Community Dance Day: Sunday 16 March @ Key Theatre, Peterborough

10:00am - 9:00pm

Community Dance Day was a vibrant celebration of movement and its power to bring us together. Whether people chose to participate, watch, or simply be inspired, there was something for everyone - from traditional and contemporary workshops to performances and thought-provoking dance films.

This day-long event brought together local and visiting artists, community groups, and dance enthusiasts to explore movement, culture, and self-expression. The programme offered an exciting lineup of workshops, live performances, interactive sessions, and film screenings, all curated to showcase the joy and power of dance.

The day culminated in a finale—a one-night-only performance of The Rest of Our Lives by Jo Fong and George Orange. Dance is the only thing that will save us! 

Access Information

• BSL interpretation for all live events was an important part of Community Dance Day. Kirsty Dorkenoo interpreted all the workshops and Community Showcase and Katie Fenwick interpreted the finale show ‘The Rest Of Our Lives’.

• The film screening were fully captioned.

• All the rooms were wheelchair accessible. See access information for Key Theatre here.

• We had vegetarian snacks available.

Schedule:

Workshops (daytime)

Take part in public dance class workshops, led by local community and national professional dance artists across a range of styles. Join in, learn new moves, and explore the medium of dance.

Newcomers and experienced dancers are very welcome.

Everyone can give it a go, have fun and dance because everyone has a body

Workshops Include:

Lithuanian Dance Family Workshop (for all ages)
10:30am - 11:15am | Room: Swan Room | Capacity: 20 | Full price £5, Adult + child ticket £5 | Limited free tickets available

Come and try traditional Lithuanian dance with Snow Snieguole Maliavskaja, Irma Glavinkiene, and her group of traditional Lithuanian dancers. Aimed at families but suitable for all ages and abilities.

Classical Indian Dance Family Workshop (for all ages)
11:30am - 12:15pm | Room: Swan Room | Capacity: 20 | Full price £5, Adult + child ticket £5 | Limited free tickets available

Talented & enthusiastic dancers - kids as well as adults have trained under Monisha over the last 2 years, to perform and present stories, emotions, expressions and flexibility in the most gracious and rhythmic manner. Representing one of the oldest and most renowned Indian Classical Dance forms - Bharatanatyam!

Please note, under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Taking Up Space & Creative Writing with Yolanda Mercy (for ages 18+)
2:30pm - 4:30pm | Room: Studio Theatre | Capacity 20 | £5 per adult

Get ready to own the room, own your story, and own YOU! “Take Up Space: Celebrating You” is a bold, high-energy workshop designed to empower participants to unapologetically embrace who they are. With a focus on creativity, movement, and self-expression, this workshop offers a joyous, transformative experience that encourages people to physically and emotionally take up space. 

Led by the powerhouse Yolanda Mercy, an acclaimed writer, performer, and choreographer, with creative support from Varuna Naicker, this session is for everyone ready to step into their power, amplify their confidence, and unapologetically celebrate themselves. 

This isn’t your standard workshop. It’s an explosion of joy and creativity, packed with good vibes, inspiring moments, and an atmosphere that encourages celebration of self in the most dynamic way possible. Whether you’re there to reconnect with yourself, spark your creativity, or just soak up the energy of a room filled with unapologetic brilliance, this workshop is the perfect space to do so. 

Children's Creative Movement and Sensory Workshop with Chloe’s Dance Company (for under-18s only)
2:30pm - 4:30pm | Room: Swan Room | Capacity 20 | £5 full price | Limited free tickets available

Join Chloe for a fun and inclusive session for under-18s. This creative movement session focuses on the free-play side of dance encouraging silliness and self-expression through movement. Children will explore dance in an engaging and sensory-friendly environment, using props, music, and guided activities to inspire creativity and confidence. 

Line Dancing Workshop from Saddletramp (for ages 12+)
5:15pm - 6:00pm | Room: Swan Room | Capacity: 20 | £5 per person

Have fun and learn new steps in this relaxed and informal group workshop from Peterborough-based line dancing group, Saddletramp. Beginners are welcome.

Workshop Prices

All workshops are accessibly priced at £5 full price per person, with additional discounts available: Adult & Child (2for1) ticket £5, Limited free tickets (first come first served) for the Lithuanian Dance Class, Classical Indian Workshop and Childrens Movement Workshop.

For Taking Up Space & Creative Writing With Yolanda Mercy: If you’re struggling to access this workshop because of childcare, we have a childrens workshop happening at the same time which your child can access for free please contact Emily to arrange.

Community Dance Showcase (FREE - No Booking Required)

Time: 12:45pm - 2:00pm | Room: Studio Theatre | Cost: FREE

Enjoy a true spectacle of dance! Watch practitioners of Shiamak Bollywood Dance, along with Jenna Unwin and Faith Falayi from our recent Cypher project, and trained artists in Classical Indian and Lithuanian dance styles as they take to the stage and put on a fun and interactive show. Be sure to clap along, or join in from your seats.

All ages welcome.

