GROUNDATION: Roots in Caribbean & African Dance Workshop

With IRIE! dance theatre

📅 Date: Saturday, October 4th – Sunday, October 5th, 2025
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Acosta Dance Centre
💷 Price: £25 per participant (per workshop day), £45 2-day workshop

About the Workshop

GROUNDATION: Roots in Caribbean & African Dance is a vibrant, movement-based workshop inspired by the current IRIE! dance theatre production, GROUNDATION: Dancing from the Archive. Across two immersive days, participants will journey through a variety of traditional Caribbean and West African dances, each session rooted in culture, heritage, and the living archive of Afro-diasporic movement.

Guided by IRIE! dance theatre practitioners, you will be introduced to some of the oldest dance forms from the Caribbean and West Africa. You’ll experience the rhythms, stories, and histories behind these dances, with basic movement combinations adapted to all abilities. As the sessions progress, you’ll build up to more physically dynamic movements and complex choreographic sequences.

This workshop centres on collective learning, cultural exchange, and embodied storytelling. All levels, ages, and backgrounds are welcome—no dance experience required.

Learning outcomes include:

• Exploring Caribbean and West African movement languages featured in GROUNDATION: Dancing from the Archive.

• Understanding the fundamental principles and cultural influences shaping these dances.

• Deepening your awareness of Afro-Caribbean history and heritage while enhancing your performance and movement skills.

Workshop Schedule

Day 1: Caribbean Dance Roots

• Introduction & Welcome

• History and context of Caribbean traditional dances

• Learning basic steps, rhythm exercises, and storytelling through movement

• Progressive movement sequences

• Group sharing and Q&A

Day 2: West African Dance Heritage

• Warm-up and contextual talk: African roots and diasporic connections

• Introduction to West African traditional forms

• Techniques, combinations, and call-and-response formats

• Building towards group choreography

• Closing reflection and cool down

About IRIE! dance theatre

IRIE! dance theatre is a pioneering company in African and Caribbean dance, dedicated to preserving, teaching, and innovating in Afro-diasporic dance forms. Through educational programmes, performances, and cultural projects, IRIE! draws on rich archives of dance heritage to engage communities, empower participants, and keep living traditions alive on stage and in the studio.

Join us for GROUNDATION: Roots in Caribbean & African Dance and immerse yourself in the movement, music, and meaning of Afro-Caribbean heritage!