Signatures and
the Black British
Dance Platform

Part of Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2026 (LDIF26), SIGNATURES AND BLACK BRITISH DANCE PLATFORM are two dynamic launchpads that celebrate the creativity of emerging and establishing choreographers and dancers in the UK and internationally.

Audiences will experience a mixed-bill of bold and original performances, spanning local, national and global perspectives. The programme champions innovation, technique and artistic integrity, showcasing work that pushes the boundaries of dance and engages audiences with fresh ideas and distinctive voices.

SIGNATURES and the BLACK BRITISH DANCE PLATFORM offer a unique glimpse into the future of dance, spotlighting the talent that will shape tomorrow’s cultural landscape. The platforms are produced by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage with support from FABRIC and Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

SIGNATURES

QUILT
CDT Jamaica Choreographed by Renée I McDonald (Jamaica)

QUILT explores three connected stories – one of love, trust and abandonment; one of isolation, identity and the journey to self-love; and one of freedom from pent up emotions and energy through divulgence. The trio is choreographed by Jamaican choreographer, Renée I McDonald and takes the audience on an intimate journey of human experiences through modern dance, dynamic music and minimalist lighting.

SENDING UP MY TIMBER
Choregraphed by Alexandria Davis (USA)

SENDING UP MY TIMBER draws from the Black American blues and gospel tradition, referring to the construction of a heavenly home through good deeds, faith and prayer. What technologies of spiritual communion have supported Black communities throughout history, and how might they influence access and the construction of a collective future when material conditions restrict our access to one another?

FIREFLY
Tebandeke Joseph (Uganda)

Firefly is a solo dance performance born from the lived experience of Ugandan artist Tebandeke Joseph, a disabled Black performer navigating the intersection of body, identity and society. Raised in a society that viewed disability as source of shame, Firefly is his personal and political declaration of resilience. It transforms individual pain into collective empowerment, shedding light on the strength and beauty found within us.

MARES
Perspectives Collective Choreographed by Amari Webb-Martin and Roshaan Asare (UK)

Emerging from a shared unease and anger at the severe injustices of the world, Mares draws on the word “nightmares” and reimagines the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse through four female-identifying dancers. Their bodies become vessels of urgency and resistance, moving with relentless drive, fierce unisons and intricate musicality. The work navigates the tension between despair and resilience, asking what hope can be carved from today’s darkness.

BLACK BRITISH DANCE PLATFORM

TOGETHER
Choreographed by Douglas Thorpe (UK) Performed by Imogen Wright and Kadafi Mulula

An explosive contemporary duet driven by pulse, urgency and relentless intensity. Two bodies circle each other with animal alertness, testing strength and endurance through dense, highly crafted movement. Visceral and emotionally charged, the choreography shifts between dark humour, exhaustion and fleeting moments of innocence and simplicity. Breath becomes audible, effort exposed, humanity revealed in small gestures.

Douglas Thorpe, founder and director, trained at The Place London, and returned to Leeds to build his career. He worked with Phoenix Dance Theatre over three decades, dancing, choreographing and teaching. He has created work for Staatstheater Braunschweig, ACE Dance and Music, Mobius, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Verve.

Age guidance: 12+
Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes (including a 20 minute interval)