Category Archives: Dance

Will Croydon’s JLS turkey farmer survive his Strictly ordeal?

Croydon’s JB Gill, the JLS-star-turned-turkey-farmer, is rated as the 6-1 fourth favourite to win this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. Jonathan Gill, 37, was brought up in Croydon, went to Whitgift School and played for Warlingham rugby club before fame and … Continue reading

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Pride’s making a comeback with town centre ‘mini’-festival

Croydon Pride will take place this year, with a not-so-“mini” festival, starting on Friday evening, and with music, dance and acts in the town centre throughout Saturday afternoon. Croydon Pride was under threat this year when the cash-strapped council pulled … Continue reading

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Silent Disco Ball for 12-19-year-olds, South Norwood, July 20

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EastEnders actress returns to Croydon as a real panto villain

Croydon’s own Kellie Shirley is to star in this year’s Fairfield Halls panto – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The former EastEnders star, now appearing in BBC hospital drama Casualty, is to play the role of the Wicked Queen … Continue reading

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Learning Disability Carnival, Croydon North End, July 6

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15% off tickets for Talawa’s ‘stirring and spiritual’ Love Steps

We’re delighted, in conjunction with the Talawa Theatre at the Fairfield Halls, to be able to offer our loyal readers a terrific money-saving offer on an acclaimed new piece of theatre, Love Steps, that has been described as “stirring and … Continue reading

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How businesses profited at expense of the Borough of Culture

BOROUGH OF VULTURES: £1.3m of arts funding provided by the Mayor of London was misused by Croydon’s Tory council to boost local businesses, but delivered a year-long flop, judging by official audience figures. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s year as … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, CODA, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Croydonites Festival, Dance, Fairfield Halls, Kristian Aspinall, London Mozart Players, Mayor Jason Perry, Music, Stanley Halls, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Arcadia’s impressive dancers channel growing anger of youth

KEN TOWL went along to South Norwood for an opening night of dance, theatre, film and rap which displayed young talents and an urgency for action to safeguard our environment Arcadia: the name of the classical ideal of unsullied nature, … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Dance, Environment, Ken Towl, Music, South Norwood, Stanley Halls, Theatre | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Two more Croydon music and dance festivals forced to cancel

Croydon’s calendar year as London’s Borough of Culture has not quite finished, but its dubious legacy appears to be sealed in failure after not one but two established festivals announced that they won’t take place in 2024. Croydon Pride posted … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Community associations, Croydon Council, Dance, Mark Watson, Mayor Jason Perry, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Younger Generation trial session, St Mark’s Purley, Mar 10

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The Wild Murphys bring Dirty Old Town to Fairfield Halls

 One Night In Dublin is the ultimate feel-good Irish music tribute show and it’s headed to Croydon’s Fairfield Halls on Thursday May 23. Performed live by “the best Irish band to never come from Ireland”, The Wild Murphys are … Continue reading

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Turn again to pantomime as Sanderstead takes its annual bow

With our regular reviewer, Bella Bartock… ‘indisposed’ (too much Harvey’s Bristol Cream over Christmas, we’re told), KEN TOWL got all dolled up as a panto dame – oh yes he did! – and tottered along in his high heels to … Continue reading

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Amnesty International Lindy Hop Dance, Ruskin House, Nov 25

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Britain’s Got Talent auditions come to London next month

The nation’s favourite talent show is coming to south London next month looking for a talented act to take the crown of our 17th series. Britain’s Got Talent is holding open auditions where Londoners are invited to present their unique … Continue reading

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North Wood Way Morris are recruiting dancers and musicians

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Taking Liberty with the arts in a way that celebrates us all

KEN TOWL takes hope, and much joy, from last week’s Liberty Festival, where deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists injected some much-needed culture into the borough. Photos by PAUL FULLER The Liberty Festival, which landed in Croydon last weekend, represented the … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Borough of Culture 2023, Comedy, Dance, Fairfield Halls, Ken Towl, Music, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dance Festival Croydon, Shoestring Theatre, Sep 9

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Croydon Circle Dancing at St Matthew’s Church, Chichester Rd

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Panto producers seek new talents for Aladdin at the Ashcroft

UK Productions and Fairfield Halls are on the hunt for local talent for this year’s Croydon pantomime Aladdin to be staged at the Ashcroft Theatre. Auditions for the Principal Ensemble are taking place at Fairfield Halls on Friday July 7 … Continue reading

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Youth theatre is taking on new role as local community hub

Croydon Council has this month granted Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation – CYTO to its friends – a long lease of its premises in South Norwood with a Community Asset Transfer. The asset transfer effectively hands over the responsibility for the … Continue reading

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Aladdin promises a magic carpet ride at the Ashcroft Theatre

EastEnders and Holby City star Davood Ghadami and children’s TV favourite and former BRIT School pupil Kiera-Nicole Brennan head the cast announced this week for the biggest show of the year at the Fairfield Halls – the panto, which for … Continue reading

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Royal Academy takes right steps with schools dance show

More than 100 pupils drawn from Riddlesdown Collegiate, Orchard Park High, Cheam High, Coombe Wood and Hayes schools last week came together, perform and share their passion for dance at Step Around Town Croydon 2023, organised by the Royal Academy … Continue reading

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Musical open house brings crowds flocking back to Fairfield

CROYDON COMMENTARY: There’s been widespread praise for the performers and performances at the Fairfield Halls for the Borough of Culture opening event, which LEWIS WHITE thoroughly enjoyed I went to the Sunday session of the Oratorio of Hope at the … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Dance, Fairfield Halls, London Mozart Players | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘The Nijinsky of India’ is celebrated in museum exhibition

An extraordinary life which began in Bangalore and ended in Croydon is remembered and celebrated in an exhibition about dancer Ram Gopal currently running at the Museum of Croydon. Entitled “I saw a god dance”, the exhibition highlights Gopal’s contribution … Continue reading

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Younger Generation open auditions, Purley, Feb 26, Mar 26

Younger Generation, the charity theatre group for nine- to 18-year-olds who enjoy performing have two open audition dates coming up. The auditions could lead to the youngsters becoming part of the cast for a show to be performed at the … Continue reading

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