Vera Ephraim

Vera Ephraim's full name is Vera Nkechi Anenyeonu. She is from Anambra state, Nigeria. "Ephraim" is her dad's first name, she decided to use it for her professional name as a sign of his support in her life. Her parents died when she was very young. Vera Nkechi Anenyeonu, actor, Dancer and Choreographer, professional name Vera Ephraim, was born in Edo state of Nigeria but she hails from Anambra state. At a very young age she lost her parents and was raised by her siblings. Already knowing that she wanted to pursue a career in the performing arts, an unusual choice for a girl at that time and place. Although not supported by her family, she sets off for Lagos and joined a renowned dancing company, the African Heritage Ambassadors Dance Company. With them she received her dancing and acting training and went on tour in Europe. Acting and dancing have been a long life passion for Vera. She combined the two professions, founding her own dance company Vera's Danse Hauz, choreographing and staging various pieces. She played supporting roles in Nollywood movies, theatre, commercials and TV series in Nigeria. She performed on stage with the likes of Femi Kuti, Hugh Masakela and Orlando Julius and worked with Lavelle Smith Jr. (Micheal Jackson and Beyounce's Choreographer) She was nominated and won the title for best-featured Dancer in Nigeria. (Organised by Amen awards) In Manchester U.K she studied and obtained her diploma in performing arts, majoring in acting, script writing and directing. She featured in short films and a TV documentary for Channel 4 and was the assistant director for the play Greed Need and Slavery Part 1 & 2, written by Cathy Crabb, at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester. She also studied theatre in Education combining it with facilitating dance workshops working with inmates and young people in the North-West of of the UK. Since moved to South Africa, Vera has extended her career and featured in top drama series like Generations, Intersextions, Jacobs Cross, 7de Laan, Room 9 and recently in Sink, a movie after the book "Rachel weeping" written and directed by Brett Michael Innes. She also continued to work as a Dancer/Choreographer, putting on stage several pieces. Her special attention goes out to the socially weaker, as she is well aware of the force of expression and the joy that performing can bring. She engaged in dance projects in Cape Town and recently in Johannesburg. She has recently made a short film, Omena, as a finger exercise for a feature film she's planning to make in the future.