Derby Dance

As part of our 20-year celebrations, Déda teamed up with volunteers and local artists for a community heritage project celebrating the story of dance in Derby since the 1950s. Celebrating the story of dance in Derby since the 1950s our Derby Dancing project culminated in an exhibition at Déda running from September to December 2018.

The exhibition included two photography exhibitions contrasting dance styles in Derby: One Sunday in November 1974 by Doug Smith and Atlas by Chevy Jordan Thompson.

An intimate portrait of two dancers portrayed the talents of Kathak dancer and Déda 2018 Associate Vidya Patel and Ballet dancer Hugh Cafferky.

200 Days of Dance included responses to a photography call out on the theme of dance in Derby.

Interviews with people with a strong connection to Déda were filmed and collated alongside an archive of Déda's history in Déda Past and Present.

Take a look at our Virtual Exhibition

Déda worked with a team of volunteers and Derby's local studies library to research this dynamic map of the places that people have danced in Derby since the 1950s. The map is based on and includes the wonderful memories of the people of Derby. Explore locations by touching the shoe icons on the map and see venues spring up on the map. Thank you to everyone who has generously shared memories, research and photographs and to Euan Crispin for creating this participatory map. 

Northern Soul in Derby: Keeping the Faith

As part of Derby Dancing's celebration of the city's Northern Soul scene, photographer Doug Smith displayed an exhibition of images taken at a Northern Soul all-dayer at Cleopatra's Derby.

View KEEPING THE FAITH - Cleopatra’s Derby, a film by Doug Smith of interviews of people featured in the exhibition entitled One Day in November 1974.

Derby Dancing was kindly supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund