Let's Dance International Frontiers 2024 Brochure by Serendipity Institute

24 CAMOUFLAGE: EMBODIED DANCE

29 APRIL – 4 MAY 2024

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serendipity-uk.com +44(0)116 482 1394 #LDIF24

WELCOME Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024 (LDIF24) returns for the festival’s fourteenth edition, focusing on dance practitioners from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora and Indigenous communities where they meet Diaspora. LDIF has established a reputation as the UK’s leading voice and home for Black dance. LDIF24 explores the theme of Camouflage: Embodied Dance. A deceptively simple premise that opens the door to a realm of Black theorists from Édouard Glissant’s “right to opacity”, to the paradox of the invisibility/hyper-visibility of Black women discussed by bell hooks and many others, through to the sociopolitical commentary of Caribbean carnival and Mas reflected through the camouflage of one’s self. Ultimately, it tackles issues of the Black performing body, the histories embodied within and the transformation of dance artists in order to share these stories. We celebrate International Dance Day with a new commission from Raul Reinoso. A key member of Acosta Danza, as a dancer and choreographer, Reinoso explores assimilation, appropriation and adaptation of the African Caribbean Diaspora with an experimental work, drawing on the symbiosis and unity of the multitude of influences that form Cuba’s unique dance heritage. The annual conference, exploring the theme of this year’s festival, brings together Marlon Simms, Andrea E Woods Valdés, Peter Badejo, Makini, nora chipaumire, Yinka Esi Graves and Tyrone Isaac-Stuart. The discussion continues through the Dance Dialogues series with L’Antoinette Stines, David Blake and others. There is also an opportunity to put the theory into practice through the LDIF+ masterclass series. Signatures and the Black British Dance Platform come together to showcase emerging dancers and choreographers locally, nationally and internationally for a unique mixed bill performance. Then be captivated by mesmerising rhythms and vibrant movements as the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica embarks on a ground-breaking performance for the finale of Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024. LDIF24 is a gathering like no other, a holistic exploration of not just what we call dance but the artforms and people that form the movement within and around it. We look forward to seeing you there, Let’s Dance! Pawlet Brookes MBE CEO and Artistic Director Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

Cover Image: Kerry-Ann Henry in Chris Walker's Mountain Climbing, National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica. Pawlet Brookes MBE, Photograph by the Unloved

LAUNCH LET’S DANCE INTERNATIONAL FRONTIERS 2024 LAUNCH UNBUNTU ACOSTA DANZA Monday 29 April 7.00pm City Rooms £20 | £18 Concession To celebrate International Dance Day and the launch of Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024, dancer and choreographer Raul Reinoso of Acosta Danza explores, by the processes of creolisation, the foundation of African Caribbean culture. UNBUNTU, "I am because 'we' are" is an exploration of the connections of Diaspora, how surviving and thriving in new territories is necessitated by assimilation, appropriation and adaptation. Inspired by this socio-cultural paradigm, Reinoso seeks to establish a realm for exploration and exchange through dance, a universal language that transcends differences through an experimental environment. It enables each participating body to connect symbiotically, initially amorphous yet simultaneously homogeneous to achieve unity. Hailing from Pinar del Río, Cuba, in 2009 Reinoso joined the cast of the Contemporary Dance of Cuba, under the guidance of Miguel Iglesias. With this company, he graced stages around the world for renowned choreographers including Rafael Bonachela, George Céspedes, Kenneth Kvarntrom, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and contributed his choreographic prowess to the National Ballet of Cuba with Safe (2014) and December (2015). Since 2015, Reinoso has been a key member of Acosta Danza, gracing the productions of El cruce sobre el Niágara, Cor, Hokiri and Rooster. He crafted Anadromous, showcased in the renowned A Classical Farewell by Carlos Acosta, and in 2018 unveiled his award-winning Satori. Currently, Reinoso is lending his artistic brilliance to the Birmingham Royal Ballet, with the critically acclaimed Black Sabbath (2023).

Image Credit: Acosta Danza. Photographer Ariel Ley.

