To celebrate International Dance Day and the launch of Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2025 (LDIF25), Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage welcomes two soloist dancers to take centre stage in its new space, as LDIF celebrates 15 years of bringing world renowned dance to Leicester.
Tufani la Hubba – Shirley Langhelle
Tufani la hubba meaning “the hurricane of love”.
As per Nina Simone in the song Wild is the Wind, it is a case of her expressing her love and hoping that her lover feels the same despite any uncertainty of human emotion. Following her tone and choice of words, she hopes that she is the deep root that is not carried away by the chaos but acknowledges the fact that chaos has no rules or control.
This request for reciprocity, it is a depiction of courage and hope, being able to boldly state the love for the people from the Diaspora: African, African Caribbean and Latin American.
It is about believing in the dream for a better future of the people and hoping it turns out for the best and the world is, however, accepting that the environment is uncertain and unpredictable, despite all, still hoping and believing that better change is coming and a new dawn is possible.
This is a root in the gale of love.
Shirley Langhelle is a soloist and principal dancer, with over 12 years’ experience working with Tabanka Dance Ensemble. She has toured nationally and internationally, including at previous editions of LDIF. Certified to level 12 in the Talawa TechniqueTM, Langhelle was involved in Uncovered: Black Dance, a training programme in 2023 involving over 50 young people from Belgium, UK and USA. This will be Langhelle’s LDIF solo debut.
Reflections – Oraine Frater, choreographed by David Blake
Reflections explores the journey of self-exploration and the quest for meaningful relationships. It powerfully reminds us that, in moments of solitude, we often lay the groundwork for the connections that shape our lives.
Oraine Frater is a dancer and choreographer. He danced with L’Acadco: A United Caribbean Dance Force, before becoming a cast member for the UK tour of Disney’s The Lion King.
David Blake is the inaugural Academy Director of Urdang. He was previously a principal dancer with the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica and performed in Disney’s The Lion King, playing the role of ‘Banzai’ in London’s West End.
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