On Monday 1 July, the Windrush Project 2024 was presented, celebrating the 76th anniversary of Windrush. Six primary groups attended, each performing and sharing their celebratory dances.

This year marks the second installment of the Windrush Project, building on last year’s successful performance. In the previous event, 206 young people aged 6 to 15 from ten schools across Leeds participated. The performance was the culmination of six weeks of workshops with Phoenix dance artists, creating celebratory dance works inspired by the contributions of the Windrush generation and the rich history and culture they brought to Leeds. Participants also attended a workshop with local Caribbean artist Cleve Freckleton, to learn about Windrush’s history and take part in a body percussion piece with him. The event was an opportunity for all groups to come together and showcase their hard work and creativity on a professional stage. Tickets to both performances were free to allow as many people as possible to experience the dance works.

With funding from Hays travel foundation, this year saw six primary groups perform and share their celebratory dances, with Cleve Freckleton comparing the show and presenting Caribbean workshops for the young participants. Each performance highlighted themes of the Caribbean carnival, featuring music including Junior Senior’s ‘Move your Feet’ and Alisson Hinds’ ‘Togetherness’, emphasising the Windrush generation’s significance and their role in the development of the Leeds West Indian Carnival, the longest-running in Europe carnival. Through the Windrush Project, we acknowledge and celebrate the Windrush generation’s enduring legacy.

The Children had a fantastic day. All children were engaged and enjoyed the workshop too. It has built confidence in some of our children who would often find activities of this nature very daunting. The relationship that the teachers had with the children was great and that helped the children on the day when performing. The day was very well-planned, structured and organised which meant that it ran smoothly– Teacher

Many thanks for giving Year  3 the privilege of being part of this wonderful event. The practitioners and staff were wonderful. -Teacher

Broomfields School

Exploring the idea of an ocean voyage, the performance included the waving of multicoloured scarves showcasing the celebration of the contributions from the Windrush Generation.

Choreography: Hayley Graham

Accompaniment: Green Green Grass by George Ezra

Temple Learning Academy

A celebratory dance accompanied with colourful costumes and an array of group formations

Choreography: Jennifer Ruiz

Accompaniment: Move your Feet by Junior Senior

Atlas Primary School

A unifying and rousing group dance which made audience want to get up and join in

Choreography: Jennifer Ruiz

Accompaniment: Rollcall by TSU Terry, Mighty Mark, TT The Artist

Wykebeck Primary School

A happy dance indeed! A fun and physically percussive class piece ending with a close proximity group playing air trumpet

Choreography: Jennifer Ruiz

Accompaniment: Happy Dance by MercyMe

Meanwood Primary School

A soca-inspired celebration of togetherness!

Choreography: Shahada Nantaba

Accompaniment: Togetherness by Alison Hinds

Windmill Primary School

A dance exploring the idea that ‘Nothing can come between us!

Choreography: Shahada Nantaba

Accompaniment: Pieces by Patrice Roberts, Problem Child and Super Blue

 “Students worked really hard for several weeks in their school sessions with our Practitioners, creating whole class dances which expressed the many things they have learned about the themes surrounding Windrush. There was a buzz in the air on Windrush Day at Phoenix when all of these students came together (some of whom have never performed on stage before!). Cleve Freckleton made am exceptional contribution to this amazing atmosphere through his Caribbean workshops, story-telling and larger-than-life comparing of the final show.”– Rachel Thomson, Schools Lead