Short Film Viewings - 18+ Only (FREE - No Booking Required)

Time: 12:00pm-7:00pm | Room: Spires Room | Cost: FREE | 18+ only

Step into the world of dance through films made by Peterborough artists. This special showcase presents a curated selection of films that explore the art of movement—ranging from experimental dance pieces to compelling documentaries that capture the passion, dedication, and stories behind the craft. These films will play on a loop throughout the day.  

• Film: Pióra - 7min 56 seconds

  Pióra is a film created in collaboration with Metal, UK and The National Institute of Music and Dance, Warsaw, following a two-week choreographic residency in Peterborough, and a weeklong residency in Poland with choreographer Kate Marsh and filmmaker Jay Gearing. The film is inspired by the unique collaboration between two Polish dancers, Dominika Feiglewicz and Patrycja Jarosinska, concentrating on love letters to themselves and their bodies, exploring female pressures, disability and expectations whilst coming together through friendship solidarity, and nature. 

• Film: The Space Inbetween (Berlin edition) - 7 min 31 seconds

  On November 16th 2019, The Space In-Between, Berlin edition took place. The evening was a celebration of, mess, musing, glitter and protest. The featured artists, from across the UK and Berlin, explored ideas of otherness through dance, live art and sound, film and discussion.  

  Curators: Kate Marsh, Amma Multer. 
  A production by METAL (UK) in collaboration with Sophiensaele as part of No Limits Festival Berlin (DE).

• Film: Cypher - 15 min 48 seconds 

  A package of films created during Jumped Up Theatre’s Cypher project in which spoken word artists collaborated with movement artists to explore and experiment with the synergy between the mediums. These films capture these works in progress. 

  (Please note: this does feature swearing.) 

  Filmed by Jay Gearing. Artists featured: Charley Genever, Sonny Nwachukwu, Monisha Roberts, Michael Riccardi, Faith Falayi, Jenna Unwin, Papiya Ganguly, Emily Abdeni-Holman, Malika Speaks and Tim Casson.   

• Film: By Dancing - 16 min 27 seconds 
  Commissioned by Jumped Up Theatre as part of Jo Fong's "How Shall We Begin Again?" project. The film follows four non-professional dancers as they prepare to perform solo on stage. This personal and emotional film explores the power of dance and the different ways it can impact a person and the way they see themselves.  

  Made by Emily Steele-Dias and featuring Ekta Patel, Emma Dalton and May Fadiora-Runsewe.  

• Film: The Northern Soul of Peterborough - 17 minutes 31 seconds 

  A short documentary film by One To One Development Trust about our project celebrating the Northern Soul scene in Peterborough in the 1970's. 

  It starts by capturing our recruitment day with students, where we explored the theme by drawing parallels to other youth culture and introducing them to the music and dance style.   The documentary then goes on to capture how we responded to the project being interrupted by the COVID pandemic, and how we adapted the project to result in a radio play, inspired by the oral history interviews of people who were part of the scene at that time. 

  The recordings of the interviews, plus transcriptions, and the radio series, are available on the Jumped Up website. 

FINALE - Live Show

The Rest Of Our Lives by Jo Fong and George Orange

Jo Fong from How Shall We Begin Again returns to Peterborough, with collaborator and clown, George Orange, with a joyful dose of dance, theatre, circus and games in this award-winning show for ages 12+.

SHOW TIME:
7:00pm - 8:30pm

TICKETS:
£15 Early Bird (available until Monday 3 March)
£20 Standard tickets
£10 Child, Unwaged or disabled
£0 Support Worker

About the Show:

Hopefully hopeful, The Rest of Our Lives is a cabaret of life and near death. Two middle-aged lives in an eclectic, spontaneous, predictable and random decline.

Jo is an old dancer, George an old clown. International artists with 100 years of life experience between them, armed with a soundtrack of floor-fillers, a book of raffle tickets and a sprinkling of eco-friendly optimism. Joyful, celebratory and hilarious.

The struggle is real.
It's the beginning of the end.
But we're still here.

"whatever your age, it will make you very happy indeed" - Lyn Gardner

Age Guidance: 12+. Contains middle-aged themes and strong language.
Duration: 80 minutes
This is an accessible event:
🧏 BSL
♿ Wheelchair Accessible venue
☮️ Relaxed performance

Contains audience interaction

How To Join Us & About the Venue

Key Theatre in Peterborough, Sunday 16 March.

Address:
Key Theatre
Embankment Rd
Peterborough
PE1 1EF

What3Words: solve.sketch.catch

Parking:
A public car park is available outside the Key Theatre - costs apply.

Inside The Venue:
Workshops, shows and viewings will be held in various spaces in the theatre building, including the Swan Room, the Studio Auditorium, and the Spires Meeting Room. Please see below for details.
Please note: the Key Theatre is a cashless venue.

Refreshments:
Light vegetarian refreshments will be provided (Gluten-free options available).
The Key Theatre’s Riverside Bar will be open so you can purchase any other refreshments you need.

Support Jumped Up Theatre so we can bring more events like this to Peterborough

If you can, please consider donating to our wider dance programme. With your support, we can bring greater movement and dance opportunities to Peterborough.

With thanks to Arts Council England for funding.