Dance as Memorial

Join us for a powerful two-part event blending dance, storytelling, music, and conversation.

Part one is an interactive dance workshop experience where you will 1) learn excerpts from an original memorial dance from an African-diasporic global perspective and 2) participate in a 'dance reasoning circle': be taken on a journey to tell your own story, contribute to a new devised choreography made in the moment talking to now.

Open to all ages and abilities. With music, and the option to take part in percussion and in an art workshop.

In the second part there will be a full performance of the memorial dance proceeded by the premiere of the new accompanying music video, followed by a roundtable discussion with members of the project team, reflecting on the project.

The event closes with a DJ set.

Free to attend. Limited spaces so please book in advance. Refreshments provided. This event is open to anyone. Under 16s should be accompanied by an adult.

Please note that this event considers themes of race and enslavement. This event is being produced by the Decolonising Memory project.

Timings
11am - 12.30pm  Interactive dance workshop and Art with Bolarinwa
1pm - 4pm            Performance of Memorial dance followed by food film screening and panel discussion. The event closes with a DJ set.

This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 6 - 15 November 2025. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.

Image Credit: George Netana