Vanguard | Issue 7 | Winter 2022/2023

SERENDIPITY PUBLICATIONS

Serendipity seeks to safeguard the legacy of those who have come before, document knowledge for the future and present a bigger picture of arts and heritage beyond that dominated by the EuroWestern gaze Shop the full catalogue

EDITOR'S WELCOME

P a w l e t B r o o k e s M B E

Welcome to this edition of Vanguard This issue has the spirit of Sankofa, as we take an opportunity to look back on the highlights of 2022 whilst taking a glimpse forwards to 2023

This year we celebrated a return of a full inperson programme for Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2022 (LDIF22), as well as a full programme of pilot events for the development stage of Unearthed: Forgotten Histories which saw the start of our Young Archivists course and a thoughtprovoking series of encounters exploring Independence, taking us from Windrush Day through to Black History Month

In this copy of Vanguard we look at one of the many hidden stories of the Midlands, The Countee Family and their legacy. From stumbling across a photograph online what unfolded was a fascinating history of a local family against the backdrop of Victorian, Edwardian and post-war Leicester We have been fortunate enough to have access to photographs, posters and a beautiful autograph book that have been treasured by the descendants of the family over many years

The recent census results place Leicester as one of the first “super-diverse” cities. One of the fastest growing communities is people identifying as having African heritage, who made up 6 3% of Leicester’s population in the 2021 census Unearthed: Forgotten Histories has created an opportunity to highlight the underacknowledged African presence in the Midlands and the disappearing Caribbean community adding texture, context, and depth to a highly sophisticated contemporary history

For those who have been on the journey with Serendipity, they will know that technology is close to our hearts as a tool to bring people together and break down barriers We are delighted to share a little sneak preview into a project for the Black Digital Dance Revolution working with researchers at the Creative Institute for Technology, De Montfort University and Antoine Hunter, a dancer and choreographer known for sharing his passion for Deaf culture

As we come to the transition from one year to the next, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support by building new and exciting opportunities to connect with and beyond Vanguard

Image Credit: Pawlet Brookes Photographer Matt Glover

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is currently curating the digital archive collection of items that chronicle the movement of the Countee family from the 1870s to present day Leicestershire, UK

Francis Nelson Countee was born into slavery in Loudoun County, Virginia, USA After escaping to Canada Countee travelled to the UK as a Methodist preacher, eventually settling in Leicester with his wife and children. Reverend Francis Nelson Countee became wellknown, often speaking to large audiences around the country about the horrors of slavery and delivering sermons on behalf of the Temperance movement He would also compose and perform songs, starting a legacy of performing arts that would continue through generations to come His grandchildren, George Frederick Countee and Frances Mabel Countee, were popular music hall artists in the early 1910s performing as ‘Fred and Flo’ and ‘the Two Countees’

The Collection

Due to this success, descendants of the Countee family have a collection of photographs, posters, ephemera, certificates and an original autograph book documenting their family legacy reflecting the Temperance movement in the latter half of the 1800s through to the decline of the music hall scene in the 1920s This collection captures the individuals in often seen situations, questioning perceptions of class, race and the social conventions of the time.

The Countee legacy is a story of mixed heritage marriage and how the following generations have navigated life and work

The Reverend Countee’s public performances were in the form of sermons and lectures at various gatherings to support the Temperance movement in the late 1800s Temperance societies preached the virtues of moderation and abstinence from alcohol. Indeed, when Reverend Countee and his wife Maria died they were noted as an ‘evangelist’ and a Bible woman respectively One could wonder what they would make of their grandchildren who would go on to entertain crowds with song and humour in music halls and bars that would sometimes have a reputation for rowdy and risqué entertainment

Image Credit: Double act 'Fred and Flo' (George Frederick Countee and Florence Gertrude) 1919 Photographer: unknown Courtesy of Allan Countee

The Importance of Unearthing Local Histories

Local histories have a role to play in contemporary society; they allow one to access the changing and hidden demographic of an area This then raises questions as to why these communities can be found in the Midlands Was it due to the war, jobs, culture ,etc.? What does this then tell us about the region, its people, their wealth and education How did they dress? What part of the city/village/town did they live? Are they house owners?

Assumptions can be made that the documentation of the Countees exists because of the nature of their professions and the fact it has been preserved is due to the care and dedication of the family, the owners of the collection The newspaper cuttings, reviews and the posters paint a picture that sparks curiosity and prompts more questions

How we can unearth further histories about the less flamboyant Black individuals and families who would not have had a poster on display outside theatres and clubs across the country or have publicity shots housed in national music hall archives?

