Choreographed by the first black British graduate of the Royal Ballet School, Darren Panton, alongside Patrick Williams of the Alvin Ailey and Paris Opera companies, Island Movements is a thirty-minute ballet that tells the story of Windrush and explores its impact featuring original music by performance youth group Kinetika Bloco.
In the aftermath of World War II, a young Caribbean RAF pilot comes to Britain, after settling down and meeting his wife. The tale follows him and his family through their life in the UK up until the current Windrush scandal. The show tours to libraries and other public spaces as well as the Royal Opera House, and almost all performances are free to attend.
The show is part of the Black British Ballet project, delivered by Oxygen Arts, to create a suite of resources and events to share stories of black dancers in British ballet. The project is based on the PhD work of Dr Sandie Bourne, who specialises in the historic under-representation of black professionals in British ballet institutions.
An online archive will feature images and biographies of every black British dancer and choreographer who has had a career in professional ballet over the past century, with filmed interviews, which will form the basis of a feature-length film to be released next year.
Director Sandie Bourne said, “I am so excited to bring this show to communities around the country, especially those who may not normally get to see ballet, and to showcase our group of talented young dancers. The Black British Ballet project was created to demonstrate the important contribution made by black dancers to British ballet and to improve opportunities for future generations. Island Movements delivers on both fronts, while also shining a light on the experiences of the Windrush generation in the 75th anniversary year.”