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As well as the three weekends of free GDIF performances, there are a number of free events in the lead up to this year’s festival for you to come and get involved in.
These free events range from arts workshops creating placards that will become a part of the festival itself, to Q&As with legendary free soloing climbers.
7 August – 11 August 2025,
11am – 5pm
The Bed Shop, Joyce Dawson Way, Thamesmead Town Centre. SE28 8RA
Join artist Chloe Cooper in making placards to celebrate and stand up for Thamesmead’s Green Spaces and our planet. Draw, write and create for this installation, displayed at GDIF’s Weight of Water performance at Birchmere Lake on 5 + 6 September.
This workshop is open to all, no booking required.
Climbing Freed with Antoine Le Menstrel
18 August 2025,
7pm-8pm
The Reach Climbing Centre, Unit 6, Mellish Industrial Estate, Harrington Way, SE18 5NR.
Legendary climber, pioneer in sport climbing and vertical dance, Antoine Le Menstrel will show his film, Escalade Liberee, or Freed Climbing, telling the story of his life, career, and a sport-defining moment at the cliffs of Buoux.
There will then be a Q&A session with Antoine, ahead of his parkour company Lezards Bleus’ takeover of Woolwich Town Centre on 22 August.
To book free tickets, follow the link here.
Dani Harris Walters x Caribbean Social Forum
28 August 2025
3pm-4.30pm
Tramshed Theatre, 51-53 Woolwich New Road, SE18 6ES
Dani Harris Walters is a dancer and choreographer, known for his ever-present charm and energetic, joyful style, rooted in Hip-Hop Dance. Dani will be bringing the party to Woolwich in this dance workshop for Caribbean elders, ran in collaboration with the Caribbean Social Forum, a 600 member organisation running weekly sessions for people aged 50+ from the Caribbean and neighbouring countries.
Dani Harris Walters Company will be performing their dance-theatre piece, Go Grandad Go!, in General Gordon Square, Woolwich, on 4 September.
To find out more about the Caribbean Social Forum, and how to join, head to: https://www.tramshed.org/caribbean-social-forum.
Restless Dance Workshop
5 September
10.30-12pm (for those with experience of dance),
1.30-3pm (open to all).
Timber Lodge Café, 1A Honour Lea Ave, E20 1DY.
Restless Dance, Australia’s internationally acclaimed inclusive company, lead this dance workshop for learning-disabled people. They will introduce participants to the ‘Restless Dance Theatre Method’ which combines physical devising techniques and contemporary dance.
In each workshop, participants will be able to powerfully express themselves through movement, allowing them to push beyond their perceived limitations.
Restless Dance will also be performing at Dancing City, on 6 September.
To sign up, please email [email protected], or call/text 07899893935. This workshop is for those that identify as learning-disabled.
Kite Making with Pagrav Dance
6 September 2025
3.15-5.15pm.
Stratford Walk, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 2AR.
At the Uttarayan festival, the world-famous International Kite Festival taking place in Gujurat, North India, millions of people from different cities, religions and social classes come together to fly kites to mark the transition from winter into spring.
In this workshop, join Kathak dance group, Pagrav, to make your own kite, drawing on an ancient traditions from South Asia. Each participant will then be invited to join a procession, bringing their kites to the stage for Pagrav’s performance of ‘One Sky’, presented as part of Dancing City.
This workshop is open to all, no booking required. Participation takes roughly 30 minutes, last entry 4.45pm.
