Jazz Dance Collective in partnership with St Margaret’s House
Introducing 200 Years of Black Dance in Britain
The Jazz Dance in British Culture exhibition explores how African Diasporic Jazz dance has shaped British culture from the 18th century to the present day, from the Cakewalk to UK Jazz.
Visit the exhibition Tuesday 6th October – Sunday 29th November 2026, 8.30am-4pm (closed Mondays) at The Gallery Cafe, St Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road, London, E2 9PL, England, UK.
Co-curated by Jazz Dance Collective members, Jreena Green and Annette Walker, this exhibition is supported by St Margaret’s House and presented as part of Black History Month 2026.
The exhibition website includes additional information.
This exhibition, the first of its kind in Britain, places dance, rather than music, at the centre of the story, offering a perspective rarely seen in British exhibitions.
The journey begins with the early rhythms of tap dance, tracing its movement from African American communities into British popular entertainment and social dancing. It follows the evolution of jazz dance through the Foxtrot, Charleston, Tap and Lindy Hop, revealing how Black performers, musicians and dancers transformed British stages, ballrooms and clubs.
Pioneers including Billy Waters, Master Juba, Florence Mills, Josephine Baker, Peg Leg Bates and Buddy Bradley challenged ideas of race, class, disability and identity while bringing new movement vocabularies to British audiences.
The exhibition explores the vibrant 1920s and 1930s, when Charleston, Tap and Lindy Hop created new freedoms of expression, while provoking controversy and moral panic. London venues such as the Shim Sham Club became important spaces for cultural exchange.
From the 1940s to the 1970s, jazz dance helped shape Rock ’n’ Roll, Motown, the Twist, Funk, Disco and Northern Soul.
The story continues into the 1980s, when Black British dancers and groups including IDJ, Brothers in Jazz and Floor Technicians developed new approaches rooted in jazz, rhythm and African Diaspora traditions.
From music halls to contemporary street dance, the exhibition celebrates 200 years of movement, creativity, resilience and cultural exchange, showing how Black dance helped shape Britain’s dance identity.
It will be the first exhibition of its kind in Britain focused on dance.
This exhibition is presented as part of Black History Month and is accompanied by the Swinging at the Savoy performance evening [Saturday 24th October 2024, 6.30pm].
Join us for the Opening Event of this exhibition, including a panel talk, on Wednesday 14th October, 6-8pm.
https://www.stmargaretshouse.org.uk/events/jazz-dance-in-british-culture (Accessed: October 2026)
