The Community Day on the 16th of September will feature dance, performances and educational talks on indigenous cultures from the Global South as well as food waste and calligraphy workshops
A plethora of community groups will come together on the 16th of September to hold a free day featuring dance, performances and workshops celebrating the diverse cultures of indigenous peoples from the Global South.
The free event will have workshops and activities led by GB Carnival that provide education and awareness of the traditions, customs, and practices passed down for centuries by indigenous peoples.
The workshops offer hands-on sessions to help people learn about the Wiphala, a symbol of the Andean region that represents unity and diversity among indigenous peoples, and symbolises the connection between humans, nature, and the cosmos.
GB Carnival will teach dances of ritual offerings to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) – an expression of gratitude for what nature provides and an integral part of the culture.
Dao Lu CIC will run a Qi Gong workshop, feeling Qi flow in our body and mind. Qi Gong is a gentle exercise aiming to cultivate Qi (life energy) and improve overall wellbeing by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-massage and focused intent.
There will be a question and answers session, opportunities to socialise and a display of Qi Gong and Tai Chi performance by Dao Lu instructors and students who are all Waltham Forest residents.
There will be a one-hour stage performance by children and adults, showcasing five different traditional dance styles: classical (Bharathanatyam) and folk, such as ones that reflect the lifestyles of farmers and fishermen and using their tools of trade.
The community day will also feature a workshop by the Waltham Forest Tamil Sangam (part of the Federation of Tamil Organisations) who will show the development of classical dance Bharathanatyam in the borough over the past 35 years.
There will be a one-hour stage performance by children and adults, showcasing five different traditional dance styles: classical (Bharathanatyam) and folk, such as ones that reflect the lifestyles of farmers and fishermen and using their tools of trade.
The Waltham Forest Tamil Sangam will also show an exhibition of traditional Tamil musical instruments with explanations of their histories in addition to holding a workshop about the Tamil Language and its antiquity. Each workshop will last approximately two hours.
During the event, Speaker Box Party will be organising a spontaneous street dance party with songs from different cultures.
Waltham Forest Hong Kong Community to learn about Hong Kong culture. Event-goers will be able to take part in a calligraphy workshop, sample Hong Kong snacks, and visit an exhibition of photos from Hong Kong and Calligraphy arts.
Meanwhile, The Gleaners Cafe at the Hornbeam Centre will be running workshops on how to be creative with commonly thrown away foods, and there will be information on the many ways that households and neighbourhoods can work together to reduce both the financial cost and the ecological footprint of the way we eat.
The hands-on food workshops and demonstrations will run from 12pm-4pm, but members of the community groups will be there from 11am-5pm to provide information and chat.
The Afro Caribbean Elders Association will also provide some picnic food and refreshments, such as water, juice, fresh fruit and snacks for members during the event.
For more information visit the event’s page
Note: This article was updated with further information about the Tamil Sangam’s workshops
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