Exhibition Launch

More Information:

Black Dance in Britain Exhibition Launch

By Laura Griffith

Traditions are immortal, once emerged they harvest, develop and continue to exist. An idea that is animated in the new exhibition ‘Black Dance in Britain: Moments…’ housed at the Theatre Museum in London’s Covent Garden. Running from the 26th October, the exhibition was launched on Wednesday 25th October where the anticipation began. The evening was attended by supporters in an eclectic mix of current professionals, ex-dancers and young dancers of the present all proud to indulge in such a monumental evening, resulting in an electrical atmosphere.

Sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund, ADAD have produced a captivating, accessible photographic gallery of memories & movements throughout the history of Black Dance in Britain. The exhibition exists as a celebration of the past which has great implications for the future of dance of an African diaspora in the UK. History was being made in the very same space in which it was being celebrated. It is hoped the histories will continue to live on as thanks to ADAD the foundations are now in place for an inspirational aperture to the world of African People’s dance, which has been isolated for decades.

The term ‘Black Dance’ has been embraced as a perspective or umbrella term for African People’s dance, whether in the mainstream or the margins of UK theatre dance throughout the 20th century. The exhibition ‘Black Dance in Britain’ has inflated this term and through doing so provides a microscopic view of the once volatile, narrow identification of black dance in the United Kingdom.

The occasion marked a new beginning, which was acknowledged by all present regardless of current knowledge and association to the exhibition. The exhibit is an empowering and encouraging beginning for creators of dance past and present. The Theatre Museum is offering a vehicle for all to participate in, the exhibition presents a comprehensive outlook of Black Dance in Britain since the 1930’s.

It is estimated that 30-40 000 people will attend the exhibition, it is stimulating to see non-mainstream dance blurring such a binary. This is something to embrace and celebrate, one not to be missed.