Dance Together programme for Cavaliers Cricket Club, 7 Sep – 23 Nov

Redbridge
Free

About the project

We worked with Colours of Redbridge and Cavaliers Cricket Academy on a transformative community dance programme designed to ignite and inspire a passion for diverse South Asian dance styles amongst participants from across Redbridge. This inclusive initiative welcomes participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds – including abled individuals, participants with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), and older adults (OAPs) – to explore the joy of movement and creative expression. The sessions were led by artists, Showmi Das, Jesal Patel and Manuela Benini.

The three artists worked with different communities, ensuring that each group receives appropriate support. Manuela worked with adult SEND participants at Inclusive Communities, as well as for Tamil Special Children. Jesal conducted workshops for older adults including participants with varying levels of ability and mobility. Showmi’s sessions were open to active participants of all ages and abilities—including young people, middle-aged adults, and the elderly, both female and male. 

The programme was structured in three phases: taster sessions, core training, and rehearsals. During the taster sessions, participants experienced a wide variety of dance styles to discover their favourites. Following these introductory workshops, participants chose their preferred dance styles to develop further through focused training sessions. The project culminated in final performance showcases in December where participants came together, not only to perform but also to contribute their creative ideas to the choreography and production. This co-design approach ensured that participants actively shaped the content and creative direction of the sessions, making the project truly reflective of the community’s voice.