CONFERENCE CAMOUFLAGE: EMBODIED DANCE Tuesday 30 April 10.00am – 5.30pm Phoenix £80 | £70 Early Bird* The conference for Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024 explores the theme of Camouflage: Embodied Dance. This annual gathering of artists, activists and practitioners has established a growing reputation as a leading voice and home for Black dance. Camouflage: Embodied Dance’s foundations are rooted in the work of Black theorists from Édouard Glissant’s “right to opacity”, through to the paradox of the invisibility/hyper-visibility of Black women discussed by bell hooks and others. Camouflage is synonymous with Black survival, taking different forms across the Diaspora. The conference contributors will each reflect on the way that they explore camouflage in their own practice, ultimately tackling issues of the Black performing body, the histories embodied within and the transformation of dance artists in order to share these stories. Contributors include:

nora chipaumire (Zimbabwe/USA)

Yinka Esi Graves (UK/Spain)

nora chipaumire is a four-time Bessie Award winner and recipient of the 2016 Trisha Mckenzie Memorial Award for her impact on the dance community in Zimbabwe. She was also nominated for a NAMA award in 2020 for exiled Zimbabweans. chipaumire’s latest work is NEHANDA, a large-scale opera and prior to this she toured #PUNK100% POP*NIGGA, a three-part live performance album. Her other live works include portrait of myself as my father (2016) and RITE RIOT (2012). She recently released a Radio Opera (2021), and has been featured in several dance films, making her directorial debut with the short film Afro Promo #1 King Lady (2016). Her long-term research project nhaka, a technology-based practice and process to her artistic work, instigates and investigates the nature of Black bodies and the products of their imaginations.

Yinka Esi Graves is a British Flamenco dancer and practitioner whose choreographic work explores the links between flamenco and other forms of corporeal expression from an African Diasporic and contemporary perspective. Having studied ballet and AfroCuban dancing in her youth, she has dedicated over a decade to flamenco, studying at Amor de Dios in Madrid and later in Seville with artists such as La Lupi, Andrés Marin, Yolanda Heredia and Juana Amaya. Her choreographic work and unique way of working in and around flamenco has been featured at Sadler’s Wells (Sampled 2017), Dance Umbrella’s Out of the System, Gibney Dance NY amongst others, reaching audiences nationally and internationally, often taking flamenco into new spaces.

Tyrone Isaac-Stuart (UK)

Carole Y Johnson (USA/Australia)

Emerging artist Tyrone Isaac-Stuart is a soloist, musician, conceptualist, collaborator and choreographer. He studied Jazz saxophone at Middlesex University and the University of New Orleans and developed further as a dancer while performing for East London’s finest: Boy Blue Entertainment. He has participated in projects at Sadler’s Wells (Back to the Lab), East London Dance (Cindy Claes, 1000 Pieces Puzzle, Hofesh Shechter: East Wall), Redbridge Drama Centre (Artists 4 Artists) and The Place (Resolution). He has worked with Jonzi D, Soweto Kinch, Joseph Toonga and Botis Seva and regularly performs with Boy Blue Entertainment and Foreign Bodies Orchestra (Sean Graham).

Carole Y Johnson is a founding member of the Association of Black Choreographers (ABC), established New York City’s Dancemobile, and was founder and editor of the dance theatre magazine Feet, the first news publication devoted primarily to dance of and by African American peoples. Johnson first went to Australia in 1972 as a principal dancer with the Eleo Pomare Dance Company. Arriving at a time of political ferment she began the first modern dance workshop with Indigenous Australians before supporting the workshop members to present a dance of protest at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy Demonstration in Canberra. Her vision was carried forth through building the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association’s school, known as NAISDA Dance College, and establishing Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1989.

Image Credit: Shadé Thaxter, National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica. Photographer Edward Massias.

