Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE was interviewed by JD Douglas for JDTV about her latest show Patois, which was performed at the National Theatre River Stage on London's South Bank as part of Greenwich+Docklands International Festival 2024.

As well as the London show, Patois toured to several locations during the festival with performances in Greenwich, Woolwich, Abbey Wood, and Stratford.

Jeanefer spoke to the channel about the inspiration behind the show.

JDTV Network's JD Douglas meets Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE

This year's annual celebration of free outdoor dance on 7 September showcases a host of amazing outdoor spaces across Stratford.

With stunning staging and a huge variety of dance styles, this year’s Dancing City showcases some exceptional homegrown and international talent. 

Don't miss out on Patois at East Bank waterfront...

'a new show that takes a Caribbean dialect and explores hidden voices and stories from generations past. Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE created the dance theatre work to celebrate her St Lucian heritage – coinciding with St Lucia’s first Olympic gold medal!' - Neandra Etienne, Newham Voices

Photo: Claire Leach

*Photo credit: Claire Leach

On Saturday 13 July, two of Jeanefer's shows will appear in an exciting outdoor double bill at London's South Bank. First off is Black Victorians from 2.15pm - 2.45pm followed by Jeanefer's new show Patois, from 5.45pm - 6.15pm.

It’s on at the National Theatre’s River Stage as part of Greenwich+Docklands International Festival 2024.

"Jeanefer's Black Victorians delves into the hidden history of black people in Victorian England, earning widespread acclaim for its compelling portrayal of this overlooked narrative. With Patois, Jeanefer Jean-Charles promises another immersive experience that challenges audiences to reflect on the significance of linguistic diversity in our world today" Ralph Kennedy, Without Walls

For more information, visit River Stage 2024.

Location

National Theatre

South Bank, London SE1 9PX

Get directions

Black Victorians is back for its 4th year of touring thanks to the support of producer FESTIVAL.ORG.

Inspired by nineteenth-century studio photographs of black men, women and children, Black Victorians explores a complex and often forgotten Black presence in pre-Windrush Britain.

★★★★ THE STAGE

2024 TOUR DATES

SUN 2 JUN, 1.30PM - Taliesin Dance Days Festival (Swansea)
SAT 13 JUL, 2.15PM - National Theatre River Stage part of Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (London)
FRI 26 JUL - Latitude Festival (Suffolk) - Time to be confirmed

To find out more, visit the Black Victorians show page.

Patois

Duration: 30 minutes 

Patois explores what happens when two unwritten languages meet.

British-Caribbean choreographer Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE reawakens the unwritten language of St.Lucian Patois, telling a story of culture, lost languages, longing and belonging. Of the movement of people across continents and the dialect which is at risk of being lost forever.

Blending captivating traditional folk dance with exhilarating contemporary choreography and an original musical score, Patois celebrates cultures, stories and generations of the past.

"Jeanefer Jean-Charles promises another immersive experience that challenges audiences to reflect on the significance of linguistic diversity in our world today"

Without Walls,

Ralph Kennedy

Download the Show Pack

2024 TOUR DATES

SUN 12 MAY, 11.30AM & 2PM - NORFOLK & NORWICH FESTIVAL (Norwich)

SAT 18 & SUN 19 MAY, 1PM & 3.15PM - BRIGHTON FESTIVAL (Brighton)

SAT 6 JUL, 4PM & 6.15PM - HAT FAIR (Winchester)

SAT 13 JUL, 5.45PM - NATIONAL THEATRE RIVER STAGE (South Bank, London) - Hosted by Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF)

SAT 24 AUG, 1PM & 3.30PM - GREENWICH+DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (GDIF) (Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich) 

THURS 29 AUG, 1PM & 3.30PM - GREENWICH+DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (GDIF) (General Gordon Square, Woolwich)

SUN 1 SEPT, 1PM & 3.30PM - GREENWICH+DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (GDIF) (Abbey Wood Park Playground, Abbey Wood)

SAT 7 SEPT, 2.45PM & 5PM - GREENWICH+DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (GDIF) - as part of Dancing City (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, BBC Waterfront, Stratford)

SAT 12 OCT, 1PM & 3PM - BELL SQUARE 2024 (Hounslow High Street, London)

Cast & Creative Team

Choreographer: Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE

Producer: Alison Holder

Composer: Danilo DJ Walde

Designer: Marsha Roddy

Dramaturg: Hassan Mahamdallie

Creative Consultant: Martha Stylianou

Rehearsal Director: Cherilyn Albert

St.Lucia & Patois Consultant: Pearl Jordan

Stage Manager: Cynthia Chika Franklin

Saint Lucian Voices: Auntie Jane, Uncle John, Mr Remy

Songwriter & Vocalist: Lorna Jean-Charles

Costume Assistant: Yunhye Choi

Runner: Lauren Schofield

Creative Dance Artists: Melissa Bravo, Dani Harris-Walters, Oluwaseun Olayiwola, Nosiphiwo Samente, Duja Sinada, David Bennie

Photo credit: Claire Leach

Supported by

Patois is supported by Without Walls and commissioned by Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF), Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Brighton Festival.

