For the second year in a row, IMA READ curated the annual Arctic Pride Kick-off Party, hosted in collaboration with Kurant Visningsrom. We took up the opportunity to curate a Dancehall nightclub, due to a perceived lack of spaces in Tromsø for Caribbean and West African music, dancing and discussion.

 

Inspired by the Noisey documentary, 'Out and Bad: London's LGBT Dancehall Scene', IMA READ resolved to look more closely at dancehall and its political Caribbean roots, in the context of the post-colony and its diasporic queer communities, today.

​

We collaborated with our favourite Oslo-based DJs, Bright Eyes and Gymmen and, local dancer friends, specialised in hip hop and dancehall, to produce our favourite nightclub ever. Together with our wonderful guests and collaborators, we realised the beauty in, and the need for, these spaces and events in Tromsø. IMA READ, together with our dance, DJ and future collaborators, will continue to curate Dancehall, Afro-Caribbean, Ragga and Hip Hop nightclubs. We will also continue to produce coursework, related to the subject of the events, as our nightclubs remain critical, as well as fun, spaces.