We’re taking a moment to spotlight our Windrush Project, an inspiring eight-week journey of creativity, collaboration and cultural exploration.

Supported by the Scottish Power Foundation, the project brought together 11 local school and college groups to work alongside our artists and educators, exploring the impact and legacy of the Windrush generation. Participants took part in music and history workshops and learnt new choreographic pieces. Through this, they discovered how the Windrush generation has helped shape modern Britain.

Through engaging history workshops led by Khadijah Ibrahiim and Melody Walker, students explored the stories and lasting impact of the Windrush generation. Alongside the history sessions, groups also took part in a music workshop led by Cleve Freckleton, who returned to work with us on this project to deliver sessions on Black British music.

History workshop with Khadijah Ibrahim 

The project concluded with two vibrant evenings at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, where each group performed their original choreographic works to an audience of family and friends. The celebrations also featured performances from two cohorts of our Phoenix Youth Academy, who joined the programme. Each performance showcased the students’ work from across the project, accompanied by music that traced the timeline and impact of the Windrush generation. From the fusion of Jamaican Reggae and British Punk that gave rise to Ska, to the evolution of UK dance music, the programme celebrated the connections between history, music, and movement.

Students performing at Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre

Our commitment

Founded in 1981, our company emerged at a time when the children of the Windrush generation were finding new ways to express their identities and experiences through dance. That legacy continues to inspire our work today, as we remain committed to creating opportunities for children and young people to explore their own stories through creativity and movement.

We’re excited to invite schools that were involved in the Windrush Project to watch our company perform at our Community Engagement Programme this autumn.

Our schools’ partnerships programme provides a range of learning opportunities, including projects like the Windrush Project and workshops based on Shadows, a prescribed work in the GCSE Dance Anthology. These experiences enable students to connect curriculum learning with professional artistic practice.

Read more about our Schools partnership programme here

With thanks to Scottish Power Foundation, Khadijah Ibrahiim, MelodyWalker , Cleve Freckleton, Xolani Crabtree, Daniella May Selwood, Tricia Arthur-Stubbs and Tanya Richam-Odoi

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