Saved events

Sankofa Community Carnival: Dance Workshops

With IRIE! dance theatre

— ,Barbican Centre
A group of people dance on stage

© VizionKraft

Step into the vibrant world of Carnival arts this summer with a joyful programme of dance workshops.

IRIE! dance theatre invites you to experience a series Carnival-inspired dance workshops where you will get to learn a range of African and Caribbean movements rooted in Carnival. Learn from expert practitioners and connect through rhythm, culture and community. 

This participatory programme is part of Project a Black Planet: A Season and participants will be invited to be part of the Sanokfa Carnival Band, which will present a Carnival-themed performance on Sunday 16 August.

Tagged with: Take part Project a Black Planet: Events & Gatherings Talks & events

Ticketing Information: 
This is a 6-week course, tickets can be paid for weekly at the booking link above. Dress rehearsals and performances will not be charged. 

There are limited subsidised places available. Get in touch with [email protected] for more information.

Age recommendation: 18+ 
Participants must be 18 years old or older to take part. 

The Sankofa Carnival programme is supported by The Mercers’ Charitable Foundation and the John S Cohen Foundation.

Workshops Information

This is a 6 week course taking place on Saturdays from 04 Jul - 08 Aug 

Rehearsals: 13 & 14 Aug  

Barbican Performance: Sun 16 Aug 

Sessions: 

Saturday mornings 
11am-1pm  

Saturday Afternoon 
1pm-3pm

Please sign up for either a morning or afternoon session. Suitable for people with no experience in dance or creative practice.  

Location:  
All workshops will take place at the Barbican Centre. Participants will be met at Silk Street Reception and taken to the workshop location.

Performances 

These participatory programmes are part of  Project a Black Planet: A Season and will culminate in a Carnival-inspired performance at the Barbican on Sunday 16 August. Participants will be invited to be part of the Sankofa Carnival Band presenting the performance at the Barbican. 

Participants will also be invited to join Mahogany’s Carnival Band at Notting Hill Carnival’s 60th anniversary presentation where their performance at the Barbican will be translated to the biggest and best stage, the street.

About IRIE! dance theatre

Founded in 1985, IRIE! dance theatre was established with a bold and visionary commitment to raise the profile of Black dance and dancers in Britain. Since then, IRIE!’s mission has been to: ‘deliver and sustain a range of creative, educational and artistic activities based on stimuli derived from Africa and the Caribbean’.   

For over four decades, the company has remained at the forefront of artistic innovation, developing a distinctive choreographic language that fuses African and Caribbean dance traditions with contemporary theatre practice. Instantly recognisable as the “IRIE! style,” the company’s movement vocabulary is deeply rooted in the essence of reggae music and the rich cultural expressions of the Caribbean.  

As Britain’s leading dance theatre company working in African and Caribbean dance fusion, IRIE! has created more than 25 original works that have toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. Drawing musical inspiration from African and Caribbean drumming and percussion, Reggae and Ragga, Calypso and Soca, the company’s practice sits firmly within what the dance sector recognises as Dance of the African Diaspora (DAD).   

Through this dynamic fusion, IRIE! continues to shape and define the evolving landscape of diasporic dance in the UK.

You might also like

Barbican Centre

Location
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
​​​​​​​The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.