CONFERENCE CAMOUFLAGE: EMBODIED DANCE

Makini (USA)

Peter Badejo (Nigeria/UK)

Makini is a choreographer, performer and video artist. Trained in Umfundalai, Kariamu Welsh’s contemporary African dance technique, he has worked with Irene Dowd focusing on anatomy and proprioception and a J-sette performance with Jermone Donte Beacham. In 2008, Makini cofounded idiosynCrazy productions and co-directed it with Shannon Murphy. Makini has performed with Marianela Boán, Silvana Cardell, devynn emory, Emmanuelle Hunyh, Tania Isaac, Kun-Yang Lin, C. Kemal Nance, Ligia Lewis, Marissa Perel, Leah Stein, Keith Thompson, Kate Watson-Wallace, Merián Soto, Reggie Wilson, Jesse Zaritt, and Kariamu Wels. Makini has received various awards including: Live Arts Brewery Fellowship, Pew Center for Arts and Heritage Fellowship, NRW Tanzrecherche Fellowship, New York Live Arts Studio Series and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Peter Badejo OBE is one of Nigeria’s foremost choreographers, dancers and African performance specialists. His presence in Britain, the founding of Badejo Arts in 1990 and the establishment of the annual summer school, Bami Jo, have made a significant impact on artistic practice in the UK. Badejo has appeared in major dramas such as Cambridge University’s Eshu’s Faust and Phyllida Lloyd’s productions of Medea and Death and the King’s Horseman. He has collaborated with Adzido, Kokuma (History of the Drum and Awakening), Irie (Agbara), Sakofa dance theatre, H Patten, The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, Cambridge Arts Theatre and Pan Project. As a teacher, Badejo has conducted residencies and workshop programmes throughout the UK for organisations such as the International Workshop Festival, London Contemporary Dance School, The Birmingham Summer School and WOMAD. He was awarded an OBE in 2001 in recognition of his work with, and commitment to, African dance.

Marlon D Simms (Jamaica)

Andrea E Woods Valdés (USA)

Marlon D Simms was appointed Artistic Director of the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica in 2018. Prior to his appointment he served as the Associate Artistic Director for four years (2014-2017). He also held the post of Dance Captain for five years (2009-2013), after being appointed by co-founder and past artistic director, Rex Nettleford. Simms has travelled and performed extensively with the company and as a solo performance artist to England, Canada, USA, the Caribbean and South America. Between performing and directing the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica, he co-produces the company’s journal and oversees the trainee programme and educational work. He is also the current Dean of the school of dance at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Andrea E Woods Valdés is the Artistic Director of SOULOWORKS/Andrea E Woods and Dancers. Woods Valdés is also an associate professor at Duke University and a former director of Duke in Ghana summer study 2012-2014. She received her PhD in Dance from Texas Woman's University with a research focus on embodied Black aesthetics, Black women choreographers, and spirit. A native of Philadelphia, Woods began her dance training with Jean Williams at Germantown Dance Theater. After graduating magna cum laude from Adelphi University, she danced with Clive Thompson, Mafata, Leni Wylliams and Saeko Icinohe. Woods Valdés is a former dancer and rehearsal director of Bill T Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Co. (1989-1995).

*Early Bird available until 29 February 2024, subject to availability. Image Credit: Nahum McLean. Photographer Nick Guttridge.

LDIF+ MASTERCLASSES Masterclass with Marlon Simms

Masterclass with L’Antoinette Stines

Wednesday 1 May 10.00am – 12.00noon Curve £30

Thursday 2 May 10.00am – 12.00noon Curve £30

The National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) of Jamaica blends the lore, music and dance traditions of Jamaica, Africa and the American South with both modern and classical ballet forms. The company has established a distinctive style of Caribbean dancetheatre and a training system. This masterclass will give an introduction to techniques that faithfully reflect Caribbean movement patterns and underpin the company’s ethos of creating works of excellence rooted on Jamaican and cultural realities.

A unique opportunity to take class with L’Antoinette Stines, the creator of L’Antech (L'Anyah Reggae Technique), an eclectic Caribbean contemporary dance technique which synthesises African influences, Caribbean folklore and Jamaican dance. It brings together elements of classical ballet whilst honouring African Caribbean retentions and unifying body, mind and spirit to create something truly distinctive.

Masterclass with nora chipaumire, Yinka Esi Graves and Tyrone Isaac-Stuart Wednesday 1 May 2.00pm – 5.00pm Curve £30 A practical masterclass with internationally acclaimed choreographers and performers nora chipaumire, Yinka Esi Graves and Tyrone Isaac-Stuart. The class will bring together each of the artists’ unique creative practices to support dancers to develop their own artistic voice. The class will feature thematic inquiries, physical, vocal, and mental warm-ups before engaging in inquiry-based activities and reflective discussions to create original movement motifs.

