Woodberry Down Disco offers free dance sessions

A free community dance project called Woodberry Down Disco has been launched in the Woodberry Down neighbourhood of Hackney. The initiative provides residents with an opportunity to connect with their neighbours through music and movement in a relaxed setting. The project held its inaugural session on 12 September and is scheduled to return on 19 September at the Redmond Community Centre.

Origins of the project

Nirmala Kesumadewi, a resident of Woodberry Down, is the creator of the dance project. Ms. Kesumadewi was inspired by her experience in a large residents' WhatsApp group. While the group fostered a sense of community, it also highlighted how many neighbours she had not met in person and how informal plans for real-life gatherings often failed to materialise. She developed the disco concept as a straightforward way for people to gather without the need for extensive organisation.

The Woodberry Down Disco sessions are designed to be inclusive, offering accessible dances with no pressure to participate. Attendees can dance as they wish, observe from seated areas, or engage in other activities such as arts and crafts and storytelling, which are themed around each session. Recent themes have included Ghanaian dance style Azonto, with Superheroes being the next planned theme. The project also provides employment for local residents to help run the sessions and lead specific activities like salsa.

Future ambitions

Beyond its current social dance events, Ms. Kesumadewi has ambitions to develop the project further. She hopes to bring together residents interested in honing their dance skills and collaborating on performances. The ultimate goal is to establish a resident-led professional dance company, enabling Woodberry Down Disco to be recognised for both its community drop-in events and its own performing ensemble.

Woodberry Down Disco is among nine projects selected to receive support from Hackney Council's Cultures of Hackney fund for 2026. This fund is dedicated to backing cultural activities that are rooted within local communities.

The next Woodberry Down Disco session is scheduled for Saturday 19 September, from midday to 2pm, at the pavilion at the Redmond Community Centre, Kayani Avenue, N4 2HF. Admission is free. A further session is anticipated in October.