How art globe helped me look deeper into my own identity

Miguel Doforo is the creative director of MD Creatives, a creativity, arts, and dance organisation based in St Helens.

His organisation has recently contributed to the globes that have been distributed across the UK by The World Reimagined.

Their globe is currently displayed at Newton-le-Willows library and influenced Miguel to delve deeper into his own identity. 

Miguel said: "I’ve been with my partner for 20 years, but it’s only been of late that I’ve actually looked at the context of this.

"I predominantly grew up in a white area where there was racism and then I'd want to go to an area where my cousins were, where there was a lot more diversity, but then there was a lot of homophobia in that area."

The globe is currently displayed at Newton-le-Willows library

Miguel also detailed on how his taste in music and fashion would conflict with his sexual identity.

He added: "With the music I used to listen to, hip hop music, my friends used to say this is really derogatory and the words that they’re saying.

"I used to always want to dress in more urban clothes, but then when you look at the narrative around that hip hop culture, it was very homophobic."

MD Creatives, previously known as MD Productions, were initially a dance and choreography company that became three times semi-finalists on Britain’s Got Talent.

The organisation soon received sponsorships and TV opportunities, however, due to its growing narrative as a creative and artistic organisation advocating for social change, it later changed to its current name.

MD Creatives offer a safe space for individuals to dive into their creative side and express their emotions through art and dance.

The organisation also offers training and other services. 

They recently performed their showcase at The Citadel where Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Sue Murphy made an appearance on stage.

MD Creatives at their recent showcase at The Citadel

The 44-year-old also explained how elements of his own identity can be found in his creative projects.

He added: "When I’ve delved deeper into it, I suppose I’ve been addressing it inwardly or through the pieces that we make, but over the last couple of weeks I’ve been connecting with different people and really wanting to do more about it. 

"It’s about embracing the culture and how it was actually an internal struggle to pull my two identities together as one because in some places they massively contradict each other.

"I’m on a self-journey and I’m enjoying it. I’ve discovered who I am and as I’m unearthing it, it’s clear where my inspiration has come from."

Miguel’s collaboration with The World Reimagined was part of their initiative to explore the history of slave trade and culture, and the organisation’s storytelling expressed through dance was transferred onto the globe.

The globe will be displayed at the library until October 31.

For more information about MD Creatives, visit their website at https://mdcreatives.co.uk/.