Tamsier Joof Aviance

**Tamsier Joof Aviance** anaa **Tamsier Aviance** (né **Tamsier Joof**; born 17 May 1973,), wey dem formerly know by de stage name **Tam Jo**, be British dancer, choreographer, actor, model, entrepreneur, radio presenter, den author. E take de name "Aviance" after e join de House of Aviance, one of de legendary vogue-ball houses for de United States. E appear insyd several musicals, den as stage backing dancer for Mary Kiani, Take That, plus Janet Jackson. E too be known for de London voguing scene during de 1990s, den e be one of de original London vogue dancers of dat era.

## Early life den education
Tamsier born for North West London (Kensal Rise) insyd one Senegalese-Gambian family. Ein late poppie be Gambian barrister plus solicitor, den ein mommie be business woman. Tamsier lef de UK when e be two years old after ein poppie decide to move de family back go Gambia to set up ein chambers there. E come back to de UK few years later to pursue ein education. For one interview wey e do plus *West Africa* magazine, Tamsier talk say:

As person wey come from African family wey education mean everything, I feel say I need please both my poppie den mommie plus myself. I love dance but I hate accounting, yet accounting bring respect for African circles so I study both.

Tamsier study classical ballet, jazz, African, contemporary, Latin, tap plus labanotation. E attend Middlesex University, de University of Wolverhampton, den de London Studio Centre, den e get Accounting and Finance Honours Degree, PGCE, plus Performing Arts Dance Degree. As of 2006, e be non-active qualified teacher den Associate of de Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing plus de International Dance Teachers Association. Tamsier too take extra classes for London’s Pineapple Dance Studios den Danceworks insyd different dance styles like breaking; commercial jazz plus de late Nicky Bentley (one of de early dance teachers for Pineapple Dance Studios) den choreographer Shanie, wey e describe say influence ein commercial funk plus jazz style. E too study popping den street locking plus Jimmy Williams—one of de early UK street lockers—den e attend workshops plus internationally known guest choreographers like Bryant Baldwin (USA) den Mauro Mosconi (Italy).

## Career

### Dance den choreography
Tamsier worked as a stage backing dancer for Mary Kiani, Kym Mazelle, Jocelyn Brown, Martha Wash, MN8, Take That, Honeyz, Impact Dance Productions (UK, Sadler's Wells) and also appeared on Janet Jackson's 1995 World Tour at Wembley Arena (London leg of the tour, small portion). Some of his musical theatre work include Starlight Express, Fame, Rent, Hot Mikado and The Wiz. Choreographic work include *"Consecrated Love"* for the Yozo Fass Dance Theatre Company, which he co-choreographed and performed in; *"Dance Fusion"* for the Choreographer's Ball (London); and *"Our Town Story"* for East London (London Borough of Hackney) with Ujamaa Arts, supported by McDonald's for the year 2000 Millennium Dome Show.

Plus ein experience for mainstream dance styles like jazz den ballet, Tamsier too dey involved for de underground London vogue scene during de late 1980s or early 1990s. By de early to late 1990s, Tamsier be one of de most recognisable New Way voguers insyd de London underground scene, den e work extensively for several London clubs as podium dancer / voguer, including Heaven Nightclub, Equinox, The Tube, Lowdown, Trade, Vox, den Busby’s. E be during ein work as dancer for Heaven insyd de early 1990s wey Tamsier meet de legendary Jean Michel, wey later turn one of ein closest friends plus vogue mentor. De two dem dey regular for de London club scene, dey perform den take part for vogue battles plus other London voguers.

Insyd 1997, while Tamsier dey work for Heaven Nightclub ein host den performer—Miss Kimberley—as backing voguer, alternative culture magazine *Bizarre* interview plus photograph am. Tamsier ein “interesting look plus voguing talent” make am prime person for de interview. Tamsier give credit to ein old friend den mentor Jean Michel for teaching am de elements of vogue den for mentoring am, plus for watching legendary U.S. voguers like Willi Ninja den Hector Xtravaganza. As regular user of Pineapple Dance Studios for Covent Garden den Danceworks for Bond Street, Tamsier encourage ein mentor to start vogue classes insyd dem studios. When Jean Michel finally get spot for Danceworks, Tamsier help spread de word among ein dancer friends, “some of whom never get any proper exposure to real voguing apart from what dem see for Madonna ein 1990 *Vogue* video.” Tamsier dey attend de class regular plus support ein mentor.