This is where the Living Archive and similar projects can make a difference. The use of digital technology will play a key role in giving more opportunities for preserving histories, such as those of the descendants of Reverend Francis Nelson Countee, by keeping the personal physical archive with the custodians, and providing wider access to personal archives via digital platforms that would otherwise remain unseen

Image Credit: Mabel Countee W Grefy, Photographer, Bolton

Courtesy of Diane Clafton and Richard Elkington

More than Windrush - Legacy and race in contemporary British society

What can the unearthing of these rich local histories inform us about Black presence in British cities that is more than Windrush and scholarly history books, to provide more accurate perspectives on mainstream narratives about race in the UK? What can they tell us about how society has changed and Britain’s historical and economical relationship with not only the Caribbean, but the legacy of the Commonwealth, the US and beyond?

Bringing these stories to life, stories that hide in plain sight, can resonate with people of all heritages and sit comfortably alongside the legacies of Windrush as part of British history as a whole

Image Credit: Mabel Elkington (nee Countee) with husband William Elkington and children Charles and Beryl

circa 1916 Photographer: unknown Courtesy of Diane Clafton

Perception: the Countees of Leicester

There is an opportunity to explore the Countee’s hidden history. From January 2023 to April 2023 Serendipity will be showcasing personal stories of migration, settlement and identity at the Leicester Museum and Gallery

This exhibition explores the fascinating history of a local family against the backdrop of Victorian, Edwardian and post-war Leicester, using photographs, ephemera and documents that create a more complete collective and historical picture of the Midlands Long treasured by the family, this is the first time that many of the archival items have been exhibited publicly

With thanks to Diane Clafton, Richard Elkington, Allan Countee and their families, this exhibition is a part of a growing living archive that brings to light untold stories through the use of archival images from the Countee Collection housed at Serendipity The Living Archive is a new digital archive hub for the Midlands

(In partnership with Leicester Museums and Galleries Supported with funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, Leicester City Council and Arts Council England)

Perception:

Image Credit: Florence Countee and William Carver Bott with children Lucy Ethel and George William Circa 1910, photographer unknown Courtesy of Allan Countee

the Countees of Leicester Leicester Museum and Gallery, New Walk, Leicester United Kingdom

Tuesday 10 January – Friday 21 April 2023

BOOKS

HOODS TY'RONE HAUGHTON

Haughton's debut book includes poems that explore childhood, manhood and fatherhood And how the quality of the former affects the latter Buy online

PHOTOGRAPHY: RACE, RIGHTS AND REPRESENTATION MARK SEALY

Featuring analyses of work by black photographers in the UK and internationally, interviews with key figures and personal reflections on the changing landscape of photography, Sealy explores the past, present and future of decolonial visual practIce Buy online

THE ADVENTURES OF A BLACK EDWARDIAN INTELLECTUAL THE STORY OF JAMES ARTHUR HARLEY PAMELA ROBERTS

This meticulously researched book tells Harley's unknown story from humble Antiguan childhood, through elite education to the turbulent England of World War I and the General Strike Buy online

AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN PEOPLE IN BRITAIN HAKIM ADI

The history of African and Caribbean people in Britain is often reduced to when the Empire Windrush arrived in 1948, but acclaimed historian Hakim Adi demonstrates that from the moment humans arrived in Britain, there have been African and Caribbean men and women set at it's heart Buy online

BLACK ENGLAND GRETCHEN GERZINA

Black England tells the dramatic and moving stories of the Black community in Georgian England Whether prosperous citizens or newly freed slaves, their tales have been ignored for too long Buy online

YOUNG ARCHIVISTS

Aderonke Omotosho

2022 saw the pilot of the Young Archivists programme delivered by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage. A resource developed to change the landscape of career opportunities for those underrepresented in the heritage sector

The Pilot

This pilot took place in July 2022 over four intensive days delivering modules covering:

Oral History, providing the fundamentals of interviewing, ethics and good practice. Delivered by East Midlands Oral History Archive

Documentation and Legacy Through Diverse Eyes, delivered by Sandra Shakespeare, founder of the Black British Museum Project and Museum X Exploring contemporary archive projects in the UK that are reinterpreting the historical and colonial context of some long-forgotten collections, aiming to change the gaze and notions of ownership of history through co-creation workshops

