We’re on the hunt for voices for our Carnival Choir. As part of our 50^th anniversary celebrations, Carnival Choir will bring together 50 singers and musicians drawn from the local community.  Accompanied by contemporary and pan musicians and directed by acclaimed musicians Christella Litras, Roy Johnson and Cleve Freckleton, Carnival Choir will perform choral renditions of calypso and soca classics which capture the journey of the music of Carnival over the last 50 years.

This is an amazing opportunity to work alongside professional and semi professional singers including Leeds own Caution Collective.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for all levels of singers, from who want to be a part of the historic golden anniversary celebrations.  You must  be;

• Aged 16+ to 60+ with great team attitude and community spirit
• Available to perform at the Carnival King and Queen Show at West Yorkshire Playhouse on Friday 25^th August AND the Carnival Day main stage in Potternewton Park on Monday 28^th August

You should be willing to attend 2-3 hour evening rehearsals on the following dates at a Leeds venue to be confirmed;

Thursday 3^rd August

Wednesday 9^th and Thursday 10^th August

Wednesday 16^th and Thursday 17th August

Wednesday 23^rd August

Thursday 24^th August

THIS IS YOUR MOMENT TO SHINE!

HURRY!  WE MUST HEAR FROM YOU BY SATURDAY 26^TH JULY SO WE CAN CONFIRM CHOIR SINGERS ON MONDAY 28^TH JULY.

Interested? We want to hear from you! Send us a short video under 2 minutes long of you singing to impress. Mobile phone recording is fine with no editing needed.  Send to participate@leedscarnival.co.uk or contact Stella Litras for more details on 07719 954541

There are just 50 days to go until our 50th anniversary Carnival parade on Bank Holiday Monday 28th August.

Across the UK and as far afield as the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada revellers are counting down to the biggest, brightest and best Leeds West Indian Carnival ever!

Troupes are busy coming up with the amazing costumes that will hit the road; designers are constructing fantasy creations in top secret for our Prince & Princess Show and King & Queen spectacular (SOLD OUT), whilst witty calypsonians fine tune their entries for our Soca Monarch Show.

With a three month exhibition at The Tetley and a poignant stage production both showcasing our heritage, we’re counting down too in anticipation of a summer of #Carnivalhappy

See more here Events 2017

We already know that the 50^th anniversary Leeds West Indian Carnival parade is going to be our biggest ever with costumed troupes taking part from the Caribbean, across the UK and of course Leeds.

Around 2,000 revelers, the spectacular troupes, Kings, Queens, Princes, Princesses and individual participants from across the UK will take part in the parade on Bank Holiday Monday 28^th August.

From Leeds to Canada, Yorkshire to the Caribbean there’s a flurry of costume making, feather fluffing and sequin sticking as the eye popping creations are brought to life.

Can’t wait to see them in all their multi-coloured glory? Head to our Reveal event on Friday 23^rd June at Leeds West Indian Centre from 7:30pm for the launch of some of the city’s troupes taking part in Leeds Carnival 50. With a Carnival Catwalk, early bird giveaways and soca party jamming from DJ Toro and Daddy Rico, we can’t wait. More details here to whet your appetite and a sneak peak below of some of the costumes that will be chipping down the Reveal runway. Photos: Lizzie Coombs. Makeup: Illamasqua.

click to enlarge

Remember that Carnival item you tucked away years ago in case it came in handy? Well now’s the time to dig out that Carnival treasure.

Do you have a once loved Carnival t-shirt or promotional item? Buried in a cupboard? Forgotten in the attic? Lost in the loft? In the box under the stairs? Or tickets, programmes, posters, flyers, invitations, trophies, letters and other bits of history at home that you’d like to be a part of our exhibition at The Tetley from August to October that will share our heritage and remarkable history with the world?

Bring yours down to Union 105, (just past the Mandela Centre) 105 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 3HY on Saturday 17th June from 12 noon to 5pm so our Exhibition Curator, Sonya Dyer can take a look.

 Or get in touch on 07753 748038 or heritage@leedscarnival.co.uk

Supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund Our Heritage grant

A TASTE OF CARNIVAL FAMILY FUN

Get in gear for Leeds Carnival 50 with the perfect bank holiday fun, entertainment and learning for all the family! Starting on Bank Holiday Monday 29^th May, thanks to Arts Council England funding over the next year we will be holding Taste of Carnival workshops for families to learn the arts and crafts of Caribbean Carnival together. From basic costume making and blinged-up crafts, soca dance moves and playing pan, to carnival-ising t-shirts with your own style, this workshop series is guaranteed to get you in the mood for Carnival, no matter what time of year!

Open to children age 6 to 15 accompanied by an adult, We are registering now for the first Taste of Carnival on Bank Holiday Monday at Leeds West Indian Centre.

Sorry everyone but we’re full up and registration is now closed!

Sign up now for carnival craft and dance sessions;

1. Make a bling-sparkling Carnival Cup!
2. Learn steel pan basics with Melvin Zakers.
3. Bring your own t-shirt to customise.
4. Learn and perform soca dance moves with RJC Dance’s Nillanthie Morton

 Look for more Taste of Carnival workshops in the months ahead!

We’re on the hunt for volunteers who are good listeners with an ear for a great story who can help us to seek out and capture the untold stories of the people and communities who have helped Leeds West Indian Carnival along their remarkable 50 year journey. Continue reading →

Deadline for registration is Friday 7th April

In this historical 50^th anniversary year, we anticipate that troupe and costume participation will be bigger than ever and already have huge interest from across the UK and beyond. By registering early we will be able to plan and make the best arrangements we can for what looks set to be the most anticipated Carnival in our 50 year history.

To register please download the form and email it to participate@leedscarnival.co.uk or post to Leeds West Indian Carnival, 82 Sheepscar Street North, Leeds LS7 3AF.

Fill in the online form here or

Click below to download the form

2017-TROUPE-AND-COSTUME-REGISTRATION.pdf

We’re delighted to say that as part of our 50^th anniversary celebrations, we have been awarded an Our Heritage grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Leeds Carnival 50 Heritage project which will showcase the Carnival’s heritage and history this year. Continue reading →

The countdown is on! May 21^st marks 100 days to Leeds West Indian Carnival 2016!

We’re expecting another bumper year on Bank Holiday Monday 29th August with thousands expected for the unrivalled atmosphere, great music, and food, not to mention the sparkling parade of floats and hundreds of stunning costumes from across the UK. Continue reading →