Masterclass with David Blake

Masterclass with Sharon Watson

Friday 3 May 10.00am – 12.00noon Curve £30

Saturday 4 May 10.00am – 12.00noon Curve £30

David Blake has conducted master classes and workshops in musical theatre, jazz, modern and African Caribbean dance practice and has taught and choreographed internationally, as a certified Lester Horton Technique Instructor. This class focuses on the building of strength, flexibility and coordination, whilst increasing the expressive range of the body through a series of exercises and movement vocabulary.

Sharon Watson is CEO and Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, she was one of the first female Principal Dancers invited to join the all-male award-winning Phoenix Dance Company, touring with the company from 1989 to 1997 and as artistic director from 2009 to 2020.

Marlon D Simms in Sweet in the Morning choreographed by Leni Wylliams, National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica. Photographer Jamie Barnett.

DANCE DIALOGUES The Future of Caribbean Dance L’Antoinette Stines

Hidden Histories: Animated – Black Dance Voices Panel Discussion

Thursday 2 May 1.00pm – 3.00pm Dialogue Box, Serendipity £10 | Free for Serendipity Connect Members

Saturday 4 May 3.00pm – 5.00pm Dialogue Box, Serendipity £10 | Free for Serendipity Connect Members

Regarded as an expert in popular, folkloric Jamaican dance and the development of contemporary dance, L’Antoinette Stines has lectured in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and America. This roundtable discussion will explore the future of Caribbean dance practice, reflecting on best practice to safeguard a legacy of Caribbean dance practices such as Kumina and Orisha dance, through to the appropriation of Daaance’all.

Animated is a community dance magazine, published by People Dancing. Written by dance artists and dance/arts professionals, it reflects community dance culture in the UK and beyond. Animated encourages debate, dialogue and reflection on current issues and community dance practice.

Black British Dance Platform in Conversation Thursday 2 May 3.30pm – 5.30pm Dialogue Box, Serendipity For invited guests Aimed at promoters, programmers and producers, this is an opportunity to hear more from the artists participating in the Black British Dance Platform. In collaboration with Fabric.

Dance Education David Blake Friday 3 May 3.00pm – 5.00pm Dialogue Box, Serendipity £10 | Free for Serendipity Connect Members David Blake is known for his work as a performer, lecturer, choreographer and creative director, and with his long running role as ‘Banzai’ in Disney’s award-winning musical, The Lion King, in London’s West End. Recently appointed Academy Director of Urdang, Blake will discuss his transition in roles and the need to find a new cultural voice in dance education.

People Dancing has recently led an initiative to document and digitise all articles written by Black dance practitioners, which will be available to view in Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage’s Living Archive, as part of Unearthed: Forgotten Histories. This roundtable discussion will delve into this collection which charts the journey of Black dance in the UK over three decades. Panellists include Louise Katerega, Head of Professional Development at People Dancing, Rennaé Wilson, dancer and educator, and Sharon Watson, Principal of Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Cocktails and Conversation with Marlon Simms Saturday 4 May 6.00pm The Exchange For invited guests and Serendipity Connect Members A reception to celebrate National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica’s performances as part of Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024 and meet the company’s artistic director, Marlon Simms.

Blake Arts in Melanin Migration: Brothers in Arms at Let's Dance International Frontiers 2023. Photographer Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.

FILM HIDDEN HISTORIES: BLACK DANCE ON FILM PAST AND PRESENT Thursday 2 May 7.00pm Phoenix £10 A screening and discussion that explores how film can be used to document Black dance and also used as a creative tool in itself to push the boundaries around dance and performance, with guest panellists: Cayla Mae Simpson, an interdisciplinary movement artist creating works through dance and film; Georgina Payne, Digital Innovation Project Manager at Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage; Maureen Salmon, Senior Lecturer for the Design School at London College of Communication; and Peter Badejo, Founder of Badejo Arts. This screening is part of Unearthed: Forgotten Histories.