Unpacking Heritage Policy with an overview of key cultural policies in the last century that have shaped the current arts and heritage sector

Heritage-specific Marketing and Technology with Mel Larsen, Copyright and Licensing with Naomi Korn, and Good Digital Preservation in Archiving with Stacey Anderson from The Box, Plymouth

96.7% 87.5%

of the workforce in Libraries, Archives and Records identify as ‘white’, compared with of the general working population

UK Labour Force Survey statistics

12 Image credit: Young Archivists Pilot Programme 2022 Courtesy of Serendipity

he programme also included visits to hibitions and archive collections, giving pportunities to interrogate different ways of rating and talking about work by Black tists Participants visited Mónica de randa, The Island at Autograph, London d Hew Locke, The Procession at Tate itain, London

chive tours included a talk at Tate Archives d Reading Room at Tate Britain as well as e Stuart Hall library with Tavian Hunter, brary and Archive Manager at Iniva This as a great opportunity to connect with chivists, cultivate support for the initiative d prospect for future opportunities for the hort.

aluation

hen recruiting participants, it became parent that the term ‘young’ had to be erpreted beyond chronological age The tionale behind the course was the lack of ack, Asian and Latinx archivists in the orkforce, with the percentage getting less d less further up the leadership ladder This ck of diversity was also reflected in the lunteers in the heritage sector

e are still catching up and ‘young’ could ecome interchangeable with the word ‘new’, ferencing those that are new to the sector archiving for historical reasons A note to e sector as a whole

s well as providing high quality practical aining to those who attended, Young chivists was a great opportunity to listen, arn and identify the current needs of otential heritage workers

Image credit: Young Archivists Pilot Programme 2022 Courtesy of Serendipity

This will be an annual programme, welcoming new participants as a one-off course as well as integrating with existing modules in established heritage courses. As we develop these opportunities for mentorship, training, volunteering and HE progression, we can build strong connections with other organisations that will support diverse workers in the sector, bridging the gap that is lacking in traditional and established spaces

Cohort feedback

Feedback from this year’s cohort is crucial for the developing the programme for future cohorts

The Young Archivists programme was successful in:

Educating participants about retrieving and organising Black archival material including the method, theory and practice of archiving in relation to ethnic minorities Identifying issues specific to underrepresented backgrounds that require further investigation and development Issues such as analysing Eurocentric curations of Black history and discovering stories that are not being shown

Highlighting the importance of networks and connections to reduce feelings of isolation in the field and how to foster a sense of empowerment by discussing issues that usually get minimised or dismissed

Connecting participants with current archivists to demystify what a career in archives could be and highlighting what opportunities are available in the sector

References

CILIP and the Archives and Records Association (2015) A study of the UK information workforce: Mapping the Library, Archives, Records, Information Management and Knowledge Management and related professions in the United Kingdom Edinburgh CILIP/Archives and Records Association

Lawton R Fujiwara D Szydlowska A Lagarde A Radosevic D Arber M van Emmerik I (2021) Heritage and the Value of Place London Historic England available here [Accessed: 05 January 2023]

Interview

What motivated you to take part in the Young Archivists?

As a British Asian, from Leicester, it was a good opportunity for someone from an ethnic background who has training in libraries to build up on current skills It’s also great to be around people from a similar background as libraries are 96 7% white and archives are even less diverse It’s the first time I’ve ever been surrounded by people like me who have a similar upbringing whilst talking about and looking at our culture and at new perspective moving away from the mainstream gaze (The programme) gave us room to offer our own perspectives in a supportive environment. and it was brilliant to share career goals, experience and development (The programme) was a supported and safe space, a great experience

Has it changed any of your ideas about the sector?

It was great to meet experts who were Black women with their own consultancies and to see how they had done that I could quantify a lot of the knowledge I already had and I could build upon my past experiences, reinforce that knowledge and identify ways in which to develop them.

Daljit Kaur Rai, Young Archivist alumni, talks to Heritage Project Manager, Aderonke Omotosho about her experience on the pilot programme and how she sees her career path taking shape

AO DR AO DR 16 Image credit: Young Archivists Pilot Programme 2022 Courtesy of Serendipity

Any highlights from the course?

I really enjoyed the tasks set by Sandra Shakespeare and Mel Larsen on reassessing archival material and marketing in arts and heritage. This gave us the challenge to see how we would curate and promote an exhibition We chose 'Africa Before the Pain', using Congolese artwork with VR headsets to explore how we could bring the exhibition to life for a Black History Month event I was able to share my experience and develop knowledge and thinking from a less Eurocentric perspective

Your ambition?