Download the Show Pack

For more information and bookings, contact alison@festival.org

Two performances of Black Victorians will be take place at the British Museum on 4 November 2023, one at 1:30pm to 2:05pm and another at 3:30pm to 4:05pm.

Black Victorians by Creative Director and Producer Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE is inspired by nineteenth century studio photographs of black men, women and children.

Exploring a complex, but often forgotten black presence in pre-Windrush Britain, this performance calls attention to previously hidden figures and challenges historical and contemporary perceptions.

Picture dancers dressed in restrictive Victorian costumes, shedding them in rebellion as they dance in African, contemporary and hip-hop styles re-imagining a moment in history.

This is an opportunity to experience history as told through choreography.

Creative Director and Producer Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE is a globally respected creative artist. Since starting her journey as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Bullies Ballerinas Jazz Dance Company, her work has taken her to over 21 countries and has gone down in the Guinness Book of Records. Her unique creative process aims to bring to life the talents, strengths and shared stories of local communities and artists in inspiring and unforgettable ways.

Two performances of Black Victorians will be take place at the British Museum on 4 November 2023, one at 1:30pm to 2:05pm and another at 3:30pm to 4:05pm.

Black Victorians is back for its 3rd year of touring this summer thanks to the support of FESTIVAL.ORG. And this year, as well as some UK dates, we have some International dates in Aveiro (Portugal) and Antwerp (Belgium).

We are thrilled to be extending the cast of Black Victorians in Summer 2023 with new dancers Rudzani Moleya and Stefano Addea who will join the original cast on some of the Tour Dates.

2023 TOUR DATES

FRI 14 JUL - SUN 16 JUL - Festival Dos Canais (Portugal) 
THURS 27 JUL - SUN 30 JUL – Gratis Festival (Antwerp)
SAT 12 AUG – Kensington + Chelsea Festival (Kensington, London)
FRI 29 SEPT – SUN 1 OCT – Bournemouth Arts By The Sea Festival Bournemouth, Dorset) - More info to come, please check the website.

Watch This Space For More Dates Coming Soon.

  • FESTIVAL.ORG is one of the UK’s leading outdoor arts producing organisations. Collaborating with artists and arts organisations around the world to create extraordinary productions, they commission, re-imagine, produce and showcase a growing repertory of work that brings public spaces to life and is engaging and inspiring large, diverse audiences.
  • Beyond the flagship Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, FESTIVAL.ORG’s year-round programme encompasses Global Streets, a national touring programme that through a distinctive free programme of international outdoor arts is transforming communities in 10 English towns and cities in some of the least-arts engaged areas the country. FESTIVAL.ORG is also a founding member of the Without Walls and Stomping Ground commissioning consortia.

Produced by Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and Northern Town

Date: Monday 1st May 2023
Location: Thomas Steers Way, Chavasse Park, Liverpool, UK

On 1st May 2023 1,000 volunteers came together to celebrate Eurovision, Ukraine and Liverpool.

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE from Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and local choreographers; Lisi Perry and Grace Goulding invited local communities from across Merseyside and beyond to come together to create a vast human artwork - a giant Ukrainian flag and the iconic Eurovision heart, right in the centre of Liverpool at Chavasse Park documenting an unforgettable moment in Liverpool’s history.

Edward Morgan, Executive Director, and Alison Grist, Broadcast Director from Northern Town Film company, captured this mass spectacle using drones and up close cameras to create a 2-minute film which forms part of EuroFestival - celebrating Liverpool as the host city for Eurovision 2023.

With a specially commissioned soundtrack by DJ Walde, and lyrics by Pete Wylie - the message is bold and simple; by standing together in the heart of Liverpool, we welcome the world to the Eurovision Festival 2023.

"We wanted to create a unique, warm welcome to all Eurovision-comers to celebrate Eurovision, Ukraine and Liverpool" 

Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE

Photo credit: David Edwards

Team

Paul Doyle - Co-Choreographer

Kirsten Peters Roebuck - Recruitment Manager

Natasha Khamjani - Show Support

Chloe Robinson - Assistant Dance Artist

Tomo (Christopher) Tomlinson - Movement Assistant

Daz Scott - Jeanefer's Projects Assistant

Julie Karlsen - LIPA Movement Volunteer

Kathryn McEvilly - Movement Volunteer

Mary Lamb - Design Consultant

Molly Lacey Davies - Design Consultant Assistant

GROUPS

Along with 500 individuals from all over the UK, 22 local groups took part in the film, including:

OOMOO - Open Door Charity

The Choir with No Name Liverpool

Men!Dancing! & 50 Moves

Gods Dance Group (Growing Older Disgracefully)

Daisy Inclusive UK

Anchor Women’s Club

The Hammond Dance School Powered by Hip Hop (UC Crew)

Barbara Johnston Stage School

LIPA 6th Form Dance & Musical Theatre

The Dance Depot Theatre School

Batala Mersey

Merseyside Polonia

Jan Williams Theatre School & Christopher Linzie School of Dance

Gateacre School

Create Dance Wirral

7th Liverpool Boys Brigade and Girls Association

Stagecoach Wilmslow

Natalie Green School of Dance

Off The Ground Youth Theatre

George Ferguson School of Irish Dance

LIPA Core Group

For further information about EuroFestival please visit the EuroFestival website.

“The whole team have been incredible”

Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE

Produced by Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and Northern Town

The People's Flag, a brand new, mass participation film, led by Mass Movement Director Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE and local choreographers Lisi Perry and Grace Goulding presents an unforgettable moment in Liverpool’s history with over 1,000 people from local communities coming together to create a unique, warm welcome to all Eurovision-comers in the centre of Liverpool.

For more information visit the EuroFestival website.

Do you want to be part of the EuroFestival celebrations in Liverpool?

Do you want to be part of our cast in a mass participation film?

Are you available on the 1st May?

If so, we’d love you to join us for this large scale community project, a mass movement film to welcome the world to Liverpool in the run up to Eurovision. 

This powerful spectacle will be led by Mass Movement Director Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE with local choreographers Lisi Perry and Grace Goulding. It will be filmed by Northern Town production company

This opportunity is open to individuals aged 18+

No experience necessary.

Come and get involved!

How can I get involved as an individual?

Applications are now CLOSED.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO APPLIED TO BE PART OF OUR FILM TO WELCOME THE WORLD TO LIVERPOOL IN THE RUN UP TO EUROVISION. 

FAQ's

Do I need to be a performer? 

Absolutely not! You just need enthusiasm, community spirit and be available for the rehearsals & filming! 

Where will the film appear? 

The film will be shown on Culture Liverpool’s digital platforms as part of the Eurovision welcome. Given the scale of the project, it also has the potential to engage national press and/or Eurovision coverage.

Do participants get paid? 

No, this is a voluntary project bringing the community together for a very special celebration. 

Can people under 11 get involved? 

Unfortunately not. Our age range is 11+ to ensure that everyone taking part can meet the demands of the filming day and the logistical requirements of mass movement. 

Those aged 11-17 must participate with a Community Group and have appropriate permissions and chaperones.

Can friends & family come along to watch? 

This is a mass movement film. This involves specific camera equipment and filming logistics such as drones and a cordoned off performance space. There won’t be a live audience for the filming day, but as soon as the film is released you can share it anywhere you like!

What is mass movement?

Mass movement is a large group of people coming together as an ensemble to move and create imagery. It’s most often seen at opening ceremonies like the Olympics or the Jubilee celebrations.

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE was among a cast of contributors appearing in an ITV documentary.

Our Jubilee, an alternative social history of Britain told through the personal stories of Black Britons in the Queen’s Jubilee years was first broadcast on ITV on 16 Oct 2022.

Jeanefer’s involvement in the documentary came about after filmmaker Jason Osborne (recipient of the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund and co-founder of Project Must Entertainment), heard about Jeanefer’s work on The Thank You Dance in this year’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

Our Jubilee is told through the prism of the Queen's Jubilee years and how the experience of being Black and British changed over the 70 years of her reign. The documentary was filmed in 2022 before the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Our Jubilee is available to watch on the ITV Hub.

The Thank You Dance for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant created by Jeanefer Jean-Charles from Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and Ali Pretty from Kinetika

Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and arts organisation Kinetika were commissioned to create a section for the Queens Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which was part of an extended Bank Holiday Weekend, took place on Sunday 5th June 2022. 

Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates and Kinetika presented The Thank You Dance in the Pageant - a visually arresting spectacle made up of over 200 performers drawn from across generations covered in hand-painted silks and holding vibrant flags designed and made by community groups.

Inspiration was taken from Her Majesty to thank key workers and the essential role they have played throughout the pandemic, volunteers who have stepped up with kindness to look after their neighbours and young people who are actively taking responsibility for the future of our planet.

The Thank You Dance as part of The Pageant wound through the streets of Westminster and along The Mall past Buckingham Palace telling the story of these incredible people who have transformed lives through their kindness.

Photo credit: Matt Crossick/PA Wire

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