East Sussex Library Service is giving students from St Thomas a Becket School the chance to learn the South African gumboot dance. Created by working class gold-miners, gumboot dancing is now performed worldwide to entertain and pass on a part of South African history to new generations and other cultures.
The dance workshops aim to promote understanding and respect for cultural diversity. They are being held on Monday 31 October, at Eastbourne Library from 9:30am – 1:30pm.
Arts organisation, Music for Change will be working with the students to produce a piece of dance and song based on gumboot dancing, which they will perform at their school.
Gumboot dancing developed from traditional African roots to become a form of communication and entertainment amongst oppressed miners. As talking was banned inside the mines, the workers used their gumboots to communicate with each other, by slapping their boots, stamping their feet, and rattling their ankle chains.
The library service has run a number of free events in support of Black History Month. It also has a special collection of books celebrating Black authors available in some libraries until the end of November. For more information visit our libraries pages.
Notes to editors
The Mayor and Mayoress of Eastbourne will attend the workshop from 11:30 – 12:15. Photographers are invited during this time for a photo opportunity.
Location: Eastbourne Library, Grove Road, Eastbourne BN21 4TL
For further information contact: Alison Cairns, Group Manager on 01323 434203
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