My main aim right now is to complete my MA and my research on methodology that quantifies the lack of diversity on the shelves of the academic libraries Now that I realise the opportunities from doing a PhD, I would like to take this research further However rather than just recommending reading lists, I will look at how to decolonise libraries and the organisation of information I was doing this before Young Archivists but it has given me the encouragement to take it to PhD level. My ambition? To be the first British South Asian director of a UK university library. If more of us sit at the top we can make changes

Daljit Kaur Rai has a BA Hons in Ancient History and Archaeology and worked with Trent and Peak Archaeology Trust Rai then spent six years working in academic libraries and was De Montfort University's first Decolonising the Curriculum library trainee Rai is now completing an MA in Librarianship and plans to go on to complete a PhD.

UNSPOKEN: AFRICAN DIALOGUES

The overarching aim of the Oral History Archive Project in the East Midlands is to recognise and celebrate the rich diversity of the Black British population in the UK This emanates from the broader Black British migration story that has the perception of being somewhat eclipsed by the Caribbean immigrants (Windrush, but it’s not the whole story) with Africans at the periphery from a British commonwealth perspective This was a development that would inadvertently place the African and Caribbean immigrants of post-war Black British history within a skewed and distorted narrative which tends to conflate Africans with Caribbean immigrants This discourse does not only obscure the complex role of difference between Africans and Caribbeans, but also trivialises the diversity of sub-Saharan Africans who are inclined to be viewed as monolithic communities.

Using the East Midlands as a case study, the project will seek to illustrate why African Diasporas should not be understood as a homogenous community within a diverse British Black population. And why the East Midlands? The focus on the region is an essential part of the decentralisation of the understanding of Black British history that veer on major cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester

D r C h r i s t o p h e r R o y Z e m b e

The archive will open conversations on what multiculturalism or Blackness means to an African within the evolving British Black immigrant population Within the British multicultural context, it is an archive that will be accessible to both the public and those interested in African Diaspora research and will be a platform that celebrates and appreciates the diversity within the Black immigrant community in Britain It will not only create awareness of the diversity of Africans, but also trigger a consciousness on why Black Diaspora communities should forge community social interactions that have continued to coexist with limited social interactions

As Africans and Caribbeans we need to deal honestly with our historical experiences that have been manipulated by the imperial powers and racist ideologies to divide us, resulting in the existence of community bubbles To attain such significant deliverables, the project’s outcome will therefore not be restricted to abstract interviews, but also promote the visibility of Africans in the East Midlands with a festival and exhibition focusing on the African continent. The diverse African that will be on display will include music, dance, crafts, cuisine, traditional religions, and entrepreneurship

This initiative will give value and voice to that unspoken dialogue that has been silent for too long Unspoken: African Dialogues offers the opportunity for intergenerational, gender and social class perspectives to be shared giving that voice to the unspoken

HAPTIC TECHNOLOGY IN DANCE

G e o r g i n a P a y n e

Black Digital Dance Revolution (BDDR) is a nationally significant project that aims to combine the digital and physical aspects of dance

Working with regional partners, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage will host an artist residency to explore the role of technology in dance practice This will look at how we can push the boundaries of technology such as computers, mobile phones and haptics away from their original intention through dance and movement It will challenge these technologies, seeking to find purposeful ways for it to be used to document, archive and showcase Black dance and artists

Image credit: Antoine Hunter Courtesy of Serendipity

The main focus will be on haptic technology and how it can meet the needs of d/Deaf dance artists and choreographers Haptic technology is already an effective tool for tactile gaming experiences so the hope is that by using an audio-based system, we can acknowledge a new interaction between the technology itself and the music being played This should allow the user to create and perform in a way never achieved before Award-winning dancer, choreographer and deaf advocate, Antoine Hunter will be using this new system for the first phase of the project The San Francisco based artist will explore the technology, responding to the vibrations passed through the cuttingedge Haptics suit

'I live in a world that doesn't give me access [but] I still have found a way to create dance and to feel very free when I dance with or without music in a space the freedom is related more to my health, my spirit ' - Antoine Hunter

