Who We Are

Mandinga Arts was founded by Julieta Rubio and Charles Beauchamp in 2002, in response to a clear need for artists to work together on performance opportunities – to practice, improve, educate, share and promote carnival arts.

Julieta Rubio has been a pivotal figure in Mandinga's history, co-founding the company and leading on many of the themes, designs and performance concepts from the outset. In 2016, after 14 years leading the company's vision, Julieta Rubio stepped down from the role of Co-Artistic Director, to focus on her own creative work.

Core Team

Charles Beauchamp
Artistic Director

Charles co-founded Mandinga Arts, along with previous Artistic Director Julieta Rubio, in 2002, and has since shaped the creative output of the company. Originally trained as a painter/printmaker in London then Paris, Charles' career as a visual artist spanned 25 years, exhibiting his work in the UK and internationally, including USA, Switzerland, Finland, Cuba, Canada, Ukraine, Croatia and France.
Together with Julieta, Charles has led Mandinga's creative vision for 15 years, and continues to create innovative and exciting new carnival performances, costumes, and puppets for all of Mandinga's projects; collaborating with artists both in the UK and internationally to inspire his work.

Contact: info@mandingaarts.co.uk

Miguel Hernando Torres Umba
Associate Creative Director

Trained in Corporeal Mime, Miguel’s extensive experience as a director, physical theatre performer and actor spans theatre, carnival arts, choreography, puppetry, and immersive theatre. He works regularly with Secret Cinema as Performance Director, and most recently as an Associate Creative Director, to form the core creative team for the company's most ambitious productions.
Miguel first joined Mandinga Arts in 2008 as a volunteer performer, but his energy, dedication and passion for carnival and outdoor arts has seen him take on further lead artistic roles in Mandinga projects throughout the UK and overseas. Miguel joined Mandinga as Associate Creative Director in 2017 to combine his commitment to Mandinga's work and his rich background in both directing and performing to further expand Mandinga's artistic vision.

Contact: miguel@mandingaarts.co.uk

Stephanie Applin
General Manager

Stephanie has over eight years of non-profit experience including development, support programs and arts administration working with organisations such as Rethink Breast Cancer, MYOpera, Indie Opera Toronto and the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. Stephanie has been involved with MYOpera, an opera company with a focus on emerging artists, since its inaugural season and joined as General Director in 2014. She has worked as the Project Manager of Indie Opera Toronto, the collective of independent opera producers, working to support one another as advocates of innovative opera and chamber music experiences.
Stephanie relocated to London to pursue a Master’s in Culture, Policy and Management (City, University of London) and joined Mandinga in 2017.

Contact stephanie@mandingaarts.co.uk

Glow-Anne Crawford
Wardrobe Manager

With a background in teaching English and Drama, Glow-Anne followed her longstanding passion for costume design and joined the London School of Samba as Costume Manager in 2012.
Merging her joint love of teaching and costume, Glow was Carnival Artist 2016 at the Clement James Centre where, working with a range of young performers and the Clement James Carnival team, she designed and produced costumes for the 'Under the Sea' theme. As part of the Carnival Team, she assisted in delivering the creative programme of music, storytelling, dance and art.
A costume producer, designer and manager, Glow's experience includes leading costume workshops, and managing costumes for stage and street performances, children parades and national and international carnivals.

Sydney Rae
Finance Manager

Having worked for many carnival arts, dance and outdoor organisations, Sydney joined Mandinga in 2008.
You'll not only find Syd in the office once a month keeping the books up to date, but you'll also see him dressed in costume and helping out at most of our performances across the country!

Our Board

Mandinga Arts is guided by an experienced and dedicated advisory board, made up of professionals from the carnival, higher education, and cultural heritage sectors;

Brigid Ferry
Carole Morrison
Kate Laird
Ruth Tompsett
Tola Dabiri
Ashley Hibben
Matthew Schmolle

Associate Artists

The work we do wouldn't be possible without our team of exceptionally talented freelance artists, dancers, choreographers, production managers and assistants to bring our parades, performances and workshops to life.

If you're a freelance artist, performer, or production manager working in the outdoor or carnival arts sector, and would like to get involved in our projects, please get in touch and send us your CV.