Our Social Space

🕺 Looking for something different to do during the week?

Our 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 daytime classes are a chance to get moving, learn something new and enjoy some great music in good company.

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 - 𝟭𝟭𝗮𝗺 + 𝟭𝟮.𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺
Start the week with Blues music and movement — relaxed, social and beginner-friendly.

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗝𝗮𝘇𝘇 – 𝟰𝗽𝗺
We’re starting a brand new routine next Wednesday, 19 August, making it a great time to jump in, whether you’re completely new or haven’t been along for a while.

You don’t need a partner, you don’t need any dance experience, and you definitely don’t need to think of yourself as a dancer.

Just come along, give it a go and see where the music takes you.

👉 Join Together We Dance: https://forms.gle/5KY8a423sR1cK4zz6

𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 | 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

🕺 Northern Soul is back!

Back by popular demand, Dapper D is running another Northern Soul dance workshop...two hours of brilliant music, movement and those unmistakable Northern Soul moves.

📅 Wednesday 19 August
⏰ 7.30–9.30pm
📍 Our Social Space | Dance Addiction Studios, East Belfast

Whether you joined us last time or you're completely new to Northern Soul, come along and give it a go. No partner needed and beginners are very welcome.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, so grab your place while you can.

🎟️ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://buytickets.at/oursocialspace/2350469

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲! 🎶

And just like that… our Juke Joint mural at The Juke Yard is finished! 💙

Carla Hodgson Art was back with us today, adding the finishing touches and bringing everything together...although it was definitely a little quieter without her Refuge Language helpers and all their craic!

This mural has been a real collaborative effort. From the creativity and energy of everyone who took part in the Street Art workshop, to Carla’s talent in taking all those contributions and turning them into this brilliant finished piece, so many hands have helped bring our vision for The Juke Yard to life.

A huge thank you again to Carla Hodgson Art, everyone from Refuge Language who picked up a spray can and left their mark, and EastSide Arts for making the project possible through their Art Dayz programme, funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

We wanted The Juke Yard to have a little nod to the spirit of the Juke Joint...a place where music, culture, creativity and community come together.

Think we might just have nailed it. 🎶

Blues is Life!

🎬 Monday Movies at The Flicks Hut

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 season continues this August with Return to Gorée (2007).

🎶 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗿𝗲́𝗲 follows legendary Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour on a musical journey exploring the connections between Africa, jazz and the wider world.

Travelling from Senegal to the United States and back to Gorée, the film traces the African roots and evolution of jazz through music, history and memory...culminating in a moving performance on the island itself.

📅 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟰 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁
🚪 Doors 7.00pm | 🎬 Film 7.30pm
📍 The Flicks Hut at Our Social Space
🎟 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 – suggested donation £3
https://buytickets.at/oursocialspace/2350352

☕ Tea and coffee available, with the option to stay for an informal chat afterwards.

Come on your own, bring a friend, or join us for the first time...everyone is welcome.

Our Stories Rooted in Rhythm season explores music, identity, culture and community through eleven carefully selected films.

Supported by Film Hub N.I., part of the BFI Film Audience Network, awarding funds from the National Lottery.

A little look back at Saturday Nights In – Our Speakeasy 🧡

Over twelve months, our Saturday Nights In programme brought people together for film screenings, quiz nights, social dancing, board games and community talks.

What started as an idea for some relaxed weekend opportunities to simply spend time together grew into 𝟭𝟮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝟳𝟵 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟯 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. People told us about making new social connections, feeling part of a community, building confidence and simply having something to look forward to.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, joined in and took the time to give us feedback...it helps us understand what's working and shape what comes next.

And a very big thank you to Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, through the 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱, whose support made the programme possible.

We've now published our project evaluation report, sharing what we did, what we learned and the difference those Saturday nights made. 🧡

You can read it here: https://www.oursocialspace.org.uk/Our-Social-Space-Saturday-Nights-In-Evaluation-Report.pdf

When the music starts… 💙🎶

Huge appreciation to these wonderful dancers for bringing their energy, creativity and love of the Blues to our Speakeasy.

It’s not easy being this cool 😜

Today's the day...

Tonight we'll be opening the doors to 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹: 𝗔 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 as part of Fleadh Cheoil for an evening of Blues history, live music, storytelling, social dance and community.

Thank you to everyone who has booked... we're delighted to be 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 and can't wait to share this special evening with you.

See you from 5pm. 🎵

Another productive Saturday morning at The Juke Yard 🌿

There was plenty to keep our volunteer Juke Yarders busy today with a good tidy-up around the space, adding some more structure with these gorgeous knotted ivy posts, working out the installation of our new pergola canopy and creating new wall features.

One of the best parts of the morning, was spotting the bees returning in the cooler weather and making the most of everything that's now growing. 🐝

Every session brings us another step closer to creating a welcoming community garden where people can connect with nature, each other, and enjoy spending time outdoors.

Thank you to everyone who came along and got stuck in today 💚