"The measure of any society is how it treats its women and girls" – Michelle Obama

DANCERS from Richmond wowed and surprised audiences yesterday with a series of flashmobs to celebrate International Women's Day.

Eight professional dancers began at Whitehall's Banqueting Hall performing 'Sisterhood', a dance reflecting both the struggles women have faced across the centuries as well as celebrating their achievements.

Six hundred years of history separate us from the Rubenesque women adorning the hall's Baroque ceiling, but the dancers used choreography to consider what changes they would still like to see.

"When you walk from the station to the Banqueting Hall you don't see many women being celebrated, and the ones you see are often naked," said Combination Dance Artistic Director Anne-Marie Smalldon, who choreographed the dance.

"This dance is about uplifting women and creating a more equal world for everyone. For me, feminism is all about equality."

Regular Nub News readers may remember Combination Dance's fantastic flashmobs in Richmond and Twickenham last summer!

After Banqueting Hall the dancers moved south west for more flashmobs at Centre Court Shopping Centre in Wimbledon, and outside in the sunshine next to Wimbledon Station.

"This is fantastic!" said one woman who stopped to watch. "I want to get up and dance."

The first part of this year's dance was inspired by smashing glass ceilings, self-care and self-confidence.

Part two looked at positive and negative relationships and was set to the powerful words of Michelle Obama: "The measure of any society is how it treats its women and girls."

By part three the dancers were busting out chorus moves inspired by American aviator and pioneer Amelia Earhart, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Polish scientist Marie Curie and American civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

The dance also featured dolls in slings "in a nod to our request for more quality, accessible childcare and respect for the role of parents".

Equal representation for women in business and politics was another key theme in the choreography.

Rambert Dance School, St. Margarets, graduates Tilly Woodward and Phoebe Higgins, both now freelanceing, were among the dancers.

Tilly graduated from Rambert in 2020 and worked with Combination Dance in her first year. She told Nub News she loved studying in Richmond: "Richmond is a lovely place - it's so beautiful! Being based there as a student was so nice."

She said she enjoyed being a part of International Women's Day rather than supporting from the sidelines.

"There's a serious side to [Sisterhood] but also a fun side - it's dancing!" she said.

"Sometimes you feel like you always have to portray the struggle, but sometimes it's nice just to celebrate women, too.

"It's about empowerment, not just women versus men."

Phoebe, who graduated in 2019, said she enjoyed using dance as a medium to explore the themes of International Women's Day.

"It's nice to be able to talk about International Women's Day but using dance rather than words. There's not much dance about it," she said.

Phoebe said challenges women face in the workplace are "really prevalent" in the dance world.

"Coming back from having a baby is difficult," she said.

"Sometimes I think about having a baby and it's worrying.

"I worry might only have seven or eight years left - but it doesn't have to be a short career!"

Tilly agreed: "The aethetics of dancers are changing - you don't all have to be thin any more."

Richmond's award-winning charity Combination Dance will also be running Richmond Dance Festival, N-Rich, this summer.

Its mission is to enrich the lives of individuals and the strength of communities through participating in and watching dance.

The International Women's Day dance was commissioned by Victoria, Westminster and Whitehall Business Improvement Districts (BID) and Centre Court Shopping Centre Wimbledon.

The performance at Whitehall was part of a BID event for 300 business leaders. The flashmob was followed by a thought-provoking International Women's Day panel discussion chaired by journalist and broadcaster Marverine Cole with Liz Bingham OBE, Rico Jacob Chace, Flavilla Fongang and Vicky Pryce.

The dance was choreographed by Anne-Marie Smalldon and the dancers, with styling by Chloe Mead and sound edit by Luke Todd.