This anthology brings together a diverse array of perspectives and histories that weave together notions of Black-ness, British-ness, and dance. It offers a starting point for those interested in these topics, signposting readers to other sources while also providing an extensive overview of companies, artists, events, and artworks that compose a foundational account.

 The chapters foreground Black-ness within the multicultural landscape of British dance, addressing gaps in narratives of dance history, development, and innovation from a British perspective. Engaging with Black-ness as diasporic multiplicities—expressed through the lived contexts of Caribbean British, African British, Black British, and Afro-Indigenous British lineages, alongside African American influences that have been lived and developed within Britain—the collection highlights artists whose work has profoundly shaped and continues to enrich the British dance landscape. More than a record of the past, this book reflects the living, evolving presence of Black-ness in British dance today.

Edited by a collective of dance-artist-scholars— Adesola Akinleye, Sandie Bourne, Beverley Glean MBE, Louise Katerega, and Hopal Romans—with Julia Cheng contributing to the original planning alongside the editorial team, this book is both a resource and an invitation. It is essential for students, scholars, artists, and practitioners seeking to engage with the histories, innovations, and lived practices of dance.