Xen Arts was set up by Xenoula Eleftheriades as a non-profit organisation in 2008. It began as a fundraising event called Tongue Tied?  to raise money for Tumbuka, a dance company in Zimbabwe struggling to survive at the time.

Now in its thirteenth year, Xen Arts has expanded into an organisation that is using the arts to create opportunities in areas of adversity and hardship, working both in the UK and internationally.

When continuously faced with negative stereotypes and confusing global issues, it can be overwhelming and easy to lose hope. Whether it is the gang culture on the streets of London, the spread of disease in Africa, drug trafficking in South America or oppressive regimes in the Middle East, we are bombarded with negative imagery, building barriers and fear.

Xen Arts connects people and cultures through real experiences and personal stories. Through the vehicle of the arts we break down barriers, enable conversations and provide ‘creative connections’.

Xenoula Eleftheriades
Founder and Artistic Director

Xenoula trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, graduating in 1999. She has since danced, choreographed and taught with various companies and dance agencies in London including Tavaziva Dance, East London Dance, Random Dance, The Place, London Studio Centre and DanceEast.

In 2007 Xenoula toured to Zimbabwe to perform with Tavaziva Dance at the annual HIFA festival in Harare. After travelling and teaching dance in South Africa, she returned to London and founded Xen Arts to produce the first of four ‘Tongue Tied?’ annual fundraiser nights at the Cochrane theatre in Holborn. The night was inspired by the passion and energy for the arts which Xenoula found when travelling in Africa. “I was quite naive, I went expecting to find only the desperate situation I had seen on the news but instead found such energy, talent, inspiration and hope!”

Since 2008 she has returned to Zimbabwe many times to work with artists and organisations to choreograph and produce arts events for young people and women affected by trauma.

Xenoula has also spent time visiting established arts organisations in Colombia and Cambodia to volunteer and learn more about how they use the arts as such a powerful tool to create positive social change.

Now based in Norfolk, Xenoula continues to create and deliver Xen Arts projects with a focus on connecting people and cultures through experiences and personal stories to challenge stereotypes.

“I strongly believe in the power the arts has to open up conversations and offer ‘creative connections’ among different community groups that wouldn’t necessarily cross paths. Fear and mistrust keep us apart, I believe the arts can go a long way to breaking down those barriers.”

— Xenoula Eleftheriades

If you have a booking enquiry about a class or project or would like to get in touch to discuss a tailor-made Xen Arts project for your group please email info@xenarts.co.uk