International Dance Day is celebrated yearly on the 29 April.

The intention of the International Dance Day Message is to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language – dance.

This message is exactly what Pawlet Brookes, Executive Artistic Director at Serendipity, is voicing out to craft the identity Serendipity’s diverse-led organisation. One of the ways she is doing this is by bringing diversity to the forefront through the dance programme at Let’s Dance International Frontiers Festival, which is also launched on International Dance Day.

This year, we will be joined by the ground-breaking ensemble led by the founder and visionary Jawole Willa Jo Zollar Urban Bush Women as they present a special mixed bill inspired by jazz greats. Their comeback last year at the LDIF16 was successful that is why we are bringing them back to launch the festival. Here are some of the audience member’s thoughts on Urban Bush Women last year:

“Tonight’s performance, amazing, the first piece ‘Walking with ‘Trane, the dancing was amazing, the individuality of all the dancers, and then the surprising group, unison choreography, the duet, the response to the music, the different references of different dance forms, and the amazing design. I mean the piano that turns into a track, it was so fitting, it brought tears to my eyes at some point, and I’m still trying to wonder why I felt the need to cry. But I’m sure; it hit me on so many levels. I have a lot to think about and reflect upon over the next few days.”

Funmi Adewole, Audience Member and Early Career Researcher at De Montfort University

 “Overwhelmed, speechless, inspired… literally I was like tense the whole time, because I was so engrossed as soon as the first female soloist walked in… I was like (breaths in) all of the adrenalin whilst I was watching, I couldn’t not look away, I was like into it the whole time, I was like don’t blink! I felt like I needed to catch every moment to experience the full effect, and the whole power that Urban Bush Women have, I feel so privilege to have seen it. I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

Mac, Audience Member

Joining the event is the Grammy award winning composer George Caldwell playing his original and masterful composition of John Coltrane’s work A Love Supreme – accompaniment to ‘Walking with Trane, Side B’ an extension of work presented at the festival last year from Urban Bush Women. George Caldwell is a world-renowned musician – an A-Lister within the Jazz community, and to have him play live music along with Urban Bush Women dancers is going to be spectacular.

The LDIF17 Launch is very important because it allows everyone to come together to jump start our unique dance programme consisting of exquisite performances, discussions and conferences, and workshops.

For more information and booking tickets, please click the link below:

http://www.serendipity-uk.com/events/ldif17-launch/