Witch Doctor (1952)

Emi ijo - Heart of Dance (2000)

A seminal film by Haitian choreographer, Jean-Léon Destiné, first created for stage in 1948, it was filmed in 1952 by Ritter-YoungLerner Associates and went onto receive international acclaim at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Milan Film Festival. The film is a dance stylisation of a vodou ritual with Destiné in the titular role, alongside Alphonse Cimber (drummer) and Jeanne Ramon (possessed woman).

Emi ijo was created by Badejo Arts as an exploration into the experience of migration, the fight for survival and the triumph of the migration to new land. An inversion of Joseph Conrads’ book Heart of Darkness, Emi ijo was a water site-specific production in a boat which sailed on the River Thames from Greenwich Pier to the South Bank Pier to celebrate the new Millennium and the tenth anniversary of Badejo Arts.

Steel ‘n’ Skin (1979)

Let Freedom Ring (2023)

A group of artists with a pioneering spirit head into some of the most impoverished and neglected parts of Liverpool to tackle ignorance and celebrate difference in areas where it's often castigated. Filmed over a 10-day workshop, the project was clearly memorable to Liverpudlians, young and old, Black and white. A marriage of diverse cultural heritages from Africa, the West Indies and generations of Black British culture lie at the heart of this fantastic community arts project.

The civil rights movement from the March on Washington through to Black Lives Matter provide a stark reminder of social indifference and stagnation of dreams for social change for the African Diaspora. It features Djoe Tomakloe, filmed by Cayla Mae Simpson, commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.

Sisterhood (2023)

Back Garden Joy (2023)

There are threads that keep us together, that tie together, regardless of past, regardless of heritage. Sisterhood is an observation of connection in the modern day, an observation of sisterhood and the multiple facets that come with navigating sisterhood and friendship as Black women in the ferocious world of today. It features Francesca Matthys and Georgia Thompson, filmed by Cayla Mae Simpson, commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.

London. The concrete of all jungles. Grey walls, concrete floors and blossom-less trees. Consuming these elements all day through the windows to one’s soul can begin to grate on one’s heart, making London’s tenements hard, grey and dim like the very bubble we get locked in at times. It features Jade Hackett and Jennifer Grey, filmed by Cayla Mae Simpson, commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.

The Residue of a Stagnant State (2023) The Residue of a Stagnant State was born from the questioning of inheritance versus experience, how and where the remains of an empire live on in the London we inhabit today. As a team they pondered what amount (if any) of our past is carried into our present, be that experiential or ancestral. Featuring Georgia Thompson, Francesca Matthys, Jemima Tawose and Kendra Chiagoro-Noel, it was filmed by Cayla Mae Simpson and commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.

Invisible Power (2023) Invisible Power is a piece exploring the effects of mental health from a Black intersectional perspective. Follow two dancers moving across the city of Newcastle persistently seeking their own quiet moments, unleashing their quest for rest across the architecture of the city. Featuring Igor Tavares and Lauryn Pinard, it is filmed by Cayla Mae Simpson and commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.

Image Credit: Igor Tavares and Lauryn Pinard in Invisible Power (2023). Photographer Georgina Payne.

PERFORMANCE SIGNATURES AND THE BLACK BRITISH DANCE PLATFORM Wednesday 1 May 7.45pm Curve Studio £20 I £15 Under 26 year olds | £10 Two platforms in one evening of dance for Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024, Signatures and the Black British Dance Platform come together to showcase emerging dancers and choreographers locally, nationally and internationally for a unique mixed bill performance.

Signatures Led by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, Signatures showcases the best in international emerging dance practice, nurturing 78 artists over the last fourteen years. This year selected artists demonstrate innovative practice connecting across the African Diaspora and Europe.

Woven Mystery

Death of The Bachelors

Woven Mystery is a spellbinding dance piece inspired by the symbolism of the spider and its web. This piece delicately explores the way in which invisible forces can gradually creep in, creating an imperceptible web around individuals until they find themselves trapped. Through their movement, the dancers illustrate the progressive manifestation of this hold. Woven Mystery invites us to reflect on the subtle links that are being woven in our own lives, encouraging us to listen to our intuition and recognise the warning signs to avoid becoming imprisoned.

