East Belfast welcomed international dance talent and visitors from across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and further afield as the inaugural Black Mountain Blues Festival brought three days of live music, dance tuition, competition and social connection to the area.
The October festival delivered 14 programmed activities across two East Belfast venues, Belmont Bowling Club and Dance Addiction Studios, creating a vibrant weekend of cultural activity and introducing new audiences to the growing blues dance scene.
Organised by a dedicated volunteer team from the local Blues dance community, including dance teachers Carrie Montgomery and Declan Allison, and presented by local charity and social enterprise Our Social Space through its Blues Belfast dance programme, the festival attracted participants from Belfast, Dublin, Galway, Cork and Germany, alongside internationally recognised visiting dance teacher Dexter Santos, who travelled from Barcelona to lead workshops and share his expertise.
The programme combined professional blues dance workshops, live performances, social dancing and a festival competition, offering opportunities for experienced dancers and those looking to develop their skills.
The weekend opened with a talk exploring the history of blues dance, delivered by Santos, followed by live music from the Gareth Hughes Blues Band. The lively weekend brought further dance workshops, an evening performance and competition, and live entertainment from the Lee Hedley Blues Band. The festival concluded with additional solo and partner dance workshops.
The event also highlighted the wider value of cultural festivals to East Belfast, drawing visitors into local venues and creating opportunities for tourism accommodation and hospitality businesses and the area's growing creative community.
Festival organiser and dance teacher Carrie Montgomery said:
"I'm absolutely delighted that our first Black Mountain Blues Festival brought so many people together in East Belfast to celebrate and showcase the art of blues dance. It was wonderful to welcome dancers from across the Island of Ireland and further afield, alongside the international talent who helped make the weekend so special.
"Dance is so much more than entertainment or physical fitness. It can have a hugely positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, building confidence, creating friendships and offering a real sense of belonging. In a world where social isolation and loneliness are growing concerns, opportunities to connect through music, movement and shared experiences are incredibly important.
"I'm particularly proud that we were able to bring this festival to East Belfast and demonstrate what can be achieved through grassroots creativity, community collaboration and the dedication of volunteers.
"My heartfelt thanks go to every volunteer, musician, workshop facilitator and dance teacher who contributed their time, talent and energy, as well as everyone who travelled to join us. We're already working towards bringing Black Mountain Blues Festival back in 2027, building on the enthusiasm and connections created during this inaugural weekend."
The festival also featured a participatory dance competition, giving dancers an opportunity to showcase their creativity and musicality in front of an enthusiastic audience. With three judges and a People's Judge helping to decide the result, “Black Mountain has spoken” was the announcement as Antonia Baumann and Arda Oztaskin representing Downtown Blues, Dublin, were named the competition winners.
The event demonstrated how a relatively small, independently organised arts festival can attract an international audience while creating opportunities for local venues, musicians, dance teachers and other creative professionals.
For Our Social Space, the festival represented an example of social enterprise in action: using arts, culture and shared experiences to encourage participation, support wellbeing and strengthen community connections.
With plans already under way for a return in 2027, organisers hope Black Mountain Blues will become a regular fixture in East Belfast's cultural calendar, bringing together local and international talent while encouraging more people to discover the social, physical and emotional benefits of dance.
To find out about the social dance and community activities provided by Our Social Space from their East Belfast dance studios and community centre visit oursocialspace.org.uk
