Essential information
| Type | Events and festivals |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and times | Sunday 8 March 2026 | 1.30-3pm |
Join us at the National Maritime Museum for an afternoon of dance to celebrate International Women's Day, honouring the strength and spirit of women.
The event takes place on the Ocean Map and features a diverse line-up of traditional dance forms from around the world, making it a memorable celebration of womanhood, cultural heritage and of women's relationships to the sea.
Event Schedule
1.30-1.40pm: Pacific Nations
Traditional medley of music and dance from Pacific nations – celebrating women from the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Fiji.
1.40-2.10pm: West African dance
Wuntanara perform a traditional West African dance with live African drumming.
2.10-2.20pm: Khaleeji
Join Sabina Oscar as she performs a Middle-Eastern folkloric dance.
2.20-2.30pm: Yemayá
Come and see Damarys Farres as she presents us with Yemayá which is inspired by the Afro-Cuban Orisha goddess of the sea, motherhood, and creation.
2.30-3pm: Bharatanatyam dance
To complete the celebration, come see Pranita Choudhry as she performs traditional Bharatanatyam dance followed by an interactive experience.
Join in as she walks you through basis steps for a Bollywood/Bhangra routine.
About Sabina
Sabina is a professional belly dancer based in London. She has been belly dancing for almost 8 years and loves the deep oriental history and symbolism it holds. For Sabina, it is a celebration of femininity. Through dance, she connects to strength, softness, and self-expression, sharing stories that honour tradition while feeling alive and modern on stage.
@swanbellydance • Instagram photos and videos
About Khaleeji
Khaleeji is a Middle-Eastern folkloric dance and is all about femininity, grace, and joy. The soft upper body movements, gentle shoulder shimmies, and flowing hair swings highlight beauty and confidence in a very natural way. It’s deeply connected to Gulf culture and heritage, with dancers wearing the traditional thobe nashal, often using it to frame movements or mimic the flow of the sea. The hair movements, especially when done together, show pride, respect, and honour, traditionally used to welcome important guests. Many of the arm and dress movements reflect waves of the sea, a reminder of the region’s strong connection to the ocean and pearling history. Above all, Khaleeji is a happy, social dance – often starting solo and growing into a group – celebrating unity, womanhood, and shared joy.
About Damarys
Damarys Farres is a Cuban-born dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in London, known for her warm, grounded approach to Afro-Cuban dance and cultural heritage. With more than two decades' experience, she is the founder of The Cuban School and a pioneering figure in the UK Afro-Cuban dance scene.
Her work centres on sharing Afro-Cuban traditions through teaching, live music, and embodied storytelling, informed by extensive research and cultural exchange across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the UK. A strong thread throughout her practice is empowering women through movement, rhythm, and connection, inviting audiences to experience culture as something living, felt, and shared.
About Yemayá
Yemayá is inspired by the Afro-Cuban Orisha goddess of the sea, motherhood, and creation. Rooted in traditional Afro-Cuban movement, the piece explores feminine strength, intuition, resilience, and care. It reflects my ongoing work with women, using dance and music as tools for connection, reflection, and empowerment.
Presented within the context of International Women’s Day, Yemayá honours women as cultural carriers and sources of continuity, protection, and transformation.
Read more about The Cuban School here.