Death of The Bachelors follows two older men who form an unlikely friendship as they reminisce about their younger days as bachelors. Through their conversations, they reflect on the choices they've made and the paths their lives have taken, both good and bad. As they come to terms with their past and the inevitability of aging, they celebrate the power of friendship and the beauty of life’s journey.

Clemence Oliver (France/Tanzania)

Darius Drooh, BlacBrik. Photographer Jonas Yuan.

BlacBrik (UK)

Black British Dance Platform A collaboration between Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage and FABRIC, the Black British Dance Platform has a strategic aspiration to support and nurture dance artists from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora who are based in the UK, with an ambition to present work internationally. The platform supports the aims of cultivating a sector that is representative of contemporary Britain. Now entering its fourth year, previous participants include Fubunation, Dani Harris Walters, Seren Marimba, Walker Movement Theatre Company, Cherilyn Albert, Chad Taylor, Blake Arts and Rose Aïda Sall Sao. This year the platform presents two new pieces of work.

Let Freedom Ring

Negus Genesis

28 August 2023 marked the sixtieth anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s “I have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington for jobs and freedom. As one of the poignant moments of the civil rights movements, the piece reflects the passion heard in King’s voice, as he calls for civil and economic rights but to also end racism in the United States of America.

The beginning, the primordial existence of the concept before it becomes formed. In a space before the coronation of the Negus, there is a space of spirit and ritual that brings forth the physical. The incantation of Negus evokes: devotion, discipline, leadership and glory triumphantly. Negus Genesis exposes this space where the chosen is decided and what no longer serves falls away to make space for new modes of being.

Djoe Tomakloe (UK)

The piece is an artistic fusion of dance forms: ballet, contemporary dance, hip-hop and electric boogie/ body popping, which reflect on the artistic generic expression of personal character. The historic period of the civil rights past and present is a stark reminder of social indifference and stagnation of dreams for social change for the African Diaspora.

Toussaint to Move (Jamaica/UK)

Negus, believed by many scholars to be an ancient Ethiopian word meaning emperor or king, seems to have been shifted into becoming another N word of derogative nature. This work is a means to rewrite what has been done and bring to light the true power of the sound of Negus.

Set against the backdrop of the famous “I have a dream” speech, this performance provides a poignant reflection on Martin Luther King Jr’s words and the continuing struggle for civil rights and what this means today.

Image Credit: Djoe Tomakloe in Let Freedom Ring. Photographer Georgina Payne.

NATIONAL DANCE THEATRE COMPANY OF JAMAICA Friday 3 May – Saturday 4 May 7.45pm Curve Studio £20 I £15 Under 26 year olds | £10

Be captivated by mesmerising rhythms and vibrant movements as the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica embarks on a ground-breaking performance at Curve for Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024. Founded in the spirit of Jamaica's independence in 1962, the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica is a beacon of artistic excellence, blending tradition with innovation to create a dance experience like no other. The National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica will take you on a breath-taking journey through Jamaica's rich cultural heritage. Through a seamless fusion of African rhythms, European melodies, and contemporary influences, the dancers will bring to life the island's vibrant folklore, rituals and stories.

The company’s repertoire, honed over six decades, celebrates unique dance traditions of Jamaica, weaving together elements of reggae, dancehall and traditional folk dances. Works showcased in this mixed bill performance include Orville McFarlane’s contemporary Caribbean choreography Circa 2K, the thoughtprovoking Introspection by Marlon D Simms, which premiered at Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2023, and Kumina. Choreographed by dance pioneer Rex Nettleford over 50 years ago, Kumina has become one of the company's signature pieces closing performances since it was first created for the 1971 season and is an audience favourite. It is based on spiritual rituals of Congolese origin, found largely in the parish of St Thomas. Kumina rites are held for a variety of occasions - for mourning, tombing, healing, thanksgiving and even when help is needed to win a court case or for winning a lover. Included in the work is a dance combat called "Warrick" (stickplay).

Image Credit: National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica dancers in Rex Nettleford's Ritual of the Sunrise. Photographer Jamie Barnett.

