Go Dance for Change is a cross-cultural collaborative platform producing social spaces that use dance as a primary tool to connect people. We connect people with communities and organisations and create opportunities for meaningful intercultural celebration and interaction through dance. Through a variety of immersive and engaging dance-related activities such as workshops, parades, performances a
nd events, we facilitate the sharing of culture, as well as health promotion and integration. The platform started in 2018 focusing on rhythms originating in Africa and from the African diaspora in the Americas, and has always placed a strong emphasis on wellbeing, community building and education and empowerment. Its aim is to highlight diverse cultures and people thus decolonising the narratives within the dance scene in Ireland and create a space for creatives to thrive. Proudly collaborating with South Side Moves, Ethereal Danza, Kwetu Movement, Top8 Street Dance Battle, Black Canvas curations, Uma Fam, other projects, events and crews as well as dance enthusiasts and artists: Alessandra Azevedo, Alicia Raye, AIS, Bonnie Boux, CelaviedMai, Dine Kandiwa, Eloy Quezada, Favour Odusola, Jorge Luis, Kareen Salcede, Kate O’Shea, Lapree Ncube, Lucille Aires, Patricia Guimarães, Sabrina Ginga, Sophie Hutchinson, Tatiana Santos, Thaís Muniz, Tobi Balogun, Tobi Omoteso, Vithória Escobar, Yves Lorrhan, and more. We have worked with organisations such as St. Patrick’s Festival, Dublin Pride, Friends of the Earth, Akidwa, Eco-Unesco, Concern Worldwide, Mother Tongues, MASI, Just City Collective, Five Lamps Arts Festival, IMMA. We believe in the transformative power of dance to unite people and nurture collective spaces to build power and to bring about meaningful social change, and that dancing and the communities it creates are wonderful examples of “power with”. The platform is Creatively directed by socially engaged artist & producer Karen Aguiar who envisions Go Dance for Change as a space to allow individual growth as well as collective action. By using the art form to connect, and to learn about culture & other realities, we are all contributing to the power that grows out of a network of collaboration and relationships. This type of power is built on respect, mutual support, solidarity and empowerment.
