Following an early passion to a career in contemporary dance

Born in Zimbabwe, Dakarayi ‘Dak’ Mashava moved to the UK at nine years old when his mother relocated to work in the mental health sector. Growing up in Leicester, he began his education at Spinney Hill Primary School, joining in Year 4, before progressing to St Paul’s Catholic School.

It was there that Dak first discovered his interest in the performing arts, studying Dance and Drama at GCSE - part of the first cohort to take the subject as a BTEC.

Dak continued into the sixth form, but it was an open dance class at Leicester College that proved to be a turning point. There, he met Gareth Chown, who introduced him to his long-term mentor, Dean McQueen. “Everything just changed from there,” Dak recounts.

Under Dean’s guidance, Dak began to see dance not just as a hobby, but as a viable and exciting career path. Inspired by this new perspective, he made the decision to fully pursue dance.

Beginning a journey into the industry

In October 2007, Dak enrolled at Leicester College on a two-year BTEC dance course and “never looked back”. The course allowed him to delve into a wide range of styles, including jazz and ballet - both completely new to him at the time - as well as street and contemporary dance. During this time, he also became involved with Addict Dance Company, further developing his artistic identity.

The well-rounded training prepared him for auditions and helped him develop as a versatile performer.

Upon completing his course, Dak auditioned for both Laban and The Place - he was accepted into both. Choosing to study the BA Hons course at The Place in London, he immersed himself in a highly creative environment, gaining access to a variety of classes, companies and performance opportunities.

However, financial barriers presented significant challenges. Coming from a single-parent household, Dak found it difficult to sustain the cost of full-time training after his initial degree course. The physical demands of dance also made it impossible to maintain part-time work alongside the apprenticeship from Tavaziva Dance he was offered at the time. Ultimately, he made the difficult decision to step away from his apprenticeship course - an experience he describes as “heartbreaking”.

Determined to remain in London, Dak spent a year working in retail and hospitality. Although this limited his training time, it allowed him to build resilience and reflect on his readiness for a professional dance career.

In 2013, Dak secured his first professional role in Thriller Live following a long audition process through his agent. He went on to tour and performed in London’s West End, including during the summer of the London 2012 Olympics. Despite the success, performing eight shows per week led him to reassess his long-term goals, and he stepped away from the production at the end of his two-year contract.

Dak briefly returned to more conventional work, but his passion for dance - particularly contemporary - remained strong. In 2017, he reignited his career by joining B-Hybrid Dance as well as Caitlin Barnett Company as part of the Resolution Festival. This marked a turning point, allowing him to reconnect with the style of dance he truly loved.

He went on to perform with a range of companies and projects, including working at the National Theatre, and continued auditioning for new opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges and uncertainty, but by 2021, Dak had achieved a long-held goal - fully establishing himself within the contemporary dance space he had always aspired to be part of.

Dak’s portfolio in practice

In recent years, Dak has expanded his portfolio further. Since 2022, he has taken on teaching and assisting roles, sharing his experience with the next generation of dancers. He has also performed in modernised productions with the Royal Ballet and Opera.

In 2025, Dak joined the cast of Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre (Kit Kat Club) in London, securing the role after being contacted about a vacancy following a previous audition.

Dak is now performing as part of a prologue cast in the immersive production for Cabaret, where five performers freestyle around the theatre space, portraying ghosts of the old cabaret building. This has helped to build his confidence and stage presence.

A significant milestone in his journey came in 2024, when Dak was awarded a Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) grant from Arts Council England. This funding has enabled him to focus on his work as a choreographer and director, developing original pieces and collaborating with other artists.

Prestigious appointment as resident creative

Dak is currently one of eight artists on the Curve Resident Creatives scheme, an 18-month artist development programme at Curve Theatre in Leicester, where he has access to rehearsal spaces, mentoring and industry insight. As a Curve Resident Creative, Dak will build on his skills as a choreographer and explore the creation of his own work.

Each Curve Resident Creative also receives a fee of at least £1,000 towards their participation, with additional payments for any workshops or classes delivered, or any work commissioned by the theatre.

“This opportunity allows me to refine my artistic voice, learn about funding and production processes, and build a sustainable career as an independent artist,” says Dak.

“It can be difficult to be an artist. At Curve, I can start creating more work, be part of an amazing team, and combine my work as a choreographer and director. It gives me the opportunity to give back and teach in my home town. I regard it as somewhat of an honour to be able to bring all this back to the local community.

Advising the next generation

Alongside his professional work, Dak is passionate about community outreach. “As a Black male dancer, I recognise the importance of representation and actively work to inspire young people - particularly those from similar backgrounds,” he said. Through guest teaching and workshops, he aims to give back to his hometown of Leicester and show others what is possible.

Reflecting on his journey, Dak emphasises the importance of research, curiosity and commitment. 

“I encourage aspiring dancers to do as much research as they can - explore the history of their craft by reading books and watching films, ask many questions of your teachers and mentors, and remain open to the many different pathways within the industry.”