Leeds Pride 2026



Balbir Singh Dance Company was proud to once again be part of the parade, joining hundreds of organisations and community groups from across the region. As one of only two dance companies taking part, and the only one presenting South Asian dance, we were honoured to celebrate the richness of our artistic heritage while standing alongside so many people championing inclusion and belonging.


26-27
Credits
 2026



We Dance in All Colours



It was a joy to return to Leeds Pride this year as the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary. For the first time, Pride took place across two days, bringing thousands of people into the city to celebrate equality, visibility and community.

This year's theme, We Dance in All Colours, celebrated individuality and the strength that comes from coming together. Each performer carried a hand-painted placard featuring its own abstract face and unique design. Individually they represented different identities and experiences, but together they formed a single artwork that reflected one of the central ideas behind Pride: our differences are something to celebrate, and it is those differences that create strong, vibrant communities.








One of the things we value most about Leeds Pride is the openness it creates. It is a space where people are encouraged to be themselves and where communities come together with generosity, warmth and joy. That sense of welcome is something we also strive to create through our work, whether we are performing on stage, leading workshops or dancing through the streets of Leeds.

This year, Kali led the choreography, bringing energy and generosity to every step of the parade. Throughout the route, people watching didn't simply observe; they smiled, clapped, danced with us and became part of the performance. Those shared moments are what make events like Leeds Pride so memorable. Dance has a unique ability to dissolve barriers, creating connections between people who may never have met before.











For us, taking South Asian dance into spaces such as Pride is also about representation. It demonstrates that these classical and contemporary traditions belong in every cultural conversation and can create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect with one another. Every time diverse artistic voices are seen and celebrated, we help widen the space for others to feel they belong.

As Leeds Pride celebrated two decades of visibility, solidarity and progress, we were proud to play a small part in the celebrations. Thank you to everyone who danced with us, cheered us on and helped make this year's parade such a joyful experience. 

We look forward to doing it all again next year.






“Leeds Pride is always a joyful celebration of community, identity and belonging. To share South Asian dance in that space, and to see people of all ages and backgrounds dancing with us, reminds me why participation is at the heart of everything we do. Dance has a unique way of bringing people together, and Pride is one of the places where that feels most powerful.

- Balbir Singh MBE”







Dancer

Kali Chandrasegaram
Devika Rao
University of Leeds Students Photographers

Balbir Singh
Karol Wyszynski