### Teaching
Tamsier be dance teacher den lecturer, wey teach jazz, ballet plus contemporary. E teach for Carol Straker Dance School for London, Wood Green High School College of Sports, de University of Birmingham den de London Guildhall University. Tamsier run workshops for different inner city schools for London den de Midlands. E be dance coach/consultant for Sandwell den Dudley Borough Council, plus de region ein development agency (Advantage West Midlands), den e run dance workshops throughout de West Midlands. E too teach de Qualifications and Curriculum Authority ein GCSE den A-level dance syllabi for various schools insyd de region, including de A-level labanotation syllabus. E teach advanced/professional jazz for different dance studios, including Adage Dance Studios for Harborne (Birmingham).

### Retirement den comeback
Tamsier retire from professional dancing (on-and-off) for 2001 to focus on other business ventures, wey make e only take short dance contracts or teaching. For March 2015, Tamsier come out of retirement to appear as vogue dancer for FKA twigs ein music video *Glass & Patron*, wey e star alongside Javier Ninja, David Magnifique, den Benjamin Milan. De video officially release on FKA twigs ein YouTube channel on Monday, 23 March 2015.

## Acting den modelling
Tamsier do some acting plus modelling during ein career, wey e work plus artistic directors like Michel Wallace (de French choreographer den artistic director of de Yozo Fass Dance Theatre Company) den Paa C Quaye (de Ghanaian actor–director den artistic director of Ujamaa Arts). Tamsier appear as background actor for de 2002 drama *Dirty Pretty Things*; for de 2003 comedy *Love Actually*; den for de 2024 American musical fantasy film *Wicked* (plus *Wicked: For Good* (2025) as Ozian dancer), where e act as Emerald City dancer den salon owner, replaying ein role from de 2000 den 2001 Flymonkey Productions of *The Wiz* (wey too star Sharon D. Clarke, 2000). E too be film, television den theatre costume model for Academy Costumes, den one of ein big modelling jobs be to model de costumes of *Tomb Raider 2* film wey Jan de Bont direct den Angelina Jolie star insyd.

## Entrepreneur den radio broadcasting
Tamsier be former director of Bluewings Employment Security & Training Limited plus Blue Light Training Services Limited, both of which e resign from, den now e run ein own businesses. E be investor for African businesses wey dey look for start-up or expansion capital through MYC4. Tamsier be de founder of de Seereer Resource Centre (SRC), one organisation wey e conceive for 2008. De SRC dey preserve den promote Seereer culture, den Tamsier be member of dat ethnic group. E be co-author of *Learn to speak Saafi-Saafi: The complete language course* den author of de *Learn to speak the Seereer languages* syllabus. Tamsier be de founder of Seereer Radio, wey dey broadcast 24/7 for de Serer den Senegambian community. E be presenter on Seereer Radio den e be de main anchor for *Cosaan Seereer Show*, one weekly cultural program wey e co-host plus Demba Sene, Mamadou Fall, Moussoukoro Sidibé, den new host Laity Sene. E too be regular voice on *Open Mic Show* wey Mamadou Fall dey present, den e be de founder of Seereer Heritage record label—a segment of Seereer Heritage Press, wey be de imprint den publishing house of de SRC.

Tamsier be strong opponent of President Yahya Jammeh ein regime den e dey talk against de brutality of de Jammeh regime regularly for Seereer Radio, den sometimes for Gainako Radio. Tamsier dey visit Gambia regular to report on de country ein political situation for Seereer Radio. E cover de trial of lawyer Ousainou Darboe plus ein Executive Committee—9 May 2016 political prisoners wey dem jail for demanding electrical reform—den de Gambian presidential election, 2016.

