Reclaim the Stage; A celebration of movement, culture and creative courage.
Reclaim the Stage brings together dance groups from across Exeter and the South West for an afternoon of shared performance, spotlighting the richness, diversity and power of dance in our communities.
From traditional forms to contemporary styles, high energy to deeply rooted; this is a space where different practices meet, overlap and speak to one another.
Reclaim the Stage celebrates Refugee Week 2026 and its theme of Courage, bringing together communities to connect through dance, share culture and celebrate the diversity of our city.
Expect an eclectic, joyful and moving mix of performances, each offering a glimpse into the many ways dance connects us to identity, heritage and each other. Come witness, celebrate and Reclaim the Stage together.
Participating groups:
SHEMoves
SHE Moves is a youth dance programme run by Company SHE for global majority girls aged 12-21. SHE Moves supports refugees and asylum seekers and provides dance training in contemporary, commercial and hip hop styles. Supported by Exeter Northcott Theatre and Sport England.
Chhaya Youth
Chhaya Youth Dance Company was established in 2015 and provides an excellent opportunity for young dancers, aged 12 to 21 years, to develop their technical, creative and performance skills.
The company strives to offer dancers an insight into the multidisciplinary, intercultural and diverse ways of working as a professional dance artist. The classes are primarily contemporary based, but weave influences from various Cultural and Social Dance Forms.
CAT Dance
The students are currently with Exeter Contemporary Programme (Swindon Dance Centre for Advanced Training). The programme is part of the National Dance Centre for Advanced Training. The scheme is funded by the Department for Education and seeks to support young people between the ages of 11 and 19 yrs who do not have financial, geographical access to opportunities in dance in order to realise their potential.
Graduates from this programme are currently in Conservatoire Dance Training or are performing nationally and internationally.
Global Music
Brought together by Refugee Support Devon, this group is made up of refugee women from Eritrea. Through traditional drumming, they share their culture, build confidence, and find joy and community in their collective rhythm. Through their performance, they also reclaim the narrative often attached to the 'refugee' label – finding, in the beat of the drum, a small sense of home beyond borders.
Trikkeballakke
Based in Exeter, Trikkeballakke is a group dedicated to sharing the traditional music and dance of Southern Italy. Their work draws on folk styles such as pizzica and tammurriata, combining live music, rhythm, and movement to bring these traditions to life.
Through their performance, they create an inclusive and lively space where audiences can experience the energy of Italian folk culture, celebrating community and the power of shared rhythm.
Flamenco Devon
Karina Gracia is a flamenco dancer with many years of experience performing and teaching. She leads a group of dedicated students who regularly perform together, exploring the power, rhythm, and expression of traditional flamenco. The group welcomes all ages and abilities, creating a vibrant, supportive environment. Her regular classes and group rehearsals take place at Exeter Phoenix.
Pratiti Ghosh
Pratiti Ghosh is a PhD researcher at the University of Exeter whose interdisciplinary work explores how performing arts negotiate identity, tradition, and globalisation in post-colonial contexts. With a Master's from Cambridge and dual Master's degrees in History and Economics from India, she investigates performance not only as artistic expression but as a strategic tool within the cultural economy. Her research applies the Cultural Economy Model to examine how both heritage practices and service-driven industries adapt to shifting global markets, using performance to navigate client expectations, brand storytelling, and emotional labour. Whether through digital platforms, hybrid services, or curated cultural experiences, performance emerges as a vital mechanism for economic resilience and social meaning. Beyond academia, Pratiti is engaged in teaching, filmmaking, and journalism, committed to ensuring that scholarship remains rooted in real-world cultural transformation.
Pendari
'Pendari' is a newly formed traditional Bulgarian dance club, part of the Bulgarian society in Devon. They meet weekly to learn and practice the rich tradition of horo. Over centuries, countless unique hora have been created as a form of both recreation and celebration. Some are energetic and fast-paced, while other are slow and soothing. The enduring popularity of these dances, passed down through generations.
EXEStar
Starting as a group of young Hong Kong girls who share a passion for Korean dance culture, they began by teaching themselves through online videos and practice. After coming to Exeter, they continued pursuing their interest and connected with classmates and friends who shared the same enthusiasm for dance. Together, they have regularly practised and performed at many public events in Exeter, including Lunar New Year celebrations and community cultural festivals, where they received an incredibly warm and enthusiastic response from audiences. They are very honoured to have the opportunity to perform on the Barnfield stage once again and to share with everyone the joy, energy, and passion they find through dance.
This event is part of Reclaim Festival, our yearly celebration of women in the arts. Featuring brilliant new writing, not-so-new-but-also-brilliant writing, workshops, music and more, immerse yourself in locally sourced female greatness, to be enjoyed by everyone.