Haptic technology imitates a sense of touch by using tactile sensations that help stimulate parts of the body This field is rapidly growing and becoming more popular in our everyday lives and devices; the market is expected to grow by $15.84/£13.86 billion between 2021 and 2025 ¹ (XR today, 2022) as we’re likely to already be using this technology every day without realising it It creates the vibration function in our mobile phones and games controllers helping it become the go-to technology with ‘touch as the most fundamental method of interaction, which then creates memorable experiences ’² (Mass Challenge, 2021)

Technology is renowned for evolving and advancing, which to those not in the tech community could feel like it’s all happening all too quickly We discusswith friends, colleagues, family, and even those helping the grandparents/ elder generation - about the latest models. We deliberate the pros and cons and question whether the new features are worthwhile But as technology evolves, so do we and our understanding of its purpose

The work we’re doing in Black Digital Dance Revolution seeks to propose a new perspective and appreciation for this technology and most importantly provoke some much-needed conversations around the possibilities for performing artists

Image credit: Antoine Hunter Courtesy of Serendipity

UNCOVERING THE DANCE WITHIN: ORIGINS AND AUTHENTICITY

For 2023, Let's Dance International

Frontiers will explore the theme of Uncovering the Dance Within: Origins and Authenticity

The festival will feature a range of dance techniques and practice, examining their history and heritage as well as honouring their legacy.

To launch the week and celebrate International Dance Day and International Jazz Day, we present a new commission that explores the shared history of tap and jazz, where the lines blur between dancer and musician as they meet in conversation This world premiere will bring together Soweto Kinch, respected saxophonist, composer, poet and MC, Lee Payne and Annette Walker, two leading figures in a new generation of British tap dancers, Freddy Houndekindo, accomplished movement director and choreographer based in Sweden and Cameron McKinney, founder of Kizuna Dance, based in the US

Book now for the World Premiere

The programme also offers opportunities to participate in dance and discussion Our annual conference and the Dance Dialogues series includes contributions from Gladys M Francis, Thomas Talawa Prestø, Antoine Hunter, Alexandria Davis, Anita Gonzalez and Tia-Monique Uzor

Tickets now available online

As the finale to LDIF23, we are delighted to present the UK Premiere BLACK HOLE: Trilogy and Triathlon a multidisciplinary performance choreographed by the award-winning movement artist Shamel Pitts Co-created and performed by his Brooklyn-based arts collective TRIBE, they aim to bring the audience and community into experiences that humanise Black bodies and share the colourfulness within Blackness that allows us to be multiplicitous

Access the full LDIF23 programme

Image credit: Christopher Photographer Melika Dez

MASTERCLASSES

For LDIF23 we are delighted to be working in partnership with Zinnema and Tabanka Dance Ensemble as part of an exchange programme

This year's masterclasses cover a range of techniques rooted in the richness of the African and African Caribbean Diaspora.

THOMAS PRESTØ

MASTERCLASSES AND THEORY SESSIONS

Sunday 30 April- Saturday 6 May

SHAMEL PITTS

Wednesday 3 May, 1 00pm – 3 00pm

FREDDY HOUNDEKINDO

Wednesday 3 May, 3.30pm – 5.30pm

CAMERON MCKINNEY

Friday 5 May, 11.15am – 1.15pm

ANTOINE HUNTER

Friday 5 May, 2 00pm – 4 00pm

Full details online

Image credit: Freddy Houndekindo Photographer: Thomas Zamolo

SERENDIPITY UPDATE

We are so proud of Pawlet who received her MBE on Wednesday 16 November at Windsor Castle in recognition of her services to the arts and cultural diversity.

PAWLET BROOKES MBE

ADERONKE OMOTOSHO Heritage Project Manager

SYDNEÉ THOMPSON Events Coordinator

GEORGINA PAYNE Digital Innovation Project Manager

HEATHER SAUNDERS Membership Coordinator

BENOY MATHEW Finance Officer

JUDY LIPSEY Publicist

AMY GRAIN Administrator

ASHLY STANLY Administration Assistant

EVENTS

PERCEPTION: THE COUNTEES OF LEICESTER

LEICESTER MUSEUM, LEICESTER, UK

TUESDAY 10 JANUARY 2023 – FRIDAY 21 APRIL 2023

Migration, diversity and Leicester heritage are a recipe for a rich explosion of culture all of which is showcased in this enlightened exhibition that highlights difference, belonging and place.

