Taking place at Cargo, in the heart of Shoreditch cultural quarter, and brought to life by Edge09 in association with the Barbican, Beyond The Ballroom offers up a cultural collision of styles. While illuminating the roots of the UK Jazz Dance scene it also looks towards the future. Along with live, deep Cuban street rumba from Dilanga there is a taste of post-Millennium freedom jazz dance from Mighty Jeddo. On the DJ front Snowboy will take us to the roots of Jazz Dance, blending Baptist Beats with badass Jazz Funk ‘n’ Fusion while Gilles Peterson will maintain his own unique, jazz-orientated, trajectory. Expect guest appearances, a book signing, a record stall, a sprung dance floor, and the first ever London showing of Dick Jewell’s classic film The Jazz Room.

Beyond The Ballroom will conjure up echoes of legendary club sessions like Berlin, The Goldmine, the Jazz Room at the Electric Ballroom, The Wag and Talkin’ Loud at Dingwalls – but aims to leave its own mark. It’s a celebration of a largely working class, underground movement that emerged from the suburban soul scene of the South and post-Blackpool Mecca clubland in the North. Beyond The Ballroom taps into and illuminates the foundation and evolution of modern day clubbing. Like the funky house kids of 2009 who deliver their dance moves on YouTube, the UK jazz dancers honed their art in their bedrooms, but they tested it in battle on the dancefloor. It’s about a young black and white Britain, united by music and dance.

Tickets £10
Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3AY
Produced by the Barbican in association with Edge09.
Part of Blaze; part of Dance Nations
Box Office: 0845 120 7550
www.barbican.org.uk

Photo by Damian Rafferty