canada and co-commissioned by Fall For Dance North and Harbourfront Centre.