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For the next few months, Emergency Exit Arts and Mandinga Arts are busy collaborating, developing, and creating a performance that will parade through the streets of London for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant on the 5th of June 2022.
South London-based community organisations Emergency Exit Arts (EEA) and Mandinga Arts have been selected to present one of only 16 large-scale creations as a part of the Queen's Jubilee Pageant, commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's historic 70-year reign, the longest serving monarch in British history.
Expect a giant oak tree, a 7m maypole, over 230 performers and participants, and extravagant, yet playful costumes...
From acrobatic frogs to playful regal baiana’s, a variety of flora and fauna will colour the streets of London and connect a wide variety of communities from all across the UK.
The centerpiece will be a majestic English oak tree, standing in as an image of stability and standing firm in the face of constant storms and shifting winds, growing ever stronger and connected to both the ground and sky as time passes.
With over 230 performers joining us from across the country, the procession will capture a true picture of our diverse and creative nation and the wider Commonwealth. The troupe of musicians, dancers, artists, and performers will connect communities from all across the UK, of all ages and a variety of ethnicities, celebrating the many cultures and experiences that make up the creative beauty of this country. EEA and Mandinga Arts want to celebrate diversity and pride, with a particular focus on the LGBTQIA+ community. We are creating a visual spectacle that is extraordinary, of great variety, and truly representative.
Every two weeks, we will be sharing inspiring stories from all the talented communities involved in this exciting project, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes teasers and many more details about the inspiration and historical context behind this profound and exciting concept.
Be sure to follow our socials to stay connected with the creative process and developments within the community groups.
Please visit: https://eea.org.uk/whats-on/pr... for more information on this project.
This May Day, EEA and Mandinga Arts met at the iconic Woolwich Barracks for our Platinum Jubilee tech rehearsal. Our wonderful Maypole Dancers from East 15 School and funky musicians from Rhythms of the City joined us to envision our performance in action. In true May Day style, the East 15 students danced round the Maypole with rainbow ribbons in hand.
Photography by Laima Arlauskaite
You can discover all our performing groups and behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, a preview of what to expect on June 5th at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, on our social media channels.
Our talented troupe includes:
Rhythms of the City, the UK's premier samba percussion squad.
The East 15 Dancers from Southend will be the magnificent Maypole dancers and colourful pansy field.
The Gangsta Grans, an over 60's street dance group from Preston, will be opening From Tiny Acorns dressed in fabulous Baiana costumes, alongside the elder ladies from the Iberian Folk Dance Group based in South London. The group is made up of 12 over 60's, who practice Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American dances.
Dance with Sonia Brown, who specialises in dance classes for over 50s, and will be wearing Mandinga’s tropical fish costumes.
Led by Mas Africa, 7 children from Lambeth will be performing in mice costumes. Mas Africa are regular attendees at Notting Hill Carnival and Adinkra Carnival in Ghana.
Pagrav Dance Company, established by Urja Desai Thakore, promotes the Indian classical dance form Kathak in a modern context and expresses stories through movement. They will be wearing elegant lotus flower costumes.
House of Wingz is a Blackpool-based ‘Art House’ which celebrates Hip Hop and expression through dance, music, and art. They will also be celebrating their first time performing as a crew in London at this year’s Jubilee!
Coming all the way from Northern Ireland is a troupe of dancers choreographed by Nadine Hegarty from Fireworks DDTA, who met The Queen when Nadine was 12 years old!
Wearing the Strawberry costumes are 4 participants from the Macbeth Centre in Hammersmith, an education hub that supports people with learning disabilities.
Follow our social media channels to discover their stories.
@emergencyexitarts @mandingaarts @platinumjubileepageant
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Date: 5 June 2022
Location: Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA
Open to the public, no booking required
Find out more: https://www.platinumpageant.co...
Event details
Sun 5 June 2022 • All day