HACKNEY BHS 365 - Funded as part of Hackney Council's Black History Season.

On the 30th of October, we held a dance showcase in Hackney funded by Hackney Council in celebration of Black History Month. The show, titled “From Africa to Hackney,” explored a variety of dance styles and their cultural origins. We had six weeks to prepare with our dance workshops for kids aged 7-11, where performers participated in rehearsals, warm-ups, affirmations, and learning about music history.

THE JOURNEY

During the workshops, we encouraged the girls to create their own dance moves, this encourages teamwork, collaboration, and leadership skills while boosting their confidence. Our performance coach worked closely with each participant, identifying their strengths and weaknesses , supporting areas for improvement, and nurturing talent for solo and group performances. Together, we developed a structured plan for each workshop, ensuring every girl had the opportunity to grow creatively and personally. During each workshops we documented through photos and videos evidence some of this can be found on our instagram

BEHIND THE SCENES

Our Director worked tirelessly on the administrative side, liaising with parents, handling updates, and developing the visual concepts for the show. We chose green as our theme colour because it represents growth, creativity, and renewal. We wanted the participants to look glamorous and feel confident while performing. All staff have backgrounds in performing arts, so supporting the girls’ confidence through costume and styling was important to us.

Although our community hall is simple and dull we used the funding to completely transform the space.

We decorated the hall, covered chairs, set up backdrops, and added branded elements, including wristbands for guests and a dedicated table for our security team to assist with enquiries. With the help of our Executive Support, who also handled the balloons, we created a professional and uplifting atmosphere where everyone could feel proud and inspired.

THE PERFORMANCE

On the day, we ensured the girls were prepared, calm, and ready to perform. Many were nervous, which is completely normal, but they gained valuable life lessons in confidence and stage presence.

The show included choreographed routines and freestyle performances, allowing the girls to express creativity and personality. We also provided branded wristbands for attendees, awarded certificates to each participant, and organised a safe, enjoyable environment with volunteer support.

THANK YOU

We want to thank Hackney Council for funding the project, our community for attending, and everyone who supports dance education in Hackney. Most importantly, we celebrate the girls for their hard work, creativity, teamwork, and courage.