E be one of de few (if no be de only) Gambian radio presenters wey dey live for diaspora but still dey criticise de Jammeh regime regular, yet e still dey enter de country. As e still dey insyd Gambia dey cover de 2016 presidential election plus de release of Ousainou Darboe from jail, e continue dey criticise de brutality of de Jammeh regime, just like how e do for previous visits. When ein colleagues ask am whether e dey fear for ein life as e dey talk plain about de Jammeh regime, e reply say, "I may not be born here but my grandparents were born here and have fought and died for dis country. If I no get more stake for dis country pass Jammeh, then Jammeh surely no get more stake for dis country pass me." On dis same matter, Tamsier talk for *Open Mike* den *Cosaan Seereer* shows say, “real Serer no dey fear death.” E too dey known for investigative journalism against de Jammeh regime plus ein enablers, wey e dey expose dem for de radio. E be one of de few radio critics of Jammeh wey interview President-Elect Adama Barrow face-to-face on Gambian ground during de Jammeh regime—at least twice. De first one be during Barrow ein election campaign for Bakau on 29 November 2016, den after ein victory for de 2016 presidential election—face-to-face interview for Kairaba Hotel on 7 December 2016.

During de COVID-19 pandemic, Tamsier organise one fund-raising initiative to support Seereer artists for Senegal plus Gambia—wey suffer financially from COVID-19 because dem no fit work. Plus de help of ein organisations, de Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) den Seereer Radio, dem raise over 1.5 million Senegalese CFA plus food items. Dat be de first time any Senegambian (Senegalese plus Gambian) media house or organisation raise money for de Seereer artistic community. Oda Senegalese media houses cover de event—wey Seereer Radio ein current Director of Programmes, Laity Sene, talk to de Senegalese media during one press conference—to help push de struggle of Seereer artists. As part of ein philanthropic work, Tamsier ein organisations (de Seereer Resource Centre den Seereer Radio) be de official sponsors of de current King of Sine, Niokhobaye Fatou Diène Diouf ein fourth anniversary for February 2022 since dem put am on de throne for 2019; plus de current King of Saloum, Thierno Coumba Daga Ndao ein celebration of de annual Gamo Kahone festival for 2022. Tamsier be family to both Kings. Tamsier too be de creator, concept author, co-producer, den executive producer of Seereer Heritage label ein big single *Ceereer ne ino mbogun* (plus de album *Ino mbogu Ceereer ne*), wey feature twenty-four of Senegal ein most well-known Seereer artists. Dis project receive big reviews den playtime for Senegalese den Gambian radio stations since e release on 15 December 2022.

## Personal life den controversy
Even though Tamsier grow insyd Muslim household, e reject Islam early insyd ein life den turn strong follower of A ƭat Roog (de Seereer religious faith, religion of ein ancestors). Insyd ein *Open Mike* broadcast wey dem title "Prejudice against Seereer religion (A ƭat Roog) and other Traditional African religions in Senegambia and other parts of Africa" (Wednesday, 8 February 2017), Tamsier criticise some parts of de Senegambian den African Muslim plus Christian communities. E call dem “hypocrites wey like demonise de traditional religions of demma forefathers—yet when demma prayers no get answer from demma foreign Gods, dem dey turn back to demma ancestors demma religion through Traditional African religious seers/diviners—dey look for answers or solutions to demma problems.” Tamsier still talk say: “Person no fit say e love Senegambian history den culture or African history den culture wey e go still hate Traditional African religion, because African history den culture dey deep-rooted insyd Traditional African religions.”

Tamsier too dey known for how e dey criticise de powerful Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal plus demma families for what e call “greed,” “selfishness,” den how dem dey interfere for Senegalese politics. E dey criticise de Mauritanian government say dem no stop slavery for Mauritania, plus e blame de African Union den ECOWAS for how dem fail to enter inside de matter to end dis “ghastly practice” for Mauritania. E too dey speak strong against de way some Senegalese Muslim Marabout schools (daraa) dey “abuse children” (talibés) wey dem send go Quranic schools to learn. E talk say de abuse dey include “physical abuse,” “starvation,” “cruelty,” den how dem dey send dem go beg for de streets of Senegal. Tamsier be strong Pan-Africanist den supporter of Zionism, den e dey known for ein anti-Arab den anti-Islamic views.

## Filmography

## References


## External links
* Lamin Faye, "Interview with Tamsier Joof", Seereer Resource Centre, 28 March 2015, retrieved 6 April 2015
*  at IMDb
* Tamsier at the Internet Music Video Database (IMVDb)
* The Seereer Resource Centre and Seereer Radio joint podcast : Listen to shows presented by Joof Archived 20 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine