My personal experience of the theatrical social dance event Listen Dance by Little Bulb Theatre at Shoreditch Town Hall, London, 4 October 2025.
How music feeds memories
They say food, scent and music trigger memories.
Unlike some of my friends who seem to be able to recount what was on the telly when they were just a few days old, my memory is nearly completely blank up to … eh … my teenage years?
Yet, some of my fondest childhood memories are certainly related to food, smells and music, and still make my heart sing.
I recall images of a little chubby girl dancing away to live Indian music and filling my belly with luscious home-cooked food in the most elaborate buffet my eyes had ever set on.
Setting: the impressive wedding party of one my many distant Hindu cousins. (I’m Muslim from my grandfather’s side while my grandmother’s side of the family were Hindu.)
Even as a 6-year-old I transformed from an introverted mini person into a diva on the dancefloor. (Apparently, I was so shy and spoke so quietly, the teacher in kindergarten couldn’t hear me.) Obviously whilst regularly fuelling up on rice, dahl, roti and so much yumminess in the brightest colours possible, and surrounded by the most mouthwatering fragrances.
My mum would love to eat with her hands at those occasions because, as she said, ‘the food tastes so much better that way’. It’s true, there is something special about the tactile relationship with food, feeling its texture with your hands and feeding yourself. (This reminds me that I should add ‘Proficient in eating with my hands’ to my resume. It requires quite the skill!)
It’s funny to see that 40 years later I’m still the same: indulging in food and claiming the dancefloor all to myself, unbothered by anyone who might be watching me. (Both while dancing but also stuffing my face.) The dancefloor is my happy place and tool for reconnecting to myself, find my inner child and joy.
So, when I was invited to join ‘a raucous evening of social dance’ hosted by the Olivier-Award-winning Little Bulb Theatre company, I obviously jumped – or rather cha-cha-chat – at the occasion.
Sharing a night of dance, laughter and personal stories
I had no idea what to expect really, except that there was ‘a nine-piece genre-hopping live band’, teaching the audience short choreographies from a variety of dances ranging from disco, line-dancing, Scottish ceilidh to a beginner’s guide to moshing.
Audience participation required? Count me in!
Held in the stunning venue Shoreditch Town Hall in one of London’s hippest areas, this evening marked the grand finale of the theatre’s English tour.
From the moment I entered the venue, the atmosphere was so welcoming, with the band members personally welcoming the audience. Around the dancefloor there were tables and seats set up for those who preferred to sit out a dance or needing a breather in between. Having come to the event solo, it was a great opportunity to chat to my neighbour who also came on his own. Dance partner found!
No partner needed for the first dance though. Jiving along the classic tunes of the Bee Gees, co-artistic director of Little Bulb Theatre and amazing drummer for the night, Clare Beresford, kicked off our wonderful dance journey. She had chosen to teach us some basic disco moves, because as she said, she wouldn’t have been born if it weren’t for disco. Quite literally, as it was how her parents met in the 70s. I can just imagine how they courted each other while doing The Hustle!
The rest of the evening would follow this pattern: one of the band members would share a personal anecdote from their childhood related to the music genre followed by a short choreography and a chance to show off our newly acquired skills. Not quite a dance-off though, but rather a good-spirited social dance where no one was being judged and could just have some old-fashioned fun. I felt myself like that little 6-year-old girl again, back in my happy place.
Having always been interested in people’s stories, to learn what has inspired them, what led them to become the person they are, I loved these little intimate, sometimes even embarrassing stories. It was what made this absolutely lovely evening so memorable for me. That and the welcoming and joyful atmosphere.
But more than anything, it was a great opportunity for me to try out some new dance moves. Some of my favourites? I had never anticipated this, but it was the ceilidh! Chosen and taught by co-artistic director Alexander Scott, the instructions made my brain hurt. Let’s see if I still remember…
Hook your right arm into your partner’s right arm. Turn 2x eight times around each other. Then switch to the next person in line opposite you. Hook your left arms. Turn four times around each other. Switch back to your partner. Hook your right arms again and turn around each other for four times this time. Now switch to yet the next person in the line opposite you. And so forth till you reach the end of the line. And continue!
The ceilidh was a true work-out for the body AND mind. It got pretty messy, I won’t lie. It did make for the perfect ice breaker though! Forcing us in the most joyful way to get arms-on (get it?) with the fellow dancers – looking just as befuddled as me – in our line.
Though only the second dance of the night, I was thankful for the seats around the dancefloor and catch my breath again! For not too long of course, because my mission was to dance the night away. And boy I did.
Dipping my toes in line-dancing, the hora and demonstrating mosh pit etiquette
From line-dancing to Timber by Pitbull feat. Ke$ha – taught by the fabulous guest performer Laurie, founder of STRUT, a monthly queer line dancing event – to the hora, a swirling high-energy dance, to the tunes of Hava Nagila taught by Miriam Gould.
I also finally discovered the name of the Candy genre, courtesy of Isabel Adomakoh Young: a dance style I associate with 90s films with people going to clubs suddenly doing all the same steps when they hear Cameo’s Candy come up. It was fabulous!
Just like dancer and beatboxer Deepraj Singh’s amazing DnB workshop! Or Eugénie Pastor’s energising rock ‘n’ roll workshop, which I realised wasn’t quite my genre but it was fun to at least delve into. Speaking of beatboxing, the impressive performances by Conrad Murray throughout the night were truly something else! He also shared with us his delightful personal childhood story related to YMCA which was a real party banger as you can imagine!
Taking it down a notch, Shamira Turner made us close our eyes and using her vivid descriptions transported me right back to some of my most legendary festival nights. If you’ve ever been to a festival, I’m sure you recognise that feeling of connectiveness, bliss and euphoria. It sure did make me smile from ear to ear.
But the highlight of the night was the very last dance genre, if you could call it ‘dancing’ that is. Armed with a print-out of the WikiHow How to Mosh in a Pit at a Concert, co-artistic director Dominic Conway gave us an in-depth beginner’s guide to moshing. However, and not to boast, being quite the moshing expert myself, I volunteered to demonstrate some moshing etiquette.
While my wild moshing days are well behind me, I was quite pleased to be able to briefly return to the pit again. Especially since it was so gentle – yet still exhausting! I almost felt like my 19-year-old self again, headbanging to Nirvana’s Breed.
And thus came an end to one of the most memorable nights out in ages.
I can’t wait for another sparkle of Little Bulb Theatre to reach my heart again.
Fortunately, they are an industrious theatre company with frequent shows. Next up is their run of The Nutcracker at London’s St Martin’s Theatre from 10 December till 4 January. Having gotten a taste of the wonderful world of this theatre company, I’m confident to say that their take on this Christmas classic will be something unique and unforgettable. Keep an eye on their website – Little Bulb Theatre – and go see one of their shows if you get the chance. You won’t regret it!
Want to see more amazing theatre in London? I highly recommend Stranger Things: The First Shadow. It really has been the best West End show I’ve ever seen!