Perception: The Countees of Leicester explores the fascinating history of a local family against the backdrop of Victorian, Edwardian and post-war Leicester, using photographs, ephemera and documents to create a more complete picture of life in the Midlands This exhibition reveals a performing arts dynasty that can be traced back to Methodist preacher

Reverend Francis Nelson Countee and his son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Eliza Countee, music hall stars known as “The Two Countees”

Full details

BLACK WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM

NORTHERN SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE

THURSDAY 23 AND FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2023

Two days of inspiring and insightful conversation, exploring how we can collectively increase and support diversity in leadership today. Focusing on actionable change, this symposium is for aspiring leaders, those currently in leadership roles and individuals interested in diversity & inclusion, in any sector Including panel talks and roundtable discussions on a range of themes including health & wellbeing, allyship and creative activism, with guest speakers and contributions from individuals across the worlds of business and the arts

Full details

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACKS IN DANCE FESTIVAL

WEDNESDAY 25 - SUNDAY 29 JANUARY 2023

ONTARIO, CANADA

In partnership with Dance Immersion, the International Association for Blacks of Dance (IABD) presents the 33rd annual international conference and festival This year's theme is GLOBALLY CONNECTED: WHAT DOES OUR TOMORROW HOLD?

Bringing together Black Dance professionals, agents, artistic directors, artists, choreographers, company managers, executive directors, historians, presenters, scholars and teachers, this event promises a diverse environment to share ideas, cultures and experiences

Full details

CHANGO AFRO-LATINE SHOWCASE

24 FEBRUARY 2023

7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

CRAMTON AUDITORIUM, HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON DC, USA

This event is meant to celebrate Afro-Latine culture on a grand stage here at Howard University The program will include dance performances, a runway to display pieces from Afro-Latine designers, musical guests, and more

More information

BALLET BLACK: PIONEERS

WEDNESDAY 8 - SUNDAY 12 MARCH 2023

BARBICAN THEATRE, LONDON, UK

Now in their 21st year, this acclaimed ballet company presents award-winning choreographers Will Tuckett and Mthuthuzeli November in a captivating double bill of new and original work.

Following regular sold-out runs, Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black returns to our stage with this thrilling and imaginative double bill Will Tuckett's Then Or Now, originally created in 2020, blends classical ballet, music and the poetry of Adrienne Rich to ask the question: in times like these, where do we belong?

Full details

BREAKIN' CONVENTION - INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HIP HOP DANCE THEATRE

SATURDAY 30 APRIL - SUNDAY 1 MAY 2023

SADLER'S WELLS, LONDON, UK

Sadler’s Wells’ annual festival of hip hop dance theatre is back for its 19th year! Platforming cutting-edge street dance, rooted in the streets and represented on stage, from around the world and around the corner

Expect astounding dancers, banging beats and an atmosphere unlike anything else in the theatre, with a friendly and inclusive vibe that will excite and entertain the whole family. More about the event

LET’S DANCE INTERNATIONAL FRONTIERS 2023 LAUNCH DANCE INSIDE THE MUSIC – WORLD PREMIERE

SATURDAY 29 APRIL, 7 00PM

MERCURE LEICESTER – THE GRAND HOTEL, LEICESTER, UK

Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2023 returns with another unique launch event to celebrate International Dance Day (29 April) and International Jazz Day (30 April) and embracing this year’s theme Uncovering the Dance Within: Origins and Authenticity

More about the event

LDIF23 - UNCOVERING THE DANCE WITHIN: ORIGINS AND AUTHENTICITY CONFERENCE

TUESDAY 2 MAY, 10 00AM – 5 00PM

CURVE THEATRE, LEICESTER, UK

The theme for both the festival and conference for Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2023 is Uncovering the Dance Within: Origins and Authenticity, focusing on dance techniques coming out of the African and African Caribbean Diaspora, their connections to geography, location, heritage, history and people The conference will celebrate artists and practitioners who have reimagined and provided vision and reflection to little known techniques, forms and approaches to dance. What do we mean by embodied practice? What does it mean to be authentic in dance? How do we map dance practice within and beyond the confinements of geography? How do we recognise African and African Caribbean Diaspora influences?

More about the event

COCKTAILS AND CONVERSATION WITH GLADYS M FRANCIS

SATURDAY 6 MAY, 5 00PM – 6 30PM

MANHATTAN 34, LEICESTER, UK

Gladys M Francis is Associate Dean for Academic Student Affairs and the Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University In this role she establishes infrastructures to support experiential learning to ensure that all the students in the College of Arts and Sciences benefit fully from Howard’s location in the nation’s capital, as well as globally

More about the event

Image credit: Black Hole - Tribe Photo by The Adeboye Brothers