Two young Nigerian choreographers were part of Beyonce’s perfomance team.
Diddi
Most prominent among Beyonce’s 100-man back-up dancers and marching band were Edidiong “Diddi” Emah and Kendra Oyesanya – both Nigerian professional choreographers based in the US.
Diddi hails from Akwa Ibom state, and migrated to America as a child. She began professional dancer/choreography at 15. Although elated by the experience of working with her idol, she is not new when it comes to performing with celebrities. She has danced for the likes of like J Lo, Usher, Missy Elliot and Ciara.
After being awarded a scholarship to study at Georgia State University, she dropped out in 2010, then twenty years old – one-year shy of her finals, in order to pursue her passion full-time after receiving an offer to go on tour with Ludacris and the Black Eyed Peas.
Kendra
Kendra was born in the US to Nigerian parents. She is an actress, dancer and sings, all in-grown talents she has had since childhood.
She won Pepsi’s “Dance for a Chance” contest in 2013 and got an opportunity to work with Chris Grant, Beyonce’s choreographer, where she met the singer in person. Since moving to Los Angeles on the advice of Grant, she has worked with some of the best choreographers in the industry.
Some of the artists that Kendra has peformed for include P. Diddy, Paul McCartney, Tamar Braxton,Flo Rida, Tinasha and Keke Palmer.
