Made in East London Dance – 40 Years of claiming space

22 July 2026

As East London Dance looks ahead to its 40th anniversary in 2028, we recently collaborated with London College of Fashion to curate Made in East London Dance, an exhibition at the Wolfson Studio celebrating nearly four decades of our community claiming space in east London.

Through archival photographs, video footage, personal artefacts and newly recorded oral histories, the exhibition invited visitors to step inside the story of East London Dance and experience the connections that continue to shape its work today.

Curated and Created by students from the London College of Fashion’s MA Fashion Curation and Cultural Programming programme, the exhibition explored the idea that East London Dance is defined not only by performances and projects, but by the relationships formed between them.

Drawing on our extensive archive and a series of oral history interviews, the students uncovered stories of participation, friendship, creativity and resilience. These personal accounts brought the archive to life, allowing visitors to hear directly from the people whose lives have been shaped by East London Dance over the years.

By bringing together past and present voices, the project provided an opportunity to recognise the profound influence East London Dance has had on individuals, communities and the cultural life of east London, reaffirming the values that have guided the organisation for almost forty years: creating opportunities, championing creativity, building confidence and ensuring that everyone has a space to belong.

A huge thank you and congratulations goes to the brilliant students of the London College of Fashion MA Fashion Curation and Cultural Programming programme whose creativity, care and dedication brought these stories to life. Their work not only honoured East London Dance’s past but helped strengthen our future as we continue our journey towards our 40th anniversary and beyond.

Curated by London College of Fashion MA Fashion Curation and Cultural Programming Students