Beyond the stage, the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica is more than a dance company - it's a symbol of unity, resilience and national pride. The artists, drawn from various professions, bring a deep sense of commitment and passion to their art, embodying the spirit of Jamaica. Their performances serve as a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity, and cultural preservation. Join us for an unforgettable evening of dance, music, and cultural celebration with the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica, only at Curve for Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024.

Kerry-Ann Henry, National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica in Arsenio Andrade Calderon's A Prayer.

BEYOND THE DANCE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Trance-fixed in Wonderland: Stranger Than Psy-Fi

Diana Amma Gyankoma Abankwah Spontaneous site-specific performances throughout Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2024

Trance-fixed in Wonderland: Stranger Than Psy-Fi is an immersive, high-energy, solo live-art dance piece in the styles of tribal fusion, amapiano, and Afro-psychedelic dance, and featuring a kaleidoscope of mental states. Presented in a darkly whimsical and innovative way, the narrative of this piece illustrates the inner experience of code-switching, fractured identities, repressed queerness, generational trauma, psychic wounds, cultural codependency, and spiritual awakening through the eyes of the Third-Culture Black African.

Image Credit: Diana Amma Gyankoma Abankwah in Trance-fixed in Wonderland: Stranger Than Psy-Fi.

LDIF24 NETWORKING EVENT Tuesday 30 April 5.30pm Phoenix For conference delegates and Serendipity Connect members An opportunity for delegates and members to join together for an exclusive networking event to meet fellow practitioners, debate and discuss development in the sector. Serendipity Connect is an international network of artists, arts administrators and academics which opens the door for innovative collaborations, talent development and ideas exchange.

Diana Amma Gyankoma Abankwah is an interdisciplinary artist whose creative practice spans across dance, visual arts, music and writing. A Ugandan-Ghanaian national, born and raised in Botswana, she is a member of Kwanzaa Collective in 2022, a Staffordshire-based dance collective consortium of artists, activists, and academics, and the Staffordshire Dance Collective. In 2023, she featured as an underwater dance artist in the feminist dance film She Swims, directed and produced by Shelley-Eva Haden.

EARLY BIRD PASS Serendipity Connect Members always save more. Join today.

Bringing together artists, practitioners, enthusiasts and industry professionals to create an international community of creatives, Serendipity Connect allows members to build and strengthen connections through discussions, experiences and exclusive events, as well as offering professional development, research and networking opportunities.

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HOW TO BOOK Book online at www.serendipity-uk.com Call Serendipity on +44(0)116 482 1394 Visit Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage at 21 Bowling Green Street, LE1 6AS

ACCOMMODATION The Gresham Aparthotel 36 Market Street Leicester LE1 6DP reservations@thegreshamaparthotel.com +44(0)116 243 7666 The Gresham Aparthotel provides luxury accommodation in the heart of Leicester. Its iconic building has been sympathetically renovated to incorporate stylish interiors and a home from home environment. During your stay, benefit from all of the facilities and services one would expect from a boutique hotel, whilst also enjoying the flexibility and comfort of apartment living. Get 15% off when staying during LDIF24 with the discount code: Serendipity

SERENDIPITY Institute for Black Arts and Heritage Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, Leicester. Serendipity’s mission is to centre perspectives from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora, embedded as part of cultural experiences for all. Serendipity’s programmes include the flagship dance festival, Let’s Dance International Frontiers (LDIF), Black History Month Leicester and the Annual Windrush Day Lecture. Serendipity has established a legacy through hosting and growing a living archive, documenting Black arts, heritage and culture, publishing the voices of Black arts practitioners and community activists, nurturing artists to create high quality new work, and mentoring young people.

