This autumn, the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD) will be staging an exhibition which will celebrate and document moments in the professional experiences of Black dance artists who have worked in Britain between the 1930s and the 1990s, writes Pamela Zigomo. The exhibition will feature artists and companies including Namron, Brenda Edwards, Carol Straker, Kenneth Tharp, Rambert and English National Ballet.
Key dance companies that have shaped Black Dance history such as Phoenix in the 1980s, Jiving Lindy Hoppers, Delado, Lanzel, Bullies Ballerinas, Badejo Arts, RJC and Union Dance will be featured. The exhibition will also look at how political discussions from reports such as Naseem Khans The arts Britain ignores, Arts Council Englands The Glory of the Garden and the formation of organisations such as MAAS (Minorities Arts Advisory Service) and the Manpower Services contributed to the formation of notable dance companies such as MAAS Movers, Ekome, Adzido and Kokuma. An education programme will run alongside the exhibition consisting of a series of oral history and dance workshops and performances as well as an evening of dance on film. ADAD hopes the exhibition will encourage more projects aimed at documenting the contribution of these dance artists to Britains cultural history.