Dance Your Way Home

Every summer, the Southbank Centre presents a summer programme of events united under a single theme. Previous editions have included the climate-themed Planet Summer in 2023 and 2022’s In The Black Fantastic.

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 programme include:

Poets on the Dance Floor

Thu 24 Jul at 7:45pm at Purcell Room
Spotlighting music and movement, poets Iris Colomb, Rob Gallagher, Oluwaseun Olayiwola and Belinda Zhawi chronicle the dance floors that have inspired them. Tickets from £15.

Fuse ODG – Spirit of New Africa

Sat 26 Jul at 8:30pm at Royal Festival Hall
The Ghanaian-English Afrobeats artist takes over the Royal Festival Hall stage, sharing his incredible catalogue of hits past, present and future. Tickets from £22.

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. Entrance 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.

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 theRiverside 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.

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.