An IRIE! Takeover
Step into the rhythm and energy of IRIE! dance theatre as they take over The Dance Floor for an unforgettable celebration of Dance of the African Diaspora.
As the UK’s leading pioneers of African and Caribbean dance fusion, IRIE! invites you to move, connect, and be inspired. Through this community takeover you can experience high energy dance workshops for all ages, live performances from the next generation of talent, and joyful interactive sessions rooted in cultural and heritage.
Whether you want to dance along or sit back and enjoy, come celebrate community, creativity, and connection with us!
Saturday 28 November
1pm – 5pm
The Dance Floor
Sadler’s Wells East
Free and open to all
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Schedule
| 1pm – 1:20pm | Drumming session with IRIE! |
| 1:20pm – 1:50pm | IRIE! Youth Company Performance
IRIE! youth dance company celebrates African and Caribbean dance forms. Focusing on training, performance, and personal growth, empowering the next generation to express themselves and build confidence. |
| 2pm – 2:40pm | West African Live Music |
| 2:40pm – 3:20pm | Caribbean Dance Fusion workshop with Shea Best
Artist in Residence and Rehearsal Director Shea Best wears many hats with IRIE!. Along with being the company’s current Artist-in-Residence, he is a Dancer and Company Rehearsal Director with the performing company. With a Master’s in Choreography from Leeds Beckett University and ongoing studies in Creative Arts at the University of the West Indies, Shea’s experience seamlessly blends academic research with performance artistry. |
| 3:30pm – 3:40pm | IRIE! dance theatre BA (hons) Diverse Dance Styles Students Performance |
| 3:40pm – 4pm | African Dance Class Performance |
| 4pm – 4:40pm | African Dance workshop with Nii Kwartey Owoo
Associate Artistic Director, IRIE! dance theatre Nii Kwartey Owoo is a dynamic force in African dance and music, deeply rooted in his Ghanaian heritage. A percussionist, dancer, choreographer, and educator, he fuses traditional West African rhythms with contemporary expressions, creating powerful performances that celebrate African culture. His work often incorporates intricate movements, footwork, and gestures that tell stories of spirituality, history, and identity. |
| 4:40pm – 5pm | Boogie Down! with DJ |
About IRIE! dance theatre
IRIE! dance theatre is a pioneering organisation working at the intersection of African and Caribbean dance, contemporary performance, education, artist development, and cultural exchange. The organisation has played an important role in creating space for African and Caribbean dance forms within the UK’s professional dance landscape, while supporting artists, developing audiences, nurturing emerging talent, and creating opportunities for people to engage with dance through participation, performance, learning, and cultural celebration.
IRIE! continues to explore the richness and diversity of African and Caribbean dance traditions and their relationship to contemporary dance practice, creating work that is culturally rooted, artistically ambitious, innovative, relevant, and accessible.