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funded by FABRIC Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registered Charity No. 1196368. Registered in England & Wales. VAT No. 432176513

Image by Nigel Essex

VENUES

City Rooms 16 Hotel Street Leicester LE1 5AW

The Exchange 50 Rutland Street Leicester LE1 5TE

W: thecityrooms.co.uk

T: +44(0)116 332 3301 W: theexchangebar.co.uk

Curve Rutland Street Leicester LE1 3UL

Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre Phoenix Square 4 Midland St Leicester LE1 1TG

T. +44(0)116 242 3595 W. curveonline.co.uk E. tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk

T: +44(0)116 242 2800 W: phoenix.org.uk

Dialogue Box Serendipity 21 Bowling Green Street Leicester LE1 6AS T: +44(0)116 482 1394 W: serendipity-uk.com E: info@serendipity-uk.com

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Access Information Serendipity is committed to ensuring that all are welcome to attend events at Let’s Dance International Frontiers. For further information, including venue layouts, details of events with British Sign Language and Audio Description or for marketing materials in accessible formats, please visit www.serendipityuk.com, email info@serendipity-uk.com or call +44(0)116 482 1394.

Programme Changes All details were correct at the time of print. Whilst every effort will be made to keep to the announced programme, it may be necessary to make changes without notice and in accordance with current government guidelines. Refunds or exchanges will be made at the venue or organiser’s discretion, please see terms and conditions for further details.

Concessions Where stated, concessions are available to full-time students (with student ID), state pensioners, people with disabilities, unemployed and children under 16. Please be prepared to provide proof of concessionary status. Curve discounts for 16-26 years and Students are available with Curve’s 1626, Student Membership and Curve Connect.

Transaction Fees Fees may apply to card payments made online, via telephone or in person. Every effort is made to ensure costs are clear where applicable.

LET’S DANCE INTERNATIONAL FRONTIERS IS PRODUCED BY SERENDIPITY Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage 21 Bowling Green Street Leicester LE1 6AS Room CL00.14, Clephan Building, De Montfort University, The Gateway Leicester, LE1 9BH

+44(0)116 482 1394  info@serendipity-uk.com  www.serendipity-uk.com www.ldif.com  @LetsDanceFront | @SerendipityInfo  LetsDanceFrontiers | SerendipityInstituteUK @SerendipityInstituteUK

Serendipity Artists Movement Ltd Company Number in England and Wales 07248813 Charity Number in England and Wales 1160035

box office

serendipity-uk.com +44(0)116 482 1394 #LDIF24

Event Type

Performance

Artist in Residence

Conference

Networking

Masterclass

Performance

Masterclass

Roundtable

Film

Masterclass

Roundtable

Performance

Masterclass

Roundtable

Networking

Performance

Date

29 April

29 April – 4 May

30 April

1 May

2 May

3 May

4 May

National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica

Cocktails and Conversation

Hidden Histories: Animated – Black Dance Voices

LDIF+ with Sharon Watson

National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica

Dance Dialogues with David Blake

LDIF+ with David Blake

Hidden Histories: Black Dance on Film Past and Present

Black British Dance Platform in Conversation

Dance Dialogues with L’Antoinette Stines

LDIF+ with L’Antoinette Stines

Signatures and Black British Dance Platform

LDIF+ with nora chipaumire, Yinka Esi Graves and Tyrone Isaac-Stuart

LDIF+ with Marlon Simms

LDIF24 Networking Event

Camouflage: Embodied Dance

Trance-fixed in Wonderland: Stranger Than Psy-Fi: Diana Amma Gyankoma Abankwah

LDIF24 Launch with Acosta Danza

Event

7.45pm

6.00pm

3.00pm

10.00am

7.45pm

3.00pm

10.00am

7.00pm

3.30pm

1.00pm

10.00am

7.45pm

2.00pm

10.00am

5.30pm

10.00am

Various Times

7.00pm

Time

Curve Studio

The Exchange

Dialogue Box

Curve

Curve Studio

Dialogue Box

Curve

Phoenix

Dialogue Box

Curve

Curve Studio

Curve

Phoenix

Various

City Rooms

Venue

£20 | £15 | £10

For invited guests and Serendipity Connect members

£10 | Free for Serendipity Connect Members

£30

£20 | £15 I £10

£10

£30

£10 | Free for Serendipity Connect Members

For invited guests and Serendipity Connect members

£10 | Free for Serendipity Connect Members

£30

£20 | £15 | £10

£30

For conference delegates and Serendipity Connect members

£80 | £70 Early Bird

Free

£20 | £18 Concession

Tickets