What’s the most fun you’ve ever had at the RWA?

Would it be at the opening day of the Dance Out exhibition on May 9? It’s an ambitious and bold programme and the first time that dance has been featured as an integral part of a RWA exhibition.

The opening event is also part of Diaspora!, a multi venue, city wide festival celebrating cultural diversity through the Arts. Featuring 11 dance artists, both groups and soloists, Dances of Diaspora was an afternoon of dance performance and workshops, a collaboration with Diverse Artists Network and dance charity Movema. Penny Caffery of Movema explained to me that the aim of the programme is to both share folk dances from around the world keeping cultures alive, and to bring people together without the need for language.

Have you ever moved and clapped to a DJ set outside the RWA with a group of strangers?

The Diaspora event, part one free, opened on the concourse outside the RWA entrance and part two, ticketed, continued in the main gallery inside. Outside Abelardo Salabet the AfroCuban stilt dancer, dressed in blue and silver, danced salsa festival style to the Cuban beats from Azumei the female DJ. The party had started!

Passers by couldn’t resist and a crowd soon gathered, most moving and clapping along with Salabet. They were joined by other collaborating performers and groups in appreciation of Salabet’s tricky arabesque.

I hope that it brought in new people to the RWA venue who normally wouldn’t venture in.

Part two was opened by the Tibetan Dance group with Tenzin Sangmo and Bristol 4Tibet. Dressed in traditional Tibetan costume six female and two male dancers performed and then led the audience in a workshop. The infectious energy from Tenzin was irresistible. The joyful and inclusive spirit of the whole afternoon continued with engaging performances and workshops. Colourful costumes harmonised with the paintings that provided a backdrop.

The Kuchipudi Dance performance was particularly memorable for its exquisite costumes. Kuchipudi is a southern Indian dance-drama. Five young girls entranced with their quick graceful movements and ankle bells for percussion. Nandini Girish, the leader, was impressive with technique and fast expressive mime and hand movements. An artist was sketching them as they danced, capturing the energy of the performance in charcoal.

The afternoon ended with the newly created Unity Dance for everyone – expressing solidarity across cultures. One Love, One heart is the overriding theme as the audience danced together led by the Penny Marie DJ set and Dance Jam.

At the heart of the exhibition is Night Moves an immersive installation by award-winning artist Melanie Manchot. It is an RWA and Art Fund commission and the resulting film will become part of the RWA’s permanent collection. Bristol dancers devised their own routines and performed them across the night-time city in such iconic Bristol locations as Bedminster to Birdcage Walk. The five channel video installation blends stunning cinematography with choreography and is accompanied by a haunting sound track.

Melanie Manchot says “Night-time changes cities – it brings out excitement, energy and desire, but also risk and danger. Night Moves celebrates Bristol’s trailblazing nightlife culture and recognises its need for protection amidst financial challenges and the privatisation of public space.

Without clubs and safe spaces, there is less dancing. Without dancing, we are less human.”

Dancer Iris Hernandes finishes her dance on a bridge by looking over her shoulder into the camera – she could be saying – “well here I am!” .

The exhibition in the main gallery, curated by David Remfrey RA and art historian James Russell, is composed of paintings and short films that celebrate dance as an everyday activity.

The painting that resonated for me with the performances is Itchin’ And Scratchin’  by Denzil Forester capturing the energy of a crowd in 1980’s black British nightlife.

Another stand out for me was Soft Authority by Amy Dury, 2026, capturing red women dancing exuberantly together, with darkened male silhouettes gazing in the background.

The RWA says that with Dance Out the dance supports the exhibition, perhaps it could be argued either way, does it really matter? The combination of the exhibition and dance was powerful. The exhibition stands alone and there will be a programme of talks, dance events and workshops at the RWA throughout the exhibition period.

Dance Out runs from the 9th May to 9th August. For more information about the timetable of events visit rwa.org.uk. 

The opening day at Dance Out was ambitious, lively and inclusive due to the hard work of all involved. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had at the RWA, and I suspect it was for many others too.

Peggy Ralph, 11 May 2026

Photographer credits: Alastair Brookes, Jess Watts, Peggy Ralph, Khali Ackford