Artist profile
Maiya Leeke
Maiya Leeke is a creative artist: performer, choreographer and musician. She is a Sadler’s Wells Young Associate 2023-25, presenting work in the Lilian Baylis and Main Stage, and is an Associate Director of Mimbre. Credits include Barbie the Movie; BBC Proms with Paraorchestra; Bradford City of Culture Opening Ceremony; Candoco Dance Company; Cathy Waller Company; CoDa Dance Company; Daryl & Co; Eurovision; Joss Arnott Dance and Mimbre.
She has worked as a Creative Support Artist for National Youth Dance Company since 2022 under the artistic direction of Studio Wayne McGregor; Oona Doherty; Boy Blue and Alleyne Dance.
Further to this, Maiya was a finalist in BBC Young Dancer and a shortlisted artist in the Arts Foundation Fellowship Future Awards 2023. Maiya’s practice is rooted in Contemporary dance and Aerial Circus. Through elegance and power, she strives to create a feeling of hope: hope for possibility, difference, and excellence to be seen and celebrated.
”I am thrilled to be part of Vital Spark - a gift of time and support to question deeper how I consider the magic of children in the work I make. I am further grateful to give time to considering how this specifically relates to the inclusion of wheelchair users. I am incredibly thankful to Spark Arts for this beautiful opportunity.
Maiya LeekeRelationship Programme Artist
Connect with the artist
The Vital Spark behind everything we do
We believe that all children should be able to experience arts and culture, and that they should be able to see themselves represented in these experiences. This is not yet the case for every child and we’re committed to changing that.
Our response is Vital Spark, and it's at the heart of everything we do. Vital Spark is about challenging and changing the lack of diversity in children’s arts and culture; it’s about diverse-led artistic decision making; it’s about not being afraid to stand up for what’s right.
We do this by supporting artists who are currently underrepresented in children’s arts and culture. We also work with partner organisations to create world-class opportunities for these artists and share best practice.
