The ‘Black British Ballet Exhibition’ will be hosted at Lichfield Street Hub Library, open now until July 30, 2025.
The exhibition will include 20 to 30 images taken over the past 60 years, archive posters, and audio and video clips of the dancer’s stories. The video clips will be sourced from interviews carried out by Oxygen Arts over the past 18 months with 20 black British ballet dancers.
There will also be a range of events and activities including reading, photography, ballet and creative writing workshops, and a ballet show curated by Oxygen Arts.
“ I am very excited we have this exhibition here in Walsall.
“Whether you are a ballet lover or new to it, these stories will be of interest and have an impact on everyone.
“I would encourage our resident to get down to the exhibition to learn about and connect to the history of Black British Ballet. “
Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Health and Wellbeing
At Lichfield Street Hub:
Creative writing workshop (90 minutes, 9 years old to adult)
Thursday July 24, 2pm
Taking some of the experiences of ballet dancers from the exhibition as its theme, this workshop will take students through a series of group and individual activities with a view to producing a final written response to the exhibition.
Onisere and the Ballet Queen book session (45-60 minutes, 4–8 year-olds)
Thursday July 24, 11am
Onisere wants to be a ballet dancer but there’s just one problem: she’s black and she’s never seen any other ballet dancers who look like her. Enter, the ballet queen, Simbira, who takes Onisere, and her annoying, football-mad little brother Tayo, on a fantastical journey through the history of black British ballet. A fun-filled session of dance and storytelling to find out more about the black dancers who blazed a trail through British ballet!
At Bloxwich Library:
Dance workshop (60-90 minutes, 7+ years old)
Thursday July 24, 11am
A dance workshop led by one of the dancers from the project, that could include ballet mixed with contemporary, African or Caribbean dance for all aged 7+, followed by an informal Q&A with the dancer/instructor.