Phoenix Dance Theatre presents Inside Giovanni’s Room, a full-length dance production inspired by James Baldwin’s ground breaking 1956 novel Giovanni’s Room.
Set in 1950s Paris, Giovanni’s Room tackles themes of love, sexuality, guilt and self-acceptance. Baldwin was known for writing about the African American experience and was warned by his publishers that his exploration of sexuality identity and depiction of same-sex relationships could alienate his audience and potentially end his career. Today the novel is celebrated as one of the most important literary works of the 20th century.
To mark Baldwin’s 100th birthday, choreographer Marcus Jarrell Willis unpacks this thought-provoking novel in a narrative adaptation that examines how its themes are still poignant and relevant today.
Founded over 40 years ago by three young Black British men, Phoenix Dance Theatre’s new production builds on their legacy of pushing cultural boundaries and using dance as a platform to ask questions that get to the very heart of what it is to be human.
phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk
Enter a world of raucous entertainment as they launch this year’s festival with an evening of burlesque, cabaret and jazz dance. Join them at the speakeasy for a great night out. Featuring acts: Velvet Fox, Joss La Porta, Luke Arrowsmith and many more to be announced!
Velvet Fox is Liverpool’s premier Art Deco darling, burlesque ballerina and award-winning showgirl. Her acts are inspired by the bygone era of prohibition, the golden age of film and the elegance of traditional ballet. Velvet has performed throughout the UK and internationally with some highlights including: Ooh! La La Cherie, Switzerland; Nasty Boys Saloon, Italy; and Zum Starken August, Germany.
Joss La Porta isa dancer, performer and choreographer whose career to date is as diverse as the many hats (headpieces, masks, feathers, heels), he wears. The Father of The House of La Porta will be bringing his signature brand of Boylesque tease to their cabaret.
Gender f*ck with a campy flare, their third act is dancer, performer and Vogue Ball regular Luke Arrowsmith. Expect the unexpected; the clothes will be coming off and the performance will be one to remember!
This is an inclusive, LGBTQIA+ event, and everyone is welcome (18+).
Join Leap 2025 at Liverpool’s iconic Palm House to see performances by community groups from across Liverpool City Region. In 2024, we took over the World Museum and watched performers aged 4 – 80 dancing ballet, contemporary and jazz, alongside capoeira and dance from the African diaspora.
Performances will include: GODS (Growing Old Disgracefully), 50 Moves, Men! Dancing!, WOW Liverpool, MELT Dance, Fallen Angels, Movema, CREO Youth Dance, Dance Horizons and many more.
There’ll also be free, drop-in dance workshops to take part in throughout the day, offering visitors the chance to try something new (and maybe discover a hidden talent!)
Part of Leap Dance Festival 2025: https://www.leapfestival.co.uk/
Enjoy outdoor performances from the region’s leading dance artists. Expect to see larger than life characters across the city centre. Confirmed acts include:
Grace Goulding
Freddie Flashmob – Everybody Dance Now is a pop-up performance featuring 50 performers, all dressed as the iconic Freddie Mercury, in a joyous celebration of community togetherness through dance.
Birdcage Stage CIC
The Birdcage Stage bring their signature style of non-verbal visual theatre to Liverpool with a mesmerising spectacle of dance, acrobatics, clowning and aerial theatre.
The Queen of Hearts is a story of heartbreak, friendship, status games and silliness, fusing dance theatre, puppetry and costume art.
Follow the Queen’s subjects as they try their best to please her after no one turns up to her party. The Queen of Hearts is a fun show for the whole family reimagining what happens in Wonderland when Alice is nowhere to be seen!
Sponsored by Liverpool BID Company and Liverpool ONE.
See new work created by Liverpool-based artists from the African Diaspora:
Ithalia Johnson
Ithalia Johnson presents The Untold Stories of a Carnival Queen, a new piece exploring female empowerment, discrimination, bodily autonomy and sexual exploitation. The show will feature community performers from Dancing Queens.
Afro Dance Academy
A performance sharing African culture through movement, showcasing the richness and diversity of Afro dance styles, including Afro House, Afrodance, and Amapiano.
Ruvimbo Bliss Munodawafa
Musikana Webasa (House Girl) is a performance examining the role and treatment of young female domestic workers in Zimbabwe, using contemporary dance theatre to highlight issues of disparity, depression, loneliness, abuse, the traditional gaze, aims, hope, ambitions and dreams.
New works by Afro Dance Academy and Ruvimbo Bliss Munodawafa have been commissioned by Culture Liverpool, funded by UKSPF, for Leap Dance Festival.
Part of Leap Dance Festival 2025: https://www.leapfestival.co.uk/
An evening of new dance works, where movement intersects with the digital world…
5.30pm
Pei Yee Tong
A collaboration fusing dance live (contemporary and traditional Chinese styles), with spoken word and film by Noel Jones. The piece is inspired by the increase of hate towards Asian communities. during the pandemic.
6.30pm
Kudera + Mpearsonater
What have we become? Is a collaborative project with garment designer Alena Kudera, who has created wearable sculptures from landfill-bound fast fashion and single use plastic. The costumes inspired the movements of three dancers who will perform to an original score.
8pm
Mudanza Collective
The Loss of innocence is a performance by four dancers, exploring the hardship and heartache on the journey into adult/womanhood, and the potential of finding solace in community. Inspired by resilient female figures throughout history and in film, as well as martial arts.
Amy Milson
Unseen is a concept video exploring Amy’s experiences with Visual Impairment and Periventricular Leukomalacia, featuring three movement artists, and combines dance, music and spoken word. Co-commissioned by Culture Liverpool and DaDaFest for Leap Dance Festival.
All works shared are new commissions by Culture Liverpool, funded by UKSPF with additional support and collaboration via Leap and DaDaFest.
Part of Leap Dance Festival 2025: https://www.leapfestival.co.uk/
Movema World Dance charity are excited to bring back their annual, FREE, community get-together event “Big Union”, 11am-4pm on Saturday 22nd March 2025 at The Black-E, Great George Street, Liverpool city centre and everyone is invited!
The Big Union brings people together to celebrate our shared humanity by connecting through culture. The event will be bursting with exciting multicultural arts activities, bringing together Liverpool’s dynamic community arts organisations… and all for FREE! Try out different fun dance and music styles from around the world in friendly workshops, watch some performances from exciting city artists try some food from around the world and meet new people.
The Ultimate Pop Concert!
Get ready for a dazzling explosion of Music, Dance, and Excitement as Flowers and Friendship Bracelets takes to the stage!
Come and join them for the ultimate pop concert and celebrate the biggest hits from the hottest artistes of the moment.
Let’s ‘Shake it Off’ to our very own Taylor Swift; sing along to ‘Flowers’ with Miley Cyrus; dust off all our best dance moves to ‘Vampires’ with Olivia Rodrigo, and not forgetting the unstoppable Sabrina Carpenter performing all her top hits such as ‘Espresso’. Watch the girls delight the audience in this incredible concert with a huge pop party to finish the show.
Flowers and Friendship Bracelets creates unforgettable memories for children and families. This show is the Ultimate Concert Experience!
So grab your tickets today! … and don’t forget those friendship bracelets!
See you at the show!
Movema’s world fusion classes for everyone. Movema is a charity that bring communities together through high quality dance experiences.
The team run dance classes and events for people of all backgrounds and abilities, celebrating diversity and culture, and believe in the power of dance to make a difference!
Dance styles will include:
Chinese
Indian & Bollywood
Irish
African
Brazilian
and many many more.
These free sessions are for adults who identify as LGBTQIA+, with no prior dance experience necessary! The aim of this project is to get people dancing, create an inclusive space, and tackle isolation that LGBTQIA+ people may experience in other areas of their lives.
Each week you will learn a new dance sequence to iconic pop hits.
Studio 2 Arts Bar Hope Street L1 9BY
Tuesdays, 7pm – 8pm
FREE (booking recommended)
LGBTQIA+ people from across the Liverpool City Region are all welcome. Join them for a fun and inclusive class that will help you stay fit and active!
Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund and ACC Liverpool.
