LightNight 2019: Singing & Dancing as Ritual

Are you dancing? LightNight Liverpool, the city’s popular one-night arts festival, is back on Friday 17 May 2019 for its tenth year. The theme for this year’s festival is Ritual. From Carnival to festivals, wedding celebrations and choirs, singing and dancing are at the heart of our ritual experience within our communities, providing cultural expression, celebration and commemoration.

As part of the 100s of free events taking place across the city centre from 5pm until late, many celebrate singing, music and dancing, calling on Liverpool’s culture as a musical city and home to diverse cultures and communities.

Street Party Along Windsor Street 18:00 — 22:00

Join Windsor Street’s creative organisations for a celebratory street party packed with performance, spoken word, dance, music, film, food, arts and crafts that takes in the street’s beautiful venues, celebrates the Liverpool 8 community and highlights the area’s rich history and bright future. Beginning with an energising, ritualistic carnival performance from Katumba, follow their lead through Windsor Street’s many arts and cultural organisations to sample a taste of the diverse things happening in our community. A unique collaborative event by Writing on the Wall, Squash Nutrition, Brazuka/ Katumba, 20 Stories High, Toxteth TV, CineNation, Video Odyssey, Family Hive and artists from the John Archer Hall Studios.

Late Night Ceilidh, St George’s Hall 21:00 — 23:00

Live ceilidh band Gallimaufry are back for their seventh LightNight. A family friendly, foot-tapping, lively end to your festival experience.

The Physicality of Vocal Preparation with Jennifer John, Liverpool Town Hall, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00 & 21:00

Singing heightens our feel-good experience. There is a misconception that singing is a gift you either have or don’t have. This is sometimes true, but there is also a process that enables most people to increase their physical awareness when singing and through practice, their ability to improve. This workshop provides the basic tools to be able to experience some of this physical vocal preparation in a safe and fun environment.

Booking essential; book your free place via email to jennifer@jenniferjohn.co.uk Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring water. Workshops last 30 mins.

Mythical Mask Making Workshop, Blackburne House, 17:00 — 22:00

Theatrical production artist Carly Fisher and team guide you through the stages of designing your own mask. Best of all, you can keep the mask you make! Carly’s handmade mythical masks will also be featured in the Wicker Woman ceremonies happening over the course of the evening.

Festival as Ritual, British Music Experience, 17:30 — 22:00

In homage to the rich variety of festivals on offer throughout the UK, the BME creates an immersive walk-through experience looking at how ‘the festival’ has become embedded within our culture as a rite of passage. Journey through an audio-visual landscape exploring the evolution of the festival.

Rhythms of the Candomblé Orixás, Museum of Liverpool Steps, 21:00 — 22:00 Liverpool Carnival Company transforms the Albert Dock into a mini carnival of music, dance and costume exploring the meeting of technology and culture. Join in! What will you choose; android, or carnival feathers and glitter? brazilicafestival.co.uk

Liverpool Samba School Church Street (outside Marks & Spencer) 21:30 — 22:30

Liverpool Samba School and the team behind Brazilica celebrate the music, dance and costumes of Carnival, which in many Christian countries is a preLent ritual that revellers traditionally celebrate before a month of fasting leading up to Easter. Mardi Gras, Venetian Carnevale and Rio Carnival all have their roots in this ritual.

Are ya dancin’? Coz we’re askin’! Central Library, 21:05 — 22:30

Pick up some swing dance moves courtesy of Mersey Swing between 21:05 — 21:45 and you’ll be Lindy Hopping and doing the Charleston in no time! Then from 21:45 — 22:30 dance the night away to the biggest sounds from the hottest swing bands of the jazz era. Mersey Swing CIC run several classes each week celebrating the golden era of swing. merseyswing.com

Dancing in the Street, Sugar House Steps, Liverpool ONE 19:00 — 19:30

Up for Arts is 10 and to celebrate they’re dancing in the street! BeatLife belt out the drum beats along with Samba Livre Liverpool Brazilian samba dancers – if you love to dance, come and join this joyous dancing procession! Route: Sugar House Steps, Paradise St, School Lane, Peter’s Lane, Manesty’s Lane, crossing Paradise St, Sugar House Steps.

New Spaces, Technology & Dance, LJMU, Johnson Foundation Auditorium, 19:30 — 21:30

A new media installation interspersed with live interdisciplinary LJMU dance performances throughout the evening. The installation also includes other dance performances presented using 360 degree immersive video.

LightNight 2019 celebrates the 10th year of the free independent festival, produced by Open Culture and is always a memorable night. Guides, containing the full festival programme, can be ordered online at www.lightnightliverpool.co.uk