Journeys Festival of Dance returns this September with free dynamic performances in Uckfield, Hailsham and Bexhill
Publish Date: 17 September 2025
September 2025 sees the return of Journeys Festival of Dance - a vibrant three-day celebration of movement, choreography and community, organised by local event producers 18 Hours.
The outdoor festival will take place across Uckfield, Hailsham and Bexhill, bringing high-quality, accessible dance performances to the heart of our towns. For 2025, Journeys Festival of Dance continues to champion inclusivity and community, presenting internationally acclaimed performers alongside inspiring local dance talent.
On Friday 26 September, Uckfield, 3.45pm, opening the festival at Bridge Cottage in Uckfield, Showmi Dance Company will present an uplifting and dynamic Bollywood dance performance. Renowned for their colourful, high-energy style, the company brings the joy, rhythm and spirit of Bollywood to life. With a focus on building confidence, connection and community through movement, Showmi Dance Company invites audiences to experience dance as a shared celebration. Their performance promises to set a vibrant tone for the festival’s opening day.
The second day of the festival, Saturday 27 September, Hailsham High Street, 12pm & 1pm, brings the O’Driscoll Collective to Hailsham town centre, performing ‘One%’. This piece combines the raw physicality of breakdance with emotionally charged storytelling. Through a powerful blend of movement and music, ‘One%’ explores shifting emotional states and the significant need for mental health awareness. The performance offers a dynamic and honest portrayal of intensity, connection, and vulnerability through breaking and hip hop theatre. Following their second performance, the duo will host a free workshop where audiences can explore and try out some of the dance movements from the show.
The festival will conclude, Sunday 28 September, Bexhill, 12pm & 1pm with a spectacular finale on the De La Warr Pavilion Terrace in Bexhill, featuring an afternoon of Kathak from the internationally acclaimed Sujata Banerjee Dance Company. Audiences will be treated to both solo and ensemble works that showcase the elegance and energy of Kathak, one of India’s nine classical dance forms, celebrated for its intricate rhythms, expressive storytelling and exceptional technical skill.
Councillor James Partridge, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) lead councillor for Governance, Waste & Local Economy and leader of the council, said, “This festival is a vibrant celebration of movement and community, uniting families and residents of all ages through a joyful showcase of dance in the heart of Wealden towns and Bexhill. As the festival returns, it offers a unique opportunity to get out and discover, visit and create lasting memories in our high streets and towns. I want to encourage residents to support these events and the local communities that host them.”
Journeys Festival of Dance is produced by 18 Hours and supported by Wealden District Council with funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Rother District Council and the De La Warr Pavilion. All events are family friendly and completely free to attend with no need to book. Please note the programme is subject to change, check our website for up-to-date information. We hope you can join us to enjoy exciting, professional dance in open air spaces throughout our communities.
For more information about Journeys Festival of Dance, visit the link here
Notes to editors:
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.