African Contemporary Dance Workshop and Book Launch with Alison Ray

Alison Ray, Choreographer and Dance Teacher, will deliver an African Contemporary Dance Workshop on Sunday, 5th October. Followed by the Book Launch: A Journey of Dance of the African Diaspora 1980 -2000. She was inspired to write the book by her students, who were lacking knowledge and richness of the history of the Dance of the African Diaspora. The book is funded by Thea Barnes legacy fund, and published by Kratos Publishers, and foreworded by Dr Funmi Adewole. Alison was driven by her faith the God to write the book. Giving God the Glory.

"This book introduces young readers to the dance teachers, choreographers, and companies that helped shape the dance scene for Black dancers and those interested in African and Diasporic cultures from the 1980s through the early 2000s. As a passionate educator, choreographer, and writer, Alison is deeply committed to conveying the richness of dance, not only as physical movement, but as a way of thinking, experiencing, and understanding the world." By Dr Funmi Adewole Elliott.

Alison Ray created The Unknown Soldier in 2019, which has now evolved to a 1-hour performance. The Unknown Soldier recounts the stories of the Black British War Veterans via the mediums of Dance, Music, Text, and Visuals to create a captivating and engaging narrative of these untold stories.The work was supported in it early development by performances @ Shiftskg1, Afro Dance Xplosion, BHM Enfield Council, Alison Ray Dance Company, and Black Cultural Archives online performance in honour of Remembrance Day 2020 and West Indian Association of Service Personnel President Mr. Vince Mcbean.Following Arts Council funding, the production has been reworked for an extended version performed by