ReBels with Rhythm free dance performances

About us

Barbican Theatre are excited to be returning to the Piazza with a vibrant programme of dance celebrating rhythm. Our ReBels dance talent development groups, will be performing with energising rhythms and fused dance styles. Joining them in the lineup are professional dancers in Afro Beat, Commercial, Flamenco and Bharatanatyam. Together they will fill the piazza with sound, dance and the joy of movement.

Come and enjoy one of three 20minute performances on Thursday 10 December at the Piazza (opposite the sundial on Armada Way, next to Dingles) at 5:30pm / 6pm / 6:30pm

Our Performers and Performances:

Open Circle – Group Performance
Open Circle is a group of community dancers who work with rhythms from varied dance and movement styles. The group finds common ground by finding a pulse within music and movement, celebrating all their similarities and differences.

ReBels 'What's Your Style' – Group Performance
This group of dancers ages 12-15, have been exploring dance in different styles, taking influence from technique and choreography in contemporary, Bollywood, Afro Beat and commercial. The ReBels team will be joined by Afro Beat dancer Beryl Tebug, featuring her own solo performance.

Beryl Tebug – AfroBeats soloist performing with ReBels
Beryl, also known as Lyrebs universe is a 22 year old dancer from Cameroon. She has been teaching herself to dance and specialises in open style dancing and Afrobeats dance styles. Dance has helped her with confidence, mentally and physically. Beryl teaches at Rhythm City, Barbican Theatre & 4FS.

ReBels 'Choreography + Composition' – Group Performance
Our choreography and composition Rebels have been working with percussion and dance to explore time signatures, rhythm, and composing music alongside dance. Working with musician Ben Isbell, the group are sharing an energetic, rhythmical response to themes of communication.

Mercedes Romero – Flamenco Soloist
Mercedes Romero is a professional Flamenco dancer, teacher and choreographer. She graduated from the Conservatory of Alicante, Spain in Spanish Dance & Flamenco and Classical Ballet. She has performed and taught for over 25 years. Performing in Spain, Mexico, France, Italy and England with various dance companies

In Plymouth, Mercedes has taught and performed at The Barbican Theatre for many years and created a small Flamenco group performing at various theatres and venues in Devon and Cornwall. Mercedes' dancing is dynamic and engaging with full body strength. She uses a mix of traditional and modern Flamenco to show her audience the roots and styles adding a new dimension to this passionate and vibrant dance.

Vibha Selvaratnam – Bharatantyam Soloist
Vibha is recognised as one of the up and coming young dancers in the UK having been invited to perform at several young dancer showcases by Akademi (London), Milapfest (North East) and Nada Nrityotsava Festival (India). Born into dance with her mother Kiran Ratna as her Bharatantyam Guru, Vibha has now grown into a performer and choreographer developing and presenting her own work. Vibha currently heads India Dance South West. As well as a performer, Vibha has a great interest and ability in passing on the art form through leading regular classes in Exeter and Plymouth and is taking students through the ISTD dance exams.

How you can support young and emerging artists like these
All performances in ReBels with Rhythm are free to watch. However if you'd like to donate to support young and emerging artists such as (and Barbican Theatre so we can continue to create unique and enjoyable performances such as these and offer employment to local freelance artists) please please click here https://barbicantheatre.co.uk/donate/

We'd like to say a big thank you to our ReBels team and Plymouth City Centre Company for their support of this production.