Close To Home: The Mass Dance Event saw a cast of hundreds of dancers of all ages weave together real-life stories of migration, community, activism, history and the people of Lewisham through movement and music.
Directed by Alleyne Dance, a UK-based company co-founded by Kristina and Sadé Alleyne, in partnership with IRIE! dance theatre, Dance Umbrella and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Close To Home: The Mass Dance Event was a beacon to profile Black creative leaders in dance.
Constructed with members of Lewisham’s community at its heart, local community groups including Lewisham Mencap and Queens Walking Group, primary and secondary school pupils, and university students were joined by a cohort of professional dancers for a truly inclusive and joyous exploration of what the notions of home and belonging mean to us here in Lewisham.
Months of rehearsals culminated in a spectacular performance and a day of celebration on the grounds of Sedgehill Academy in Bellingham in October 2022.
Close To Home: The Mass Dance Event was directed by Alleyne Dance, and presented by We Are Lewisham in partnership with the Albany and IRIE! dance theatre, in association with Dance Umbrella and Trinity Laban. Co-commissioned by the Albany, IRIE! dance theatre and Lewisham Council as part of The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2022 – with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Photos by Ellie Kurttz.
We Are Lewisham was presented by Lewisham Council in partnership with the Albany as part of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2022.
