Move with us on May 17th from 2:00-3:30pm.
A movement workshop with Ballet Queer’s Jonathan Watkins. No dance experience needed, just curiosity. Explore ILĀ’s music through your body, with live painting by Rovaneche. Part of COHERE at Standalone
Tickets via DICE.
Meet @jonathan_watkins_ , founder of @balletqueer - one of our inaugural Associate Companies for 2026–2027 ✨
We caught up with Jonathan earlier this month about our ongoing partnership; Ballet Queer's first public show, 'Some Queer History of Us' and plans for the next chapter of Ballet Queer 💜
Head to our blog to read the full interview and dive into all things Ballet Queer (link in bio)
📸 Flavia Fraser-Cannon
#ArtistInterview #LGBTQart #ArtisticOpportunities #ArtsNews
Introducing one of our two inaugural Associate Companies, @BalletQueer 🩰 ✨
@Jonathan_Watkins_ (Ballet Queer’s Founder) is an award-winning director and choreographer celebrated for ambitious, cross-disciplinary work that reimagines literary and contemporary texts for stage and screen. His visually striking productions, spanning theatre, dance and film, have been presented at major venues and broadcasters internationally, earning critical acclaim and establishing him as a leading voice in innovative, large-scale storytelling.
His company Ballet Queer creates authentic work that represents Queer identities and experiences, exploring and challenging what ballet can be and showcasing the talents of LGBTQ+ artists. Jonathan regularly leads Ballet Queer workshops at Shoreditch Town Hall, which are open to Hackney residents with an interest in dance.
“Shoreditch Town Hall has played a vital role in the development of our company and we are honoured to deepen our relationship in this way. Ballet Queer is excited to make more work in the spaces of this inspiring venue as we grow through 2026.”- Jonathan
#ArtsNews
📸Photography by ASH
✨BIG NEWS ✨
Announcing our new Associate Company programme for 2026-2027.
The Associate Company programme represents our significant commitment to long-term artist development and a way to formally recognise our sustained relationships with artists and companies.
The companies supported as part of this programme help to illustrate the type of work we present at Shoreditch Town Hall & what audiences can expect to see as part of our programme.
Meet our inaugural Associate Companies:
🩰 @balletqueer , @Jonathan_Watkins_ – Reimagining ballet through authentic Queer identities and cross-disciplinary storytelling, Ballet Queer regularly hosts artistic development workshops at Shoreditch Town Hall.
🎭 @ThisEgg_ , Josie Dale-Jones - A multi-award-winning company creating theatre as a catalyst for social change, recently at Shoreditch Town Hall with A Little Inquest Into What We Are All Doing Here
What does this partnership look like?
- Our Associate Companies act as artistic sounding boards and ambassadors, receiving:
- £3,000 in commission funding towards new work
- Residency space and technical support
- Producing and fundraising support
- Guaranteed presentation slots and space to host relevant activities e.g. workshops and sharings
Both companies are currently developing new work, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
🔗 Find out more at the link in bio
#ArtsNews
📸Rich Lakos and Cristian Solimeno
Ballet Queer is 2 Today!
We celebrate the work we have been able to do so far and hope to bring more projects to life in 2026.
Creating opportunities for other voices to explore choreographic ideas, engage with more participants in workshops and present our first show- ‘Some Queer History of Us’.
We are grateful to the artists we have collaborated with and the support of @shoreditchth@aceagrams@accharitablesettlement@hackneycouncil@thespacearts
A massive shout out to our producer @mpj_producer for his constant and resilient hard work.
#BalletQueer #ballet #Queer #lgbtqplus #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqiap
Ballet Queer exists to raise the voices of our community. We will always be here for, and support, our trans+ siblings now and forever.
We love you.
@naiabautistaa and @ellefierce_ in ‘Some Queer History Of Us’
Work-in-Progress sharing @shoreditchth
Photography @photography_byash
Just under a week until Ballet Queer’s residency at Shoreditch Town Hall 🤩
Want to learn more about Ballet Queer, the residency, and workshops that have taken place at Shoreditch Town Hall both past and present? Artistic Director Jonathan Watkins talks all things Ballet Queer. ✨
You keen lot have already snapped up all the tickets, but we have a waiting list! More details on the website (link in bio)
- This project is supported by Arts Council England and the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement
📸 @photography_byash
(Now Sold Out) Ballet Queer is hosting a free, one-off movement workshop on March 30th. 10:30 am - 2:30 pm at Shoreditch Town Hall, London. Book Now via Link In Bio (limited space)
The workshop is open to LGBTQ+ individuals and no formal dance training is required, making it accessible to everyone who wants to explore movement, identity, and community in a safe and welcoming space.
Led by Ballet Queer’s Artistic Director @jonathan_watkins_ participants will also have the chance to contribute to Ballet Queer’s latest creation process as they develop their first live performance, Some Queer History of Us.
Suported by @aceagrams@accharitablesettlement and @shoreditchth Photography @photography_byash and includes participants from the last workshops held at STH
“So beautiful to get permission to move freely again—particularly in queer community, in a time when we need community more than ever”
— Feedback from a previous participant
If you’re in London and interested in dance, queer history, or simply want to connect with like-minded individuals, this workshop is definitely worth checking out!
#BalletQueer #QueerWorkshops #LGBTQ+ #QueerHistory #Dance #Improvisation #Hackney #ShoreditchTownHall #PrideAllYear #QueerPride
We shall thrive, in 2025 - but before, we are grateful for the help in 2024.
We could do a summary of the year (it’s been full of wonderful achievements for a small 1 year old company) but instead we would like to thank:-
Our producer @michael_peter_johnson who has worked so hard in a freelance capacity (which we know means many more hours than are paid for). This has included funding applications #ACE support of artists, especially @jonathan_watkins_ and working with care and enthusiasm for the ambition of the company.
@shoreditchth for championing our work, giving us so much in-kind support and working with us on plans for the future. #grateful @suzbramwell.producer and @elliebrowning.arts
To @photography_byash for their work across many projects this year helping capture and enabling us to promote and share the work with beautiful images.
Learning by Artistic Director @jonathan_watkins_
1. There’s never a perfect time to start something new.
2. The challenges are an opportunity to hone and shape what you want to create.
3. You can get feedback, but the legacy of the experiences people have with the work is sometimes unquantifiable.
4. There are so many talented artists we want to work with, we just need the resources.
5. The values of the company are in the process and can’t always be shown and that is ok.
#balletqueer #Ballet #queer #lgbtq #newcompany #2024 #2025 #Lessons #lgbtqia #creative #dance
An organic collaboration between the amazing @hausofila and @naiabautistaa brought the music for the film to life
The music for NAIA was born from an instinctive vocal improvisation between naia and I. In the moment responding to each other. The voice was then distorted through movement using wearable controllers and a quantum application called actias by @mothquantum Movement distorting voice but yet revealing its true nature. - ILĀ
Getting to use my voice to share my experience has always been something I’ve been interested but hesitant to do. My love for music has always kept me grounded and inspired, so having the chance to work with such a talented artist like Ila, felt like the perfect opportunity to start tapping into a new practice. One I have always fantasised about doing. It’s helped me discover a different side to my artistry and feels like the beginning of something exciting.
- Naia Bautista
Watch and hear the film @nowness Link In Bio
Featuring and Vocals @naiabautistaa
Director @jonathan_watkins_
Music, Vocals and Mix @hausofila
Mastered @cherifhashizume
Cinematographer @rufaiajala
Stylist @harperpfion
Stylist Assistant @dreaminslow
MUA and Hair @niallcandymakeup
Focus Puller @jade_sievewright
Gaffer @neaspringer
DIT @thejessicabainbridgeinsta
Editor @jess__vincent
Colour @alexo.colour
Title Design @leonidasliolios
Production Stills @photography_byash
BTS media @georgeeclark_
Producer @michael_peter_johnson
E.P. For The Space @sarahjenniferj
Supported by @thespacearts@aceagrams@shoreditchth@mothquantum and in association with @transonscreen
#ThisIsHowIMove #NAIA #BalletQueer #ballet #queer #transawarenessweek #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #film #dancefilm
