Zuza Tehanu is an actress, dancer, physical theatre and circus performer, director and choreographer, theatre maker, musician, singer and visual artist.

Studied art photography and painting on Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, Contemporary dance with Dada von Bzdulow Theatre and physical theatre with Pegassus Saddle Theatre in Poland. She continued her dance and performance studies in London, training Contemporary, Jazz, African and Street dance, choreography, physical theatre and acting.

In 2010 she founded Dark Soul Dance Theatre, where she has been performing, directing or devising, choreographing and managing group productions. She usually works interdisciplinarily, combining dance, theatre, improvisation, visual arts, live music, poetry, fashion, photography, film and much more. Interested in sharing ideas and in an exchange of creative energy, she often invites artists from different cultural backgrounds to collaborate, develop an idea and generate many “art-products” in the same project.

With DSDT group she has made 21 productions so far (eg. “Dark Soul”, “Woman being”, “Sisters Strange”, “The Path”,”We bring the breed”, “Cardiac Syndrome X”, “We bring the breed”) and has been performing in various commercial venues and theaters in London and on festivals in England (Rich Mix, Cafe 1001, Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, Hoxton Hall, The Space Theatre).

Their most known works are “IN” on East in East festival of Female Performers in Rich Mix,  “CARDIAC SYNDROME X” on Hackney Wicked festival, Zuza’s solo “MIRE” on Festival of Choice in Amnesty International and most recent, mentioned in Forbes Magazine “EX UTERO” on Mars & Beyond art show in Bargehouse, OXO Tower. 

Her collaboration with other artists include “Project Anna” – choreography for 10 dancers with fashion design by Paulina Palian and Ewa Bathelier, part of One Billion Rising festival, “HEReins” theatre project about immigration with Margot Przymierska, produced by PAiL London, commissioned by London Metropolitan Archives, “In beak we trust” polish play, directed by Margot Przymierska, commissioned by POSK Theatre, “Crimson” performance with Neti-Neti Theatre Company, produced by Goldsmiths Theatre, solo “YOUR SOUL MATTERS” for Ms. Paolini Phantasmagoria Cabaret in Hoxton Hall.

Zuza has also worked with many theatre companies – London Drama Group, performing in two plays by young English  writers (“Smoke and Mirrors” – Emma, “Return of Jeni” – Jeni), Dread Falls Theatre playing Goddess of War in “Until Death Do Us Part” in Wycombe Museum, Imajica Theatre playing Ruby in “Heidi’s New Shell” and SPLATS Theatre Company playing the Ringmaster in “Pirate Circus” show.

This year Zuza is working with Pol-Bud Cabaret creating a show inspired by Polish entertainment scene of the 80s. Their first show is already sold out!

Since 2013 she has also played in several feature and short films that are available on VOD streaming platforms like Amazon Prime or Apple TV – Viking War (2016),  Cannibal Troll (2021), Doctor Carver (2022), Viking Revenge (2023), celebrating the cinema premiere of Mother Mortis (2023) and the continuation of filming of DJ Kill (2024) later this year.

Zuza is also a talented musician and a singer, played in rock bands Sunlight Service Group(singer, keyboard), folk band Gadjo Form (singer, accordion) and Emanon (singer, keyboard) and dark-rock Glimmer (lead singer,songwriter). Now she writes her own lyrics and music compositions leading her own band Yavenirie Amok as a lead singer and guitarist together with Tomasz Brajter playing bass guitar and Jan Folga playing drums.