Dance Your Way Home

For summer 2025 Southbank Centre takes inspiration from Emma Warren’s book Dance Your Way Home: A Journey Through the Dancefloor - a book that explores the myriad ways that dancefloors and dancing cultures, from rural raves to school discos, Irish dancehalls and underground nightclubs, have shaped our contemporary culture.

The month-long Dance Your Way Home series features a wide range of events, including talks and discussions led by prominent writers, poets, producers and promoters, unique durational performances, film screenings, and, of course, a packed lineup of free dance parties.

Highlights of the Dance Your Way Home free events programme include:

Our HeartBeats: Unity in Motion

Every Thu from 5:30pm, on the Riverside Terrace
The Our HeartBeats DJ crew takes over the Terrace stage for a night of global club sounds, community and celebration. Championing DJs from underrepresented backgrounds, Our HeartBeats’ residency promises a high-energy journey through electronic music, Amapiano, Afrobeats, dancehall, and house music. Admission is free.

A Dance Floor Journey

Fri 1 Aug from 5:30pm on the Riverside Terrace
Join hosts and London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony choreographers Temujin Gill and Sunanda (B-girl Sun Sun) Biswas for a joyous evening of social and party dances. Through live music, dance workshops and social dancing, they will be leading a foot-stomping journey through popular dance styles from the Charleston and the Lindy Hop to the 1960s, funk dances, hip-hop and beyond. Admission is free.

Urban Ritual: From Havana to Bahia

Sat 2 August on the Riverside Terrace
Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian dance and music in a day featuring classes, performances and a party. Experience a day of inclusive classes for all levels, from novice to advanced, featuring song, music, dance, and capoeira concluding with a lively Latino sunset party. Admission is free.

Grief Rave 

Sun 3 Aug from 1pm on the Riverside Terrace
Led by artists Annie Frost Nicholson, Carly Attridge and Linett Kamala, the Grief Rave makes its debut on the South Bank. First conceived in 2022 as part of the Loss Project, the Grief Rave creates a “non-traditional way of accessing the complex, universal subject of grief” and presents an opportunity to find catharsis through dance. The Grief Rave invites anyone and everyone to shake out their day, to dedicate a song to someone or something they may be missing – from a personal bereavement to a breakup or a few minutes of releasing some political rage, pain or fury in these ever complex times. Admission is free.

Deptford Northern Soul Club & Friends

Fri 8 Aug from 5.30pm on the Riverside Terrace
Spin and shimmy on down to an evening of Northern Soul with performances, workshops and some top notch DJ sets – and plenty of time to shake it out yourself. Admission is free.

Skate Up Space

Sat 9 Aug from 2pm on the Riverside Terrace
Rollerskaters: assemble on the Riverside Terrace for a day of workshops, live music and DJs guiding us to move together to the beat on wheels. Admission is free.

Steps of Resistance

Fri 15 Aug from 5.30pm on the Riverside Terrace
Celebrate the cultures of the Middle East with a live Dabke performance and a fun workshop where everyone can join in this traditional dance packed with energy. Admission is free.

Kinetika Bloco Summer Showcase: Joy In Motion

Fri 15 Aug from 7pm in the Clore Ballroom
Join us for a joyful, energetic spectacle of young people dancing and playing steel pans, brass, woodwind and drums in this celebration of music and dance. Bringing together the passion and talent of 150 young people, this annual summer showcase celebrates the joyful, creative energy of the South London music and dance summer school programme. Admission is free.

Hooley in the Kitchen

Sat 16 Aug from 2pm on the Riverside Terrace
Taking inspiration from the classic Irish hooley (a raucous house party), this energetic party on the terrace promises an afternoon filled with live music, dancing and good craic. Bringing together traditional musicians from Northern Ireland and sound system-influenced south Londoners with Irish heritage, you can look forward to an up-beat celebration of those unique parties that typically happen at home. Admission is free.

Move Like Me with Rain Crew

Sun 17 Aug from 1pm on the Riverside Terrace

Founded in 2009, Rain Crew is a dance crew and arts organisation with a focus on bringing people together through music, culture and dance. Expect dance workshops open to all and DJ sets to lose yourself on the dance floor. Admission is free.

Bring the Dance You Have

Sat 23 Aug & Sun 25 Aug from 12pm on the Riverside Terrace
Whether you’re a total novice or seasoned professional, this closing weekend showcase has something for everyone with a broad range of dance styles from around the globe, participatory dance workshops and high-quality performances from some headline acts. Admission is free.

History of Hip-Hop

Mon 25 Aug from 3pm on the Riverside Terrace

This isn’t just a party: it’s a living timeline of rhythm and rebellion, celebrating the pioneers, the parties and the energy that gave us the UK’s most iconic club sounds. Admission is free.