Black British Ballet at Suffolk Community Libraries

This event is part of the Black British Ballet project by Oxygen Arts. This project aims to fundamentally change the way that ballet is seen and operates in Britain. They are creating a range of products and activities to share the hidden history of black dancers in British ballet, bringing ballet to new and diverse audiences and driving change in the industry.

Throughout October, the following events will take place across Suffolk Community Libraries –

Into the Light exhibition –

Ipswich County Library, 3 – 28 October

The exhibition will include almost 30 images, posters and news articles from the past 60 years, video clips of the dancers' stories.

No booking required, just come along.

Onisere and the Ballet Queen -

Join Oxygen Arts at Ipswich County Library for a fun filled session of dance and storytelling to find out more about the Black dancers who blazed a trail through British ballet! ​Suitable for ​children aged 4-8 years.

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, Sandie Mae, who takes Onisere, and her annoying, football mad little brother Tayo, on a fantastical journey through the history of Black British ballet. A journey that begins in 1940s London, and takes in Glasgow, New York, Paris, Los Angeles and Johannesburg before landing back in the UK.

Ipswich County Library – Tuesday 28 October – 11am – 12.30pm. Click here to book.

Gainsborough Community Library - Tuesday 28 October – 2pm – 3.30pm. Click here to book.

Lowestoft Library – Wednesday 29 October – 11am – 12.30pm. No booking required, just come along.

Beccles Library - Wednesday 29 October – 2pm – 3.30pm. Click here to book.

Bury St Edmunds Library – Friday 31 October – 11am – 12.30pm. Click here to book.

Dance Workshop

Join our dance workshop at Ipswich County Library led by a professional dancer from Oxygen Arts, exploring ballet mixed with contemporary, African and Caribbean dance! This is followed by an informal Q&A with the dance instructor. Suitable for ages 7+. Children ​must be accompanied by an adult. No dance experience necessary – just come along and join the fun!

Ipswich County Library – Thursday 29 October – 11am – 12.30pm. Click here to book.

Gainsborough Community Library - Thursday 29 October – 2pm – 3.30pm. Click here to book.

Dance Photography Workshop

Come along to our practical group session at Ipswich County Library for budding photographers who want to learn more about movement and dance photography. Sony mirrorless cameras are provided, or participants can bring their own. We’ll also have a professional dancer on hand to practise with! Suitable for ages 14+

Ipswich County Library – Saturday 18 October – 11am – 1pm

Click here to book.

BOM Media VR Workshop

An engaging and accessible journey through the process of making the Black British Ballet virtual reality experience by the awarding winning BOM.

BOM (Birmingham Open Media) is an immersive arts organisation, empowering communities through innovation with immersive technology and inclusive learning programmes. We create award-winning experiences using VR, AR and games with a strong social purpose, and we're on a mission to diversify the immersive sector. We're passionate about the potential of immersive technologies to build social connections, support learning, and inspire creativity.

Online – Tuesday 7 October – 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Join via Google Meet - https://meet.google.com/zhb-uvkr-gdb