Two performances of Black Victorians will be take place at the British Museum on 4 November 2023, one at 1:30pm to 2:05pm and another at 3:30pm to 4:05pm.

Black Victorians by Creative Director and Producer Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE is inspired by nineteenth century studio photographs of black men, women and children.

Exploring a complex, but often forgotten black presence in pre-Windrush Britain, this performance calls attention to previously hidden figures and challenges historical and contemporary perceptions.

Picture dancers dressed in restrictive Victorian costumes, shedding them in rebellion as they dance in African, contemporary and hip-hop styles re-imagining a moment in history.

This is an opportunity to experience history as told through choreography.

Creative Director and Producer Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE is a globally respected creative artist. Since starting her journey as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Bullies Ballerinas Jazz Dance Company, her work has taken her to over 21 countries and has gone down in the Guinness Book of Records. Her unique creative process aims to bring to life the talents, strengths and shared stories of local communities and artists in inspiring and unforgettable ways.

Two performances of Black Victorians will be take place at the British Museum on 4 November 2023, one at 1:30pm to 2:05pm and another at 3:30pm to 4:05pm.

Black Victorians is back for its 3rd year of touring this summer thanks to the support of FESTIVAL.ORG. And this year, as well as some UK dates, we have some International dates in Aveiro (Portugal) and Antwerp (Belgium).

We are thrilled to be extending the cast of Black Victorians in Summer 2023 with new dancers Rudzani Moleya and Stefano Addea who will join the original cast on some of the Tour Dates.

2023 TOUR DATES

FRI 14 JUL – SUN 16 JUL – Festival Dos Canais (Portugal) 
THURS 27 JUL – SUN 30 JUL – Gratis Festival (Antwerp)
SAT 12 AUG – Kensington + Chelsea Festival (Kensington, London)
FRI 29 SEPT – SUN 1 OCT – Bournemouth Arts By The Sea Festival Bournemouth, Dorset) – More info to come, please check the website.

Watch This Space For More Dates Coming Soon.

  • FESTIVAL.ORG is one of the UK’s leading outdoor arts producing organisations. Collaborating with artists and arts organisations around the world to create extraordinary productions, they commission, re-imagine, produce and showcase a growing repertory of work that brings public spaces to life and is engaging and inspiring large, diverse audiences.
  • Beyond the flagship Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, FESTIVAL.ORG’s year-round programme encompasses Global Streets, a national touring programme that through a distinctive free programme of international outdoor arts is transforming communities in 10 English towns and cities in some of the least-arts engaged areas the country. FESTIVAL.ORG is also a founding member of the Without Walls and Stomping Ground commissioning consortia.

Produced by Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and Northern Town

Date: Monday 1st May 2023
Location: Thomas Steers Way, Chavasse Park, Liverpool, UK

On 1st May 2023 1,000 volunteers came together to celebrate Eurovision, Ukraine and Liverpool.

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE from Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and local choreographers; Lisi Perry and Grace Goulding invited local communities from across Merseyside and beyond to come together to create a vast human artwork – a giant Ukrainian flag and the iconic Eurovision heart, right in the centre of Liverpool at Chavasse Park documenting an unforgettable moment in Liverpool’s history.

Edward Morgan, Executive Director, and Alison Grist, Broadcast Director from Northern Town Film company, captured this mass spectacle using drones and up close cameras to create a 2-minute film which forms part of EuroFestival – celebrating Liverpool as the host city for Eurovision 2023.

With a specially commissioned soundtrack by DJ Walde, and lyrics by Pete Wylie – the message is bold and simple; by standing together in the heart of Liverpool, we welcome the world to the Eurovision Festival 2023.

“We wanted to create a unique, warm welcome to all Eurovision-comers to celebrate Eurovision, Ukraine and Liverpool” 

Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE

Photo credit: David Edwards

Team

Paul Doyle – Co-Choreographer

Kirsten Peters Roebuck – Recruitment Manager

Natasha Khamjani – Show Support

Chloe Robinson – Assistant Dance Artist

Tomo (Christopher) Tomlinson – Movement Assistant

Daz Scott – Jeanefer’s Projects Assistant

Julie Karlsen – LIPA Movement Volunteer

Kathryn McEvilly – Movement Volunteer

Mary Lamb – Design Consultant

Molly Lacey Davies – Design Consultant Assistant

GROUPS

Along with 500 individuals from all over the UK, 22 local groups took part in the film, including:

OOMOO – Open Door Charity

The Choir with No Name Liverpool

Men!Dancing! & 50 Moves

Gods Dance Group (Growing Older Disgracefully)

Daisy Inclusive UK

Anchor Women’s Club

The Hammond Dance School Powered by Hip Hop (UC Crew)

Barbara Johnston Stage School

LIPA 6th Form Dance & Musical Theatre

The Dance Depot Theatre School

Batala Mersey

Merseyside Polonia

Jan Williams Theatre School & Christopher Linzie School of Dance

Gateacre School

Create Dance Wirral

7th Liverpool Boys Brigade and Girls Association

Stagecoach Wilmslow

Natalie Green School of Dance

Off The Ground Youth Theatre

George Ferguson School of Irish Dance

LIPA Core Group

For further information about EuroFestival please visit the EuroFestival website.

“The whole team have been incredible”

Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE

Produced by Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and Northern Town

The People’s Flag, a brand new, mass participation film, led by Mass Movement Director Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE and local choreographers Lisi Perry and Grace Goulding presents an unforgettable moment in Liverpool’s history with over 1,000 people from local communities coming together to create a unique, warm welcome to all Eurovision-comers in the centre of Liverpool.

For more information visit the EuroFestival website.

Do you want to be part of the EuroFestival celebrations in Liverpool?

Do you want to be part of our cast in a mass participation film?

Are you available on the 1st May?

If so, we’d love you to join us for this large scale community project, a mass movement film to welcome the world to Liverpool in the run up to Eurovision. 

This powerful spectacle will be led by Mass Movement Director Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE with local choreographers Lisi Perry and Grace Goulding. It will be filmed by Northern Town production company

This opportunity is open to individuals aged 18+

No experience necessary.

Come and get involved!

How can I get involved as an individual?

Applications are now CLOSED.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO APPLIED TO BE PART OF OUR FILM TO WELCOME THE WORLD TO LIVERPOOL IN THE RUN UP TO EUROVISION. 

FAQ’s

Do I need to be a performer? 

Absolutely not! You just need enthusiasm, community spirit and be available for the rehearsals & filming! 

Where will the film appear? 

The film will be shown on Culture Liverpool’s digital platforms as part of the Eurovision welcome. Given the scale of the project, it also has the potential to engage national press and/or Eurovision coverage.

Do participants get paid? 

No, this is a voluntary project bringing the community together for a very special celebration. 

Can people under 11 get involved? 

Unfortunately not. Our age range is 11+ to ensure that everyone taking part can meet the demands of the filming day and the logistical requirements of mass movement. 

Those aged 11-17 must participate with a Community Group and have appropriate permissions and chaperones.

Can friends & family come along to watch? 

This is a mass movement film. This involves specific camera equipment and filming logistics such as drones and a cordoned off performance space. There won’t be a live audience for the filming day, but as soon as the film is released you can share it anywhere you like!

What is mass movement?

Mass movement is a large group of people coming together as an ensemble to move and create imagery. It’s most often seen at opening ceremonies like the Olympics or the Jubilee celebrations.

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE was among a cast of contributors appearing in an ITV documentary.

Our Jubilee, an alternative social history of Britain told through the personal stories of Black Britons in the Queen’s Jubilee years was first broadcast on ITV on 16 Oct 2022.

Jeanefer’s involvement in the documentary came about after filmmaker Jason Osborne (recipient of the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund and co-founder of Project Must Entertainment), heard about Jeanefer’s work on The Thank You Dance in this year’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

Our Jubilee is told through the prism of the Queen’s Jubilee years and how the experience of being Black and British changed over the 70 years of her reign. The documentary was filmed in 2022 before the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Our Jubilee is available to watch on the ITV Hub.

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