To mark International Dance Day and the launch of Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2026 (LDIF26), Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage presents two powerful new works alongside an opportunity to learn more about the organisation’s vision for dance over the next decade.
BECOMING
Samwel Japhet (Tanzania)
BECOMING: From the Streets to Now is an autobiographical work reflecting on the ten years since Samwel Japhet’s journey from living on the streets of Tanzania to performing on stages around the world. The performance explores emotion, memory and personal growth, examining what it means to develop in challenging environments, confront societal expectations and find belonging.
The work stands as both a personal record of resilience and a broader reflection on identity and transformation. Japhet is co-founder of Nantea Dance Company, which builds artistic relationships between Africa and the wider world through intersectional dance practice.
A contributor to BlackInk Issue 1 and previous LDIF online editions, this event marks Japhet’s live UK debut at Serendipity.
Sonje
Lauryn Pinard (Haiti/France/UK)
Sonje is described as an intimate excavation of embodied eloquence. Lauryn Pinard allows movement to speak and listen, drawing inward reflection into outward expression. The performance explores intention, presence and the communicative power of the body.
Image credit: Samwel Japhet. Photograph by Jimmy Mathias | EyeFilms.
More Leicester Listings MORE
Scrap It, Revamp It: 100 Years of Black History Commemorations (1926–2026)
In the early twentieth century, Black communities in the United States marked the February birthdays of social reformer…
Annual Windrush Day Lecture 2026
Windrush Day, officially recognised by the UK government since 2018, is commemorated annually on 22 June to mark…
A Night To Remember: Motown Show
Take a trip back to 1960s Detroit with A Night To Remember: Motown Show, a high-energy live concert…
Sylvia
Sylvia tells the powerful and often overlooked story of Sylvia Pankhurst — fearless, complex and determined — bringing…
Reel Histories 2026: Black Classics
Reel Histories 2026: Black Classics is a bold film programme for Black History Month 2026, amplifying the cinematic…
Black Classics Symposium
Classical music is often associated with the Western canon, yet its development has long been shaped by diverse…
Black History Month Launch: Black Classics in Concert
Launching Black History Month 2026, Black Classics in Concert is an evening celebrating the musical legacies and enduring…
Lenny Henry: Still At Large
For over five decades, Lenny Henry has been a defining voice in British entertainment, shaping comedy, television and…