This weekend just gone should have been the annual Pride in London and UK Black Pride events, but the current situation means that things have taken a different shape this year with Pride returning to its protest roots. Online events have sprung up too; last weekend I attended Bi Pride UK's excellent online Bi-Fi Festival... Continue Reading →
Every wanted to start the year with a new challenge? Ever fancied getting on stage to perform, but don't have much time to commit to rehearsals beforehand? Well, I know a bunch of people who have answered yes to both of those questions and are doing something about it. They'll be taking part in this...... Continue Reading →
This week, I received an email from Brat Worst of the London Rollergirls with some rather exciting news that I might want to write about. This got me wondering why I hadn't written about roller derby before. I mean, as a sport dominated by LGBTQ skaters (LRG regularly participate in the Pride in London parade),... Continue Reading →
In the early hours of the morning of Sunday 12th June 2016, a gunman opened fire at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida, killing at least 49 people and injuring dozens before he was shot dead by police. Last night a vigil in Soho, London (and many others across the country) showed that the... Continue Reading →
Have you ever felt unwelcome in mainstream hair salons or barbers? Have you feared getting a haircut because of how you will be judged, and all the incorrect assumptions the salon staff will make? For many LGBTQ folk, getting the haircut they want, at a price they can afford is a an ongoing battle. Thankfully,... Continue Reading →
This morning, Irreverent Dance founder Amanda Leon-Joyce announced the closure of the dance community's home, IDHQ, as the spectre of redevelopment rears its ugly head. This sad news was a shock to this close knit community of people who, before discovering ID, mostly thought they would never identify as a dancer. But the support that... Continue Reading →
Having just signed up to do even more pointe classes - because I want to wear those shoes again and I'm determined to improve this year! - I thought that some of you lovely people might also be keen to start the year by getting your body moving in an encouraging and inclusive environment. If... Continue Reading →
Around about this time last year, I was getting ready to appear in the Irreverent Dance Showcase. A glorious celebration of what our bodies can do and what a community can achieve, this annual performance gives people who never thought they could be dancers a chance to show off the fact that... yes... yes they... Continue Reading →
Yesterday saw the opening of Europe's first gender-neutral community dance studio. After Irreverent Dance's successful Kickstarter campaign at the end of last year, followed by months and months of legal wranglings, property searches, stress, tears and tireless work from many wonderful people, Amanda and the ID Board made the formal announcement on 29th May that... Continue Reading →
My weekend was spent with a group of wonderfully enthusiastic, friendly and supportive people all dedicated to sharing the joy of their inclusive community with even more people. There were snacks and clipboards, sequins and sewing, waiting and dancing: This is the story of the Irreverent Dance Showcase weekend. Back in May, when I finished... Continue Reading →