Black British Ballet presentation by Dr Sandie Bourne

Art & Culture

Black British Ballet presentation by Dr Sandie Bourne

Who gets to dance? Explore the struggle, triumphs and legacy of Black British ballet from the 1940s to today.

Discover the hidden history of Black British ballet, from overlooked pioneers denied opportunities in the UK to the trailblazers who broke the colour bar and transformed Britain's biggest ballet companies. Presented by Dr Sandie Bourne, PhD, the talk will be followed by a Q&A session.

For ages 11+

About the speaker:

Dr Sandie Bourne is an experienced dancer, choreographer and researcher, specialising in the historic under-representation of Black artists in British ballet institutions. Her other research areas cover Black British dance including traditional Caribbean and African dance, street dance and Carnival. She has toured the UK bringing the history of black dancers in British ballet to universities and audiences around the country. She is the producer of Island Movements, a short, Windrush themed ballet that explores the experiences of a Caribbean family that came to the UK in the 60s and toured the UK in 2023-24. Sandie also sits on the Executive Committee of the Society for Dance Research.

Time & date

Saturday 31 October 2026

Location

East Ham Library

Tickets

